Jonathan Turley on James Comey's Alleged Lies to Congress

Comey's Testimony and Indictment

• 🎯 James Comey is facing charges related to alleged false statements made to Congress in 2017.
• 🔍 The indictment focuses on two counts, mirroring the crime for which Michael Flynn was charged, creating a "crushing irony" according to Professor Turley.
• 💡 The charges allege that false statements also constituted obstruction, but proving perjury against sophisticated individuals like Comey is difficult.

Allegations of Leaking Information

• 🗣️ The core of the indictment appears to be whether Comey lied about authorizing leaks of information.
• 🤝 Comey later admitted to contacting a friend, Daniel Richmond, to leak information to the media after his firing.
• 📰 This friend then passed the information to Michael Schmidt at The New York Times, influencing coverage of the Russia collusion story.

Comey's Actions and FBI Rules

• 🚨 An inspector general report found that Comey violated FBI rules by removing FBI information, though it did not find he leaked classified information.
• ⚠️ Comey's actions, including removing material from the FBI and admitting to leaking, do not present a "pristine appearance" and suggest a basis for the charges.
• 🎭 Comey is described as a careful player but also a "rogue operator" when under pressure, citing his handling of the Clinton press conference and his actions upon being fired.

Broader Implications and Controversy

• ⚖️ The case is expected to remain controversial, with legitimate concerns about prosecuting a political opponent.
• 🌊 Washington is described as a city that "floats on a rolling city of leaks," making a leak prosecution particularly unnerving.
• 🗣️ President Trump expressed strong negative sentiments towards Comey, calling him one of the "worst human beings" and celebrating his indictment.
• 📚 Turley notes Comey wrote a book on ethical leadership, which many disagreed with, and highlights the need to examine the evidence in the current case.