The Trump administration may yet prosecute one of the president’s chief critics: former FBI Director James Comey.
During a broader discussion Sunday about the president’s declassification order related to the Russia investigation, “Meet the Press” host asked White House press secretary Sarah Sanders what Trump expects will come out of it.
“Does he expect criminal charges? Does he expect — he’s accused James Comey of treason. Does he expect Jim Comey to be arrested?” Todd asked.
Sanders said the decision will be left to Attorney General William Barr.
“Again, we’re going to let the attorney general make that determination as he gets to the conclusion of this investigation,” Sanders replied.
“We certainly expect the people that were responsible and that were part of this unprecedented obstruction and corruption at the FBI, those people should certainly be held responsible and be held accountable, and the president expects that to take place,” she added.
The interview followed Trump’s claim that certain leaders in the bureau, including Comey, committed “treason” by trying to “take down” his campaign.
At least three federal investigations into alleged Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse and other matters related to the way the FBI and the Justice Department conducted the Trump-Russia investigation and several top ex-officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan and Comey, are under increasing scrutiny.
On Thursday, Trump gave Barr “full and complete authority to declassify information” related to the origins of the federal investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. Democrats railed against the decision. House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff said Trump and Barr are conspiring “to weaponize law enforcement and classified information against their political enemies.”
Trump rallied supporters for much of his 2016 campaign by calling for his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to be locked up due to her use of an unauthorized email server while serving as secretary of state.
