Comey lets rip on White House ‘lies’
OUSTED FBI chief James Comey accused Donald Trump’s White House of lies and defamation on Thursday in wounding sworn testimony that plunged his already troubled presidency deeper into peril.
During almost three hours of extraordinarily frank televised statements, Comey described himself as “stunned” by Trump’s “very disturbing” behaviour in several private meetings.
Detailing one-on-one talks with a sitting president – which under normal circumstances would never see the light of day – Comey said he took painstaking notes for fear Trump might “lie” about the unusual encounters.
That account painted a devastating picture of an untrustworthy president, who at best unknowingly shred the norms of office by pressing Comey on the probe into Russian election meddling, and at worst may have criminally obstructed justice.
During one White House dinner, Comey recalled that the president asked him for “loyalty” and to lay off his former national security adviser Mike Flynn – who is under criminal investigation over his Russia ties – imploring Comey to go”.
Comey indicated that it was now up to a high-powered special prosecutor to determine whether that behaviour, and his own sacking, constituted an obstruction of justice, a potentially impeachable offence.
“It’s my judgment that I was fired because of the Russia investigation,” he told senators.
Easing months of speculation, Comey did confirm Trump was not personally the subject of a counter-terror or criminal probe when he left the FBI last month.
The White House and Trump’s lawyers expressed vindication over some parts of Comey’s testimony and lashed out at others.
Lawyer Marc Kasowitz said the president “never told Mr Comey ‘I need loyalty, I expect loyalty’ in form or substance”, rejecting a key allegation made by the sacked FBI director.
As the hearing played out, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan appeared to sympathise with Trump over his interactions with Comey, telling a news conference that “the president’s new at this”, in terms of the necessary protocols. — AFP “let this