Rips Comey as leaker, but then
A FURIOUS President Trump branded former FBI director James Comey a “LEAKER & LIAR” on Friday without citing any evidence and then pardoned a former George W. Bush administration aide convicted of similar crimes.
Trump’s grant of clemency to Lewis (Scooter) Libby, former Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, for being “treated unfairly” by a special counsel raised eyebrows in Washington as the commander-in-chief fumes about his own probe problems.
“I dont (sic) know Mr. Libby,” Trump said in a statement. “(B)ut for years I have heard that he has been treated unfairly. Hopefully, this full pardon will help rectify a very sad portion of his life.”
Libby was convicted in 2007 of obstructing justice, perjury and lying to the FBIin relation to the leaking of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame’s identity.
Since then, his case has been criticized by conservatives, who argue he was the victim of a politically motivated prosecution by a special counsel.
Trump has not shown any previous interest in the case, but many, including Plame, pointed out why it could be relevant to a President whose tenure has been shadowed by a special counsel probe.
“It’s not about me, it’s absolutely not about Scooter Libby, it’s about Donald Trump and his future,” Plame told MSNBC. “It’s very clear that this is a message he is sending that you can commit crimes against national security and you will be pardoned.”
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team is looking at possible obstruction of justice by Trump and whether anyone on his campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the 2016 election.
Conservative criticism of the special counsel in the Plame case strongly echoed current critiques of Mueller, led by Trump’s constant cries of a “witch hunt.”
But others see Trump’s move as a way to indicate to those in his circle who fear being indicted by Mueller not to worry.
“There have been sketchy #pardons in the past. But this is the first time we’ve seen the ostentatious (and gratuitous) use of pardons to encourage potential #obstruction and #perjury, and to undermine an ongoing #investigation,” tweeted lawyer Joshua Matz.