McCabe Discusses Comey’s Leak Charges
In a recent conversation, Andrew McCabe, who was James Comey’s deputy at the FBI, stated he is “unaware” of any leaks approved by Comey, which are at the heart of the charges brought against him last week.
McCabe, who held the role of deputy director from 2016 to 2018, pointed out that the evidence related to the charges isn’t “clear enough” to justify prosecuting Comey. He raised concerns about the implications of these claims on deliberations in Congress.
During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” McCabe remarked, “What I can say to Jake is that I don’t know that Jim Comey has allowed others to leak information.” He emphasized that he hadn’t personally witnessed such behavior during his tenure alongside Comey.
“It wasn’t something I experienced or observed while working with him,” McCabe added. “So, I can’t really speak to the clarity of his testimony. I’m not sure it provides a solid basis for claims of false statements or perjury.”
Comey faces serious accusations, including making a false statement to Congress and obstructing a lawsuit brought by Congress.
The case has raised numerous questions, not least regarding statements Comey made in 2020, insisting he had no knowledge of any unnamed FBI sources related to news reports.
It’s also unclear if the investigations involve figures like President Trump or Hillary Clinton, leaving some ambiguity around the unnamed source.
Back in 2019, federal prosecutors had suggested charges against McCabe due to his actions during his time at the FBI, but no charges were ultimately brought against him.
In a report from the Ministry of Justice, an inspector criticized McCabe for approving a leak concerning a federal investigation about the Clinton Foundation during the election period. When questioned about this under oath, findings revealed that McCabe had been less than truthful in multiple instances.
On CNN, McCabe emphasized that he had never requested Comey to allow any media disclosures. He mentioned that only Comey and he held the authority to make such decisions, indicating this was part of his usual responsibilities.
While the indictment doesn’t clearly identify the intermediary in the leaks, speculation suggests it could be Daniel Richman, a professor with a history of leaking information to Comey. Yet, it’s currently unknown if Richman is linked to the charges against Comey.
McCabe also criticized the Justice Department for not reaching out to Comey sooner regarding the indictment. He expressed surprise that the prosecution hadn’t sought his input or perspective given their past interactions.
Despite his concerns about possible scrutiny from the Trump administration, McCabe voiced feelings of exhaustion rather than fear. “I’m not worried. I’m just exhausted,” he remarked when reflecting on the situation.
Comey has insisted on his innocence and is scheduled to appear for his arraignment on October 9. His recent indictment follows criticisms that the administration delayed action against him and others seen as political adversaries.
