While Hillary Clinton and her campaign have attacked James Comey for his decision to make the public the latest developments in the FBI’s probe into Clinton’s private email server, some of her highest-profile backers have actually come out in support of the FBI and Director Comey.
Ed Rendell
On Tuesday, the former Pennsylvania governor stopped by “Morning Joe” to discuss the Clinton investigation.
“The criticism of Comey,” posed host Mike Brzezinski. “How do you feel about it? Where do you stand on it?”
Rendell answered that he thinks Comey “had to do what he had to do because of the leaks.”
The former DNC chair added that what Comey “didn’t do and should have done” was “put a sentence in that letter that says we have not had a chance to review these emails and nobody should infer anything other from this action other than we are doing our job.”
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Steve Cohen
Though the Tennessee Democrat sent out a statement Sunday night calling for Director Comey’s resignation, Congressman Cohen went on CNN Monday and supported the FBI’s re-opening of the investigation.
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Cohen maintained that Comey “should not have notified Congress,” but agreed that the FBI should continue the investigation, “no question about it.”
Claire McKaskill
The Missouri congresswoman also discussed the recent criticism of Director Comey on Tuesday’s “Morning Joe” broadcast.
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McKaskill agreed with Congressman Cohen’s sentiment that Comey should not have made the knowledge public on Friday, but she explained why exactly the investigation should be re-opened.
“They found on [Anthony Weiner’s] computer metadata that confirms the server was on that computer,” she stated. “Out of an abundance of caution, they wanted to take a look at that. I have no quarrel with that.”
“There was a legitimate question as to whether Hillary Clinton had done something against the law.”
The White House
Comey and the FBI’s biggest backers — among the crowd of Clinton supporters, at least — appear to be President Obama and his White House staff.
On Monday, White House press secretary Josh Earnest declined to comment on Comey’s Friday proclamation, but told reporters that he had “observed in the past… that Director Comey is a man of integrity and character.”
“The president’s assessment of his integrity and his character has not changed,” Earnest added, before reiterating Obama “doesn’t believe Director Comey is intentionally trying to influence the outcome of an election.”
“The president doesn’t believe he’s secretly strategizing to benefit one candidate or one political party.”
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