Fox News
Ex-FBi chief James Comey on Fox News on Sunday.
- Donald Trump suggested James Comey could face "years in jail" after the ex-FBI chief admitted "sloppiness" in the FBI's investigation into the Russia probe.
- "I was overconfident, as director, in our procedures. And it's important that a leader be accountable and transparent," Comey told Fox News host Chris Wallace on Sunday.
- In response, Trump tweeted: "So what are the consequences for his unlawful conduct. Could it be years in jail? Where are the apologies to me and others, Jim?"
- A report released last Monday by Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz into the FBI investigation into the Russia probe said there were "significant errors and omissions" by the bureau when trying to get permission to spy on a Trump aide.
- Trump has long claimed the FBI investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election had an anti-Trump bias. Comey denied it was the case on Fox News on Sunday.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Donald Trump appeared to suggest that James Comey could face "years in jail" after the ex-FBI chief admitted "sloppiness" in the bureau's Russia probe investigation.
Comey told "Fox News Sunday" that he was wrong to defend the FBI's use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) when trying to spy on former Trump aide Carter Page.
Trump seized the chance to add insult to injury for Comey late Sunday, and suggested he should see the inside of a jail cell.
"So now Comey's admitting he was wrong. Wow, but he's only doing so because he got caught red handed. He was actually caught a long time ago. So what are the consequences for his unlawful conduct. Could it be years in jail? Where are the apologies to me and others, Jim?," Trump tweeted.
A report released Monday by Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz into the FBI investigation found 17 "significant errors and omissions" in the bureau's conduct.
Comey told Fox host Chris Wallace on Sunday that Horowitz "was right" and that he "was wrong" to defend the FBI.
"I was overconfident, as director, in our procedures. And it's important that a leader be accountable and transparent.
"If I were still director, I'd be saying the same thing that [FBI director Christopher Wray] is saying, which is that we are going to get to the bottom of this, because the most important question is, is it systemic? Are there problems in other cases?"
Trump on Saturday had tweeted his dismay that Fox News decided to give Comey airtime, but his worries would likely have eased after Comey admitted wrongdoing.
"Hard to believe that @FoxNews will be interviewing sleazebag & totally discredited former FBI Director James Comey," Trump had tweeted.
Speaking to Wallace, Comey said that it was untrue that the FBI had a political bias against Trump.
"The FBI was accused of treason, of illegal spying, of tapping Mr Trump's wires illegally, of opening an investigation without justification, of being a criminal conspiracy to unseat a president. All that was nonsense."
Horowitz's report found there was no "political bias" in the FBI's investigation.
Horowitz's report identified that the FBI's application to surveil Page had several problems, one of which was that an FBI lawyer doctored an email from another agency by adding the words, "not a source," which led an FBI supervisor to sign off on the third FISA warrant renewal for Page.
So now Comey's admitting he was wrong. Wow, but he's only doing so because he got caught red handed. He was actually caught a long time ago. So what are the consequences for his unlawful conduct. Could it be years in jail? Where are the apologies to me and others, Jim?
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2019EXCLUSIVE: Former FBI Director James Comey responds to the inspector general report and Michael Horowitz's finding that the Steele dossier played a "central and essential" role in the FISA order. #FNS #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/lNxO3DRoSI
- FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) December 15, 2019