Former FBI Director James Comey and President Trump discussed harsh measures for dealing with leakers, according to memos written by Comey that were released Thursday evening.
During one conversation with Trump detailed in a memo dated Feb. 19, 2017, Comey wrote that the two had vocalized their concerns about leaks. Comey had stressed that leaks were especially harmful to the agency’s ability to operate, and Trump said, “We need to go after the reporters.”
As the meeting ended, Comey said Trump brought up leakers again.
“The President then wrapped up our conversation by returning to the issue of finding leakers. I said something about the value of putting a head on a pike as a message,” Comey wrote in the memo.
“He replied by saying it may involve putting reporters in jail. ‘They spend a couple days in jail, make a new friend, and they are ready to talk.’ I laughed as I walked to the door Reince Preibus had opened,” Comey wrote.
The memos authored by Comey were sent to members of Congress by the Justice Department on Thursday.
Comey was fired by President Trump in May 2017 and is the author of A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, which was published earlier this week.
