Allies of President Trump are planning to attack fired FBI Director James Comey’s credibility, and will try to paint him as a liar and leaker to counter any damage his upcoming book tour could do to Trump, according to a report.
The White House has approved a Republican National Committee plan to call the former top law enforcement official “Lyin’ Comey” through a media and digital campaign designed to combat press interest in Comey’s highly-anticipated memoir, A Higher Loyalty, according to CNN.
“If Comey wants the spotlight back on him, we’ll make sure the American people understand why he has no one but himself to blame for his complete lack of credibility,” RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told CNN of the strategy, which relies heavily on clips of Democratic lawmakers criticizing Comey’s management of the bureau and its investigations.
“We are learning this morning that President Trump’s allies are preparing an extensive campaign to fight back against James Comey’s publicity tour,” says @JeffZeleny in a CNN exclusive.
He goes inside the plan to brand the former FBI director a liar here. https://t.co/KwdWCrLHUk pic.twitter.com/XSUFmrEnYK
— New Day (@NewDay) April 12, 2018
The strategy’s unveiling follows a Politico report on April 9 that found the White House was ill-prepared for the negative publicity the book’s release is likely to generate.
Officials were instead hoping Trump would “appear above the fray” while on his now-canceled South American trip and as he hosts Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago, Fla., on April 17 and 19, according to the news outlet.
Comey’s first televised interview since being dismissed by Trump last May will air Sunday on ABC, just before A Higher Loyalty is launched Tuesday.
