Former FBI Director James Comey advised against impeaching President Trump as support for it grows in the Democratic-controlled House.
“He definitely engaged in conduct that is laid out in the Mueller report that is deeply concerning, instances of obstruction of justice. But really, Congress should figure out whether that would trigger impeachment. As a citizen, I kind of hope not because I think the American people would be let off the hook if Donald Trump were impeached and removed from office. A lot of his supporters would think some sort of coup had taken place,” Comey told an NBC affiliate in Sacramento in video released Monday.
Comey, who was fired by the president in May 2017, has been a staunch critic of Trump, but said his potential removal from office would deny voters the chance to send him a message in the upcoming presidential election.
“We need an inflection point. Impeachment would deprive us of that. We need to show what we stand for,” he said.
Video: Former FBI Director James Comey says he hopes Congress won’t impeach Donald Trump, “I think the American people would be let off the hook” (KCRA) pic.twitter.com/TIR0tb45yH
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 24, 2019
A growing number of Democrats in the House have signaled they support impeachment proceedings amid reports that Trump pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, who may end up being his rival in the 2020 presidential election.
Even if the House impeaches Trump, the president’s removal from office faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority.
