Johnson on Comey: ‘There are numerous issues that he may have been indicted for’

[ad_1] Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated on Sunday that there are “many issues” for which former FBI Director James Comey may have confronted expenses, however stated the statute of limitations had expired on these different allegations.

“It is a vital precept for us to use that everyone has to subscribe to the regulation, even a former FBI director, and he has heaps to reply for,” Johnson stated on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“There are numerous issues that he may have been indicted for, however the statute of limitations ran out on so a lot of these issues,” he continued. “Not right here. Perjury is essential. You may't — particularly if you happen to're a excessive official, appointed or elected official — you can't elevate your hand, take an oath and deceive Congress.”

A federal grand jury indicted Comey on expenses of creating a false assertion in addition to one other for obstruction of a congressional continuing in reference to testimony he gave earlier than the Senate in 2020. Comey has maintained his innocence, stating that he by no means knowingly gave false testimony earlier than Congress.

The indictment makes Comey the primary of President Trump’s many perceived political enemies to face expenses.

Trump has lengthy known as for expenses towards Comey, whom he blames for the investigation into his marketing campaign’s ties to Russia within the 2016 election — one thing he has deemed a “witch hunt.” Final week, Trump appeared to explicitly stress his legal professional basic to pursue a case towards Comey and different opponents.

Trump stated Friday that he hopes “there are others” who will face expenses, accusing Democrats of beforehand “weaponizing the Justice Division like no person in historical past.”

He has additionally known as Comey a “soiled cop,” together with in a Friday night put up on Fact Social.

However Johnson famous {that a} grand jury, not the president or his administration, voted to convey an indictment towards Comey, and the speaker rejected allegations that Trump was weaponizing the Justice Division.

As a substitute, he stated, for 4 years beneath the Biden administration, the Justice Division focused Trump, including, “Comey was a major individual liable for that.”

Trump fired Comey as FBI director in 2017 whereas the bureau’s investigation into doable ties between Russia and the marketing campaign was ongoing.

“They weaponized the DOJ,” Johnson stated. “And so that is what Comey finally was the chief of and liable for. He was one of many major individuals who did that.”

“And I believe if he lied to Congress about what he knew and when he knew it, then that may be a matter that transcends politics. I believe he must be tried for that, and I anticipate that the jury in that case will decide that that is precisely what he did.”