Comey charge involves his role in sharing info about Hillary Clinton-related probe: Sources
A day after the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, officials with the Justice Department were still tight-lipped about the details of their case. However, sources revealed that one of the two counts in the indictment is focused on Comey’s alleged involvement in sharing information about an FBI investigation related to Hillary Clinton.
The first count in the indictment charges Comey with making false statements to Congress. This count revolves around Comey’s supposed role in having his close friend and former personal lawyer, Daniel Richman, provide information to reporters about an FBI probe connected to Clinton. According to sources, Comey allegedly lied under oath to the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020 when he denied authorizing someone at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the investigation.
The indictment specifically states that Comey knowingly made false statements when he testified that he never authorized anyone at the FBI to serve as an anonymous source in news reports related to the investigation. However, it was later revealed that Comey had indeed authorized Richman to act as an anonymous source in news reports regarding the FBI investigation.
Sources have identified “PERSON 1” as Hillary Clinton and “PERSON 3” as Daniel Richman. Richman, a longtime law professor, has been subpoenaed in connection with the case and met with federal prosecutors last week. It remains unclear which specific news reports are being referenced in the indictment.
The testimony that Comey gave during his questioning by Senator Ted Cruz is crucial to the case. Cruz confronted Comey about contradictory statements made by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who claimed that Comey was aware of and authorized the leaking of information to the Wall Street Journal. Comey stood by his testimony, maintaining that he had never authorized anyone to leak information.
Richman’s role in the FBI during Comey’s tenure as director is also under scrutiny. As a Special Government Employee, Richman worked closely with the FBI on promoting lawful access to encrypted phones. He gained attention in 2017 for sharing memos documenting meetings between Comey and President Trump with a New York Times reporter. Richman later clarified that he did not disclose classified information to reporters and believed he was helping disseminate unclassified, important information.
Richman has not responded to requests for comment on the matter. The case against Comey continues to unfold, shedding light on the intricate web of relationships and information sharing within the FBI. The investigation into Comey’s alleged misconduct underscores the importance of transparency and integrity within law enforcement agencies.
