‘Really confusing’: Former FBI chief Comey can’t understand Russia probe findings

‘Really confusing’: Former FBI chief Comey can’t understand obstruction of justice findings in Russia probe

  • James Comey said: ‘I can’t quite understand the obstruction of justice stuff’
  • The former FBI Director had been fired by Trump just as the Russia probe began
  • Comey is baffled by the Attorney General’s legal position and his decision 
  • Comey was speaking to an audience in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday

Former FBI chief James Comey has said he is ‘confused’ by Mueller’s findings on obstruction of justice after the Russia probe wrapped up.

A summary of Robert Mueller’s report was published by Attorney General William Barr on Sunday which found no evidence of collusion by the Trump campaign with Russians.

But Comey said he was confused about Mueller’s position neither to charge nor exonerate President Donald Trump over obstruction of justice.

Former FBI Director James Comey, with his attorney, speaks to reporters after a day of testimony on Capitol Hill in Washington last December

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before leaving the White House in Washington last week

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before leaving the White House in Washington last week

‘The part that’s confusing is, I can’t quite understand what’s going on with the obstruction stuff,’ Comey told an audience in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to NBC News.

‘And I have great faith in Bob Mueller, but I just can’t tell from the letter why didn’t he decide these questions when the entire rationale for a special counsel is to make sure the politicals aren’t making the key charging decisions,’ the former FBI Director said.

Comey’s firing in May 2017, was reportedly a key factor for the then-acting FBI chief Andrew McCabe to press on with investigating the Trump campaign for obstruction of justice.

Comey also told the audience he found Barr’s legal position ‘really confusing’ in not determining the President could be charged with obstruction of justice.

According to NBC, Comey said: ‘The notion that obstruction cases are somehow undermined by the absence of proof of an underlying crime, that is not my experience in 40 years of doing this nor is it the Department of Justice’s tradition.

‘Obstruction crimes matter without regard to what you prove about the underlying crime.’

Comey was clear he wanted the full report made public.

He also added that the special counsel had concluded one salient point – that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election – Comey added, ‘That was not a hoax.’

Trump has repeatedly labelled it the ‘Russia hoax’ and joyously welcomed the findings at the White House on Sunday.

Ann Mueller and Special Counsel Robert Mueller leaving church on Sunday in Washington

Ann Mueller and Special Counsel Robert Mueller leaving church on Sunday in Washington

Attorney General William Barr leaving his home on Tuesday in McLean, Virginia, after delivering a four page summary of Mueller's report on Sunday

Attorney General William Barr leaving his home on Tuesday in McLean, Virginia, after delivering a four page summary of Mueller’s report on Sunday

The president had already boasted that Mueller’s 22-month Russia probe ended with a ‘complete exoneration,’ slamming the entire operation as ‘an illegal takedown that failed’ and saying he hopes ‘somebody is going to be looking at the other side.’ 

He also tweeted a victory message: ‘No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!’

Democrats have pointed out that Mueller found evidence for and against obstruction and demanded to see his full report.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk