Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders believes Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Jim Comey should resign his position over his actions running up to the election, saying his departure would be good for the country.
Speaking on ABC Sunday, Sanders said Comey’s press conference in July on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private email server and his letter to Congress just days before the election were “outrageous” actions. While Sanders wouldn’t say Comey swung the election to President-elect Trump, he said in a tight election anything could have changed the outcome.
“Comey acted in an outrageous way during the campaign. No one can say this was decisive and this is what elected Trump, but clearly his behavior during the campaign and what he said a week or two before the election is unacceptable,” Sanders said.
Sanders added, “He should take a hard look at what he has done, and I do not think it would be a bad thing for the American people if he were to step down.”
There are many questions that need to be answered about the election, including what role the Russian government played in helping Trump get to the White House, Sanders said.
He said Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., is right to be concerned about the role Russia played in the election.
American intelligence officials report the Kremlin ran an influence campaign during the 2016 election and eventually developed a preference for Trump.
Sanders wouldn’t echo Lewis’ statement that Trump is not “legitimate,” but wants to see Congress investigate Russia’s role in helping him.
“I have great concerns, and apparently Republicans do as well, about the role Russian hacking played in getting him elected,” Sanders said.
In the meantime, Democrats must fight against congressional Republicans’ attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, he said.
Sanders said the plan to repeal Obamacare is going to harm the country, and it’s time for Democratic lawmakers to stand up and be counted.
“Do we do away with protecting the American people, to make sure that if you have an illness you can get insurance? Do we make sure young people can stay on their parents’ health insurance? Do we make sure there are no caps if you’re dealing with cancer?” Sanders said.
“It goes without saying that we have to make sure those protections are in place.”
