Rep. Mark Meadows says he is sending a referral to the Justice Department inspector general concerning alleged “inconsistencies” between what former FBI Director James Comey told the watchdog and Congress.
During a hearing Wednesday, the North Carolina Republican said he and fellow GOP Rep. Jim Jordan would send a referral after Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified that it would be an “appropriate” course of action. Horowitz acknowledged he may not be “up to date” on all congressional testimony “so usually we rely upon the referrals coming in from Congress.”
Such a referral could manifest itself into another headache for Comey, who had so far dodged prosecution. A report released last month showed Horowitz criminally referred Comey to the Justice Department for his handling of sensitive memos describing his interactions with Trump, but the agency declined to prosecute.
In reading through Horowitz’s report, Meadows explained to Fox News on Thursday that he was able to identify what he believes are examples of Comey misleading Congress because he told the inspector general something different.
This referral, coupled with Horowitz’s report on alleged surveillance abuses, could spell trouble for Comey.
“James Comey’s problems are just now starting. We’ve seen enough documents. We know the IG’s report is coming out, and listen, the only thing that has been consistent about Director James Comey is his willingness to go after this president and it’s time we hold him accountable,” Meadows told America’s Newsroom. The congressman also listed out what some of the “dozens” of “irregularities” were, including Comey’s comments about his memos and telling Trump when he was transitioning into office that he was not the subject of investigation.
“There may be a good explanation, but I have yet to find one,” Meadows said.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Meadows’ office for more details on the referral.
No stranger to Republican hype, Comey this week expressed little concern about where Horowitz’s latest findings may lead. “I keep seeing that I’m going to be indicted, which they said over and over again for the last two years. I’m highly confident that’s not true. So then they’ll just move on, making other stuff up after that peters out,” he told an audience in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
Still, Republicans allege the FBI misled the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in using an unverified dossier to obtain warrants to electronically surveil onetime Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Because Comey signed off on some of the warrant applications, they argue that he played a key role in the alleged misconduct.
One of Meadows’ GOP colleagues, House Intelligence ranking member Devin Nunes, said earlier this month that Horowitz’s work sets the stage for Comey to be part of a conspiracy indictment by Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Attorney John Durham, who is reviewing the origins of the Russia investigation.
