Comey’s relationship with Mueller examined
Has James Comey, the former director of the FBI, ever hugged and kissed special counsel Robert Mueller?
President Donald Trump, who fired Comey in May 2017, said in September he could produce more than 100 photographs of such affection.
In testimony behind closed doors before the House Judiciary and House Oversight committees Friday, Comey had an answer: “I’m an admirer, but not that kind of admirer.”
Comey’s testimony was laid out in a 235-page transcript that was released Saturday.
It revealed that he answered questions about investigations into Hillary Clinton’s email server and whether Trump’s campaign advisers colluded with the Russian government in the 2016 presidential election.
He defended the integrity of the FBI despite claims of bias. He spoke about four Americans the FBI investigated for connections to Russian interference in the 2016 election. And he defended his decision not to prosecute Clinton in July 2016 over her handling of classified information while she was secretary of state.
In two angry tweets, Trump on Sunday lashed out at Comey, calling him a liar.
“His Friday testimony was so untruthful!” Trump said in one. “This whole deal is a Rigged Fraud headed up by dishonest people who would do anything so that I could not become President.”
What else did Comey have to say Friday? The transcript offered some interesting morsels. Here’s a look.
Comey and Mueller: Are they best friends?
In an interview with The Daily Caller in September, Trump declared that Mueller was Comey’s best friend.
“And I could give you 100 pictures of him and Comey hugging and kissing each other,” Trump said.
About the photographs, Comey said he was not aware that any existed.
“I have never hugged or kissed the man,” he said. “Again, I’m an admirer but not that kind of admirer.”
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., asked, “Are you best friends with Robert Mueller?”
“I am not,” Comey replied. “I admire the heck out of the man, but I don’t know his phone number, I’ve never been to his house, I don’t know his children’s names. I think I had a meal once alone with him in a restaurant. I like him.”
Nadler thanked Comey and said he would not ask “whether you’ve ever hugged and kissed him.”
“A relief to my wife,” Comey replied.
He was quizzed on the history of elections.
At one point, questioning turned to text exchanges between FBI agent Peter Strzok, who had overseen an investigation into Trump’s campaign, and Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer.
Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said that one text from March 2016 read, “Hillary should win 100 million to zero.”
“In the course of human history, has anyone won an election 100 million to zero, to your knowledge?” Gowdy asked.
“I don’t mean to be facetious,” Comey replied.
“I can’t speak to Stalin’s reelection or Mao Zedong re-election campaigns.”
He added, “I remember as a student the vote in Soviet Russia was 99.9 per cent to …”
Gowdy interjected to say, “We are going to get to Russia in a little bit.”