Former FBI Director James Comey on Sunday mentioned he has, “full religion in our judicial system,” as he defends himself in an ongoing federal case in opposition to him over a 2025 Instagram publish.
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“I’ve full religion in our judicial system. It’s the genius of our founders. It’s frankly the one leg of our three-legged stool that’s nonetheless standing within the U.S. authorities, nevertheless it’s standing tall and straight,” Comey informed NBC Information’ “Meet the Press.” “It’s the guardian of the rule of legislation, and I consider in it.”
The previous FBI director was indicted final month for threatening the lifetime of the president after he posted a photograph of seashells forming the numbers, “86 47.”
Trump administration officers and the Justice Division allege that “86” means “to kill,” with President Donald Trump telling reporters within the Oval Workplace final month, “Nicely, if anyone is aware of something about crime, they know 86 — you recognize what 86 — it’s a mob time period for kill him.”
Restaurant staff, however, informed NBC Information final month that “86 it” is a standard, non-violent time period within the hospitality business.
In a “Meet the Press” interview earlier this month, Appearing Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche mentioned that the indictment goes past the seashell picture.
“This isn’t nearly a single Instagram publish,” Blanche mentioned on the time. “That is a couple of physique of proof that [prosecutors] collected over the collection of about 11 months. That proof was offered to the grand jury.”
He added that he was not “permitted” to publicly share different proof in opposition to Comey within the case.
On Sunday, Comey declined to touch upon the specifics of the seashell case, citing the continued authorized motion, and urged Blanche to not converse publicly about it both.
“He ought to not be speaking about it, I can’t speak about it,” the previous FBI director mentioned.
Since his indictment, Comey has a number of occasions mentioned he received’t keep silent within the face of assaults from the president and his allies, telling MS NOW final week that, “Donald Trump has a bottomless need to achieve revenge in opposition to those that criticized him,” and, “I’m not gonna be quiet; I’m going to proceed to discuss what I consider.”
In a separate interview with NBC Information final week, Comey additionally mentioned that concentrating on Trump’s foes is in direct battle with the Justice Division’s mission to uphold the legislation.
“The division can’t goal individuals like an Adam Schiff or Letitia James or Sen. Kelly as a result of the president doesn’t Like what they are saying,” the previous FBI director informed NBC Information’ Hallie Jackson. “It simply can’t be that approach and nonetheless have it uphold the rule of legislation on this nation.”
A separate indictment in opposition to Comey and James was dismissed final yr as a result of a decide discovered the prosecutor within the case was wrongly appointed. Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. have additionally been focused in separate circumstances that didn’t advance.
On Sunday, Comey mentioned that the dismissed case final yr was “completely,” a case of political payback as a result of the president doesn’t like him.
“We made a movement to have it dismissed as a vindictive prosecution,” the previous FBI director mentioned. “The president of america can’t use the Justice Division to focus on individuals as a result of he needs to retaliate in opposition to them. We simply can’t function as a republic if that occurs.”
