Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey argued in his new book that President Donald Trump should not be prosecuted after leaving the White House, even if evidence emerges against him.
Buried amid the chaotic scenes at the US Capitol was the announcement that Democrat Joe Biden has named failed Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland as his choice for attorney general.
But Comey—who orchestrated the FBI conspiracy to undermine Trump in the Russia collusion hoax and faces potential prosecution from the investigation of special counsel John Durham surprisingly rushed to the president’s defense.
He said the attorney general should not “pursue a criminal investigation of Donald Trump,” according to an excerpt from his forthcoming book obtained by The Guardian.
“No matter how compelling the roadmap left” by former special counsel Robert Mueller, or “how powerful the evidence strewn across his history of porn stars and financial fraud,” Biden’s Justice Department should not probe Trump, he wrote.
“Although those cases might be righteous in a vacuum,” he wrote, “the mission of the next attorney general must be fostering the trust of the American people.”
The stance is surprising considering Comey’s constant criticism of Trump.
Just a few months ago, he claimed Trump left a “legacy of damage” that will destroy the Justice Department’s credibility.
“The Justice Department was damaged when the attorney general and the president lied to the American people about the work of the special counsel investigating the president,” Comey wrote, referring to former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Comey also wrote in his book that he doubts whether Trump should be pardoned by Biden if he were to be prosecuted.
“By pardoning a resigned president, [former President Gerald] Ford had held [former President Richard Nixon] accountable in a way that Trump would not be, even were he to be pardoned after losing re-election,” Comey wrote
“That might not be enough accountability in Trump’s case,” Comey said. “Or it may be, especially if local prosecutors in New York charge Trump for a legacy of financial fraud.”
Comey was referring to an investigation the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is leading into Trump’s financial affairs.
Democrats hope New York officials will find a way to criminally charge Trump for tax and insurance fraud, but their investigation has thus far found nothing.
