Game of Thrones in the Comey Versus Trump War of Words

Former FBI Director James Comey is by no means a paragon of virtue in this war of words with Trump. Comey violated FBI precedent and policy against commenting on the status of ongoing FBI investigations, and against interference with elections by FBI intervention. His actions of publicly announcing a reopening of a probe of Clinton’s email server usage was inexcusable. Moreover, he did so before examination of the “newly discovered” emails, which ultimately turned out to be previously examined evidence. This premature action of failed logic and protocol resulted in a promptly announced reclosing of the probe, but nevertheless affected the election. However, Comey has owned up to the action as ill-advised, maybe even “idiotic.” He has not attempted to paint himself as faultless. Neither is he driven purely by self-serving promotional egocentrism, as the Trump camp complains. That charge, ironically, may be evidence of “projection,” in which one accuses another of a fault that more aptly characterizes the accuser. In fact, the Trump reaction to Comey is likely to sell more copies of the book and enhance promotion of Comey’s visibility more than anything Comey says or does.

It is deeply ironic that the apparently strongest criticism of Comey by Trump and his surrogates is an action that helped Trump get elected without winning the popular vote. The secondary complaint by Trump against Comey is that he is a “liar” because he revealed an attempt by Trump to coerce him to drop an investigation against former National Security Adviser Flynn. Substantial other circumstantial evidence supports Comey’s version of the events, including departure from the room by Sessions and Pence at the time, and demands for “pledge of loyalty” made to other White House personnel. Ultimately, facts reveal that Flynn was corrupt and any attempt bt Trump to shield him from investigation would be obstruction. Comey acknowledges that he should have specifically stated to Trump that acceding to the Trump directive would have been obstruction of justice but admitted he did not have the courage to call out Trump at the time.

Another accusation by Trump against Comey is that he allegedly leaked classified information. It is unclear what that "classified" information was, and Comey has not even been formally charged with any such wrongdoing. Ironically, Trump now moves to pardon Scooter Libby who has been formally charged and convicted of leaking classified intelligence information for political gain, a release of information that put lives of intelligence operatives in the field in mortal danger. Such contradictions only serve to further support the Comey claim that Trump lacks the moral judgment and capacity to occupy the Oval Office.  

Taken as a whole, the public should simply exercise patience and critical judgment, examining the facts and evidence regarding each charge and counter in this war of words. Trump would appear to come out the loser so far in any contest regarding credibility. Empirical studies have demonstrated the verity in Comey’s accusation that Trump is “untethered from the truth” and is a pathological liar about things big and small. This goes beyond Trump’s very limited vocabulary and tendency for hyperbole and well beyond opinion. For example, on a factual basis, abridgment of civil rights, social justice transgressions, and personal and moral corruption of J. Edgar Hoover would surely make any actions by Comey pale in comparison. But Trump claims Comey is the “worst FBI Director” in the history of the agency. Factual inaccuracy, driven by personal animus and perhaps by fear that Comey's disclosure actually threaten his position of power lie behind Trumps attacks.

Comey should have been fired from his post as FBI Director for his procedural mistakes and errors of judgment, but not for his pursuit of Russian interference and collusion by Trump and his campaign. The subsequent work by Mueller strongly indicates the necessity and importance of such inquiries. More importantly, none of that makes Comey's revelations in the book less credible or less verifiable. He has stated that he kept notes and records of his actions and interactions with Trump. Many of those pieces of information are likely in the hands of Mueller’s investigation team. Time will reveal where the weight of the evidence rests. Comey may make some financial gain from the revelations, to make up for losses resulting from termination of his career. There may also be some sense of vindication for the way Trump treated him.  That is but part of the lesson Trump might learn that when you treat people unfairly and maliciously, you can fairly expect there to be negative consequences.