By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
By now you’ve heard that former FBI Director James Comey violated bureau policies over his handling of memos he kept on President Trump.
Those memos suggested the president tried to interfere in the FBI’s investigation of Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential election.
What also was revealed Thursday was that the inspector general found “no evidence” that Comey’s leaked memos were classified.
Trump and his apologists have repeatedly claimed, with no evidence, that Comey had leaked classified information.
James Comey leaked CLASSIFIED INFORMATION to the media. That is so illegal!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2017
Congressmen Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., were among those making the false allegations.
“We know that Jim Corey has leaked classified information,” Trump’s former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told the Fox Business Network, repeating that claim on Fox News this month.
Same goes with Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett, who said in April 2018 that Comey “leaked these classified documents to three people who he’s hired as his counsel so he can hide behind the attorney-client privilege on these communications.”
Others who have made the false claims include Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former White House aide Sebastian Gorka.
The mantra even continued after the inspector general report was released. On Thursday, Rep. Scott DesJarlais claimed on Twitter that Comey “leaked classified info.”
Today’s IG report shows James Comey stole documents, leaked classified info, violated FBI policy. This is 2nd investigation into his mismanagement. Another another one coming. And we’re still supposed to believe President firing him was obstruction? Gimme a break!
— Scott DesJarlais (@DesJarlaisTN04) August 29, 2019
To be clear, here’s what the inspector general reports says: “We found no evidence that Comey or his attorneys released any of the classified information contained in any of the Memos to members of the media.”
“I don’t need a public apology from those who defamed me, but a quick message with a ‘sorry we lied about you’ would be nice,” Comey tweeted.
And to all those who’ve spent two years talking about me “going to jail” or being a “liar and a leaker”—ask yourselves why you still trust people who gave you bad info for so long, including the president.
— James Comey (@Comey) August 29, 2019
