Former FBI Director James Comey took to Twitter on Monday to shred Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress for trying to “tear down” the FBI.
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Comey was talking specifically about today’s news that Deputy FBI Director Andy McCabe stepped down after facing pressure from the president to do so.
According to The New York Times, McCabe’s decision to leave before his planned retirement comes “after months of withering criticism from President Trump, telling friends he felt pressure from the head of the bureau to leave.”
In his tweet, Comey said, “Special Agent Andrew McCabe stood tall over the last 8 months, when small people were trying to tear down an institution we all depend on.”
Special Agent Andrew McCabe stood tall over the last 8 months, when small people were trying to tear down an institution we all depend on. He served with distinction for two decades. I wish Andy well. I also wish continued strength for the rest of the FBI. America needs you.
— James Comey (@Comey) January 30, 2018
Comey’s words are certainly true. With Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation seemingly about to nail Trump for obstruction of justice, the president has become desperate.
So, too, have Trump’s GOP allies in Congress, who today decided to release a classified memo with the sole purpose of hurting the credibility of the FBI and undermining the investigation into the president’s ties to Russia and any possible obstruction of justice.
James Comey is certainly right that America needs the FBI to continue doing important work to keep the country safe. New Republican efforts to undercut that work puts American national security at risk.
But, sadly, this near-constitutional crisis the country finds itself in was largely caused by Comey’s own actions as FBI director during the 2016 election. After all, without the Oct. 28 letter, which turned out to be nothing but more meaningless email noise, there’s a good chance Hillary Clinton would be in the White House today.
It’s heartening that Comey is on the right side of history now. He is right to speak out against this dangerous president and his enablers in Congress. The work of the FBI and the intelligence community more broadly is vital.
But it sure would’ve been nice if Comey didn’t help cause this crisis in the first place.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
