Former FBI Director James Comey lashed out at the drama unfurling at his former agency.
Rallying late Friday in defense of the Federal Bureau of Intelligence’s longtime general counsel James Baker, who is reportedly being reassigned as his potential role in leaking the infamous Trump dossier to the media has come under scrutiny, Comey issued an uncharacteristically specific tweet.
“Sadly, we are now at a point in our political life when anyone can be attacked for partisan gain,” Comey tweeted. “James Baker, who is stepping down as FBI General Counsel, served our country incredibly well for 25 years & deserves better. He is what we should all want our public servants to be.”
Sadly, we are now at a point in our political life when anyone can be attacked for partisan gain. James Baker, who is stepping down as FBI General Counsel, served our country incredibly well for 25 years & deserves better. He is what we should all want our public servants to be.
— James Comey (@Comey) December 23, 2017
This is Comey’s first overtly political tweet since coming out publicly on the social media platform, as he has heretofore stuck to a formula of only subtweeting President Trump with historical quotes.
Baker informed colleagues Wednesday that he was being “reassigned” by FBI Director Christopher Wray – a typical move when a new director comes in – the Washington Post reported this week.
Baker, who became general counsel under Comey, has come under scrutiny by congressional Republicans investigating whether he leaked information from the infamous Trump dossier, which contains unverified claims about President Trump’s ties to Russia.
Documents indicate Baker was in contact with David Corn, a reporter for left-leaning Mother Jones, in the weeks leading up the 2016 general election, according to a Politico report late Friday. Mother Jones was the first to report on the dossier in late October.
The FBI did not comment for the story, and Corn outright denies that Baker was a source.
The reason for Baker’s reassignment is unknown. An internal investigation into Baker recently came to a halt and is unlikely to lead to any charges.
But Trump – who fired Comey in May – tweeted this month that the FBI’s reputation is in “tatters” and has reportedly complained about Wray’s slow pace in removing officials he views as being loyal to Comey.
Baker worked with Comey in the Clinton emails investigation that ultimately found she committed no criminal wrongdoing.
“He believes politically motivated senior leaders, including former Director Comey and others he empowered, have tainted the agency’s reputation for unbiased pursuit of justice,” White House spokesman Raj Shah said, according to the New York Times.
The recent revelation that FBI employees involved in the special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia inquiry showed anti-Trump bias has further shaken the agency.
Mueller removed Peter Strzok, a top FBI counterintelligence agent, from his investigation because of anti-Trump texts he exchanged with Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer who had also been assigned to the Mueller probe and has since been removed.
