Former FBI Director James Comey, who is a possible witness in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, has brought on former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as a personal lawyer on his legal team, according to a new report.
Two sources confirmed to Talking Points Memo that he had been hired by Comey.
It’s uncertain how Fitzgerald will be assisting Comey, but the report comes after the leak of his memos last week.
The Justice Department’s inspector general is conducting an investigation into whether Comey leaked classified information when he shared several memos recounting conversations he had with President Trump to a friend not affiliated with the government.
Comey also awaits the conclusion of a separate DOJ inspector general investigation into his management of the FBI case focusing on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s email server.
Comey is feeling pressure from Congress as well, after 11 Republican House members recently wrote Attorney General Jeff Sessions, urging him to prosecute Comey and others, including Clinton and former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe.
Fitzgerald did not provide comment to TPM on the report and one of Comey’s lawyers David Kelley did not confirm or deny whether Fitzgerald had been hired by Comey, but did say “Pat and Jim have been friends and colleagues for a long time.”
According to TPM, Comey named Fitzgerald the godfather of one of his children.
Comey, who was fired as FBI director last May, is in the middle of a publicity tour for his newly released book, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership.
