Listening to some of Comey’s preposterous testimony today before the House Committee regarding his decision not to refer Hillary Clinton to the Department of Justice for charges regarding the national security breaches he says she perpetrated, we are now confident he is nothing more than a have-it-both-ways sniveling piece of . . . work. Reserving the right to “revise and extend our remarks” we await the transcripts of his testimony and informative analysis from legal experts. But we won’t let that stop us now.
“Under intense questioning from Republicans, Mr. Comey said Mrs. Clinton’s public explanations of her behavior were not true. But he said his investigators couldn’t find evidence that Mrs. Clinton intended to break the law, which he said is the key to making a criminal case.” (from the Washington Times)
Is this guy somebody’s idea of a sick joke?
This is the “highly respected” FBI Director, talking about the “most qualified, experienced person to ever seek the presidency of the United States”????
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Comey: Hillary’s FBI Testimony Wasn’t Under Oath Or Recorded, But It Would Still Be a Crime To Lie (Breitbart excerpt)
During testimony before Congress on Thursday, FBI Director James Comey stated that the FBI’s interview with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was not under oath or recorded, but it still would be a crime to lie to the FBI.
Comey stated that he did not personally interview Clinton, and did not talk to all of the “five or six” who did interview Clinton.
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We have, on these pages over the last several weeks, expressed our views on Mr. Comey. Elevated to legendary status by Democrats and Republicans alike, we have noted that this legal superhero is not likely to take off his shoes in public and show the world his “feet of clay”.
And yet, this week, FBI Director James Comey, long touted by politicians and media as the most dedicated, courageous, honest, non-political, crime fighting legend…a combination of all the heroic law and justice figures in American history (Elliot Ness, Pat Garrett,, etc)…turns out to be…what? A partisan hack? A spineless, quivering coward, fearful of running afoul of the nation’s most lawless administration in history? A confused, bewildered, befuddled caricature? A brow-beaten, punch-drunk poser?
Unfair, over-the-top, disrespectful, wildly exaggerated characterizations?
Yes, probably. At least some. But Jim Comey, this week, is a man who has done incredible and irreversible damage to our nation’s system of justice and rule of law.
And yes, that’s a layman’s assessment. But his appearance on Tuesday, to announce to the nation that a major political party’s presumptive nominee for president is guilty of actions for which any ordinary American would be criminally charged will not be held legally responsible, was a breathtaking admission that this nation’s traditional system of justice no longer exists, if it ever did.
Comey’s followup testimony before Congress on Thursday confirmed that his actions were without legal or moral justification and way beyond his ability to make them even seem coherent.
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Just a hint of the undeserved reputation Comey has enjoyed, up until this week, is provided by excerpts from a Bloomberg piece from July 2013:
Obama Taunts Republican Scandalmongers With Comey Nomination
By Francis Wilkinson
“Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell picks up the investigative lead from there. In a political ad this spring, McConnell used the IRS scandal to tie Obama directly to the King of Cover-Up, Richard Nixon. And we all know how that presidency turned out. Then, in a speech last month at the American Enterprise Institute, McConnellaccused Obama of creating a “culture of intimidation” aiming to “stifle speech” among his critics. Pretty Nixonian.
(snip)
“Or pretty cynical — as the Comey nomination confirms. The FBI is arguably the sole law enforcement agency with the power to bring down a president. That’s why Nixon never would have nominated a member of the opposition party to lead it. But Obama did. Obama no doubt holds Comey in high regard and believes he’ll be a good FBI director. But Obama had to be mindful that the nomination sends other, more complicated messages.
On one hand, Obama was kissing off congressional Republicans and telling the world he has nothing to fear from them. On another, more promising note, he was saying that bipartisanship is still important and, even in Washington circa 2013, with the likes of Issa in full yowl, it’s not quite dead. In effect, it’s a declaration that although the Republican Party is in alarmingly bad shape, Republicans are still worth engaging in the mission of government and still have something constructive to offer.
“In effect, the Comey nomination is at once an insult hurled at Republican leaders and a magnanimous gesture of reconciliation. I wonder which part will be reciprocated.”
DLH with R Mall
