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Ex FBI chief James Comey told to 'move to desert island' after saying Joe Biden should 'consider' Trump pardon

Former FBI director Comey was fired by Trump in 2017 and has never been a supporter of the president, but he believes Biden pardoning POTUS will be the right thing for America

Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey, has suggested that President-elect Joe Biden should ‘consider’ issuing a presidential pardon to Donald Trump after he takes office. Comey, who had affiliations with the Republican Party till 2016 said that he believes imprisoning the present president would not be “in the best interests of the American people.”

Comey mentioned the same during an interview with BBC News while promoting his new memoir 'Saving Justice - Truth, Transparency, and Trust' which reveals in detail, his feelings about Trump. However, Comey’s comment apparently did not gel well with a majority of Americans who are in favor of Trump being tried for his irresponsible and damaging actions.

The president has been widely accused of causing and summoning the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when the Electoral College had met to ratify Biden's victory in the November 3 elections. Earlier, Trump had told his followers that the elections had been stolen from him and had called them to march to the Capitol. Shockingly, the situation turned violent, ending in several deaths and injuries. 

Who is James Comey?

Comey served as the director of the FBI from 2013 to 2017 after being nominated to the position by former President Barack Obama. Born in 1960, Comey grew up in New Jersey and pursued his graduation in Chemistry and Religion from the College of William & Mary. He later earned a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1985.

Comey started off by working as a young lawyer in the offices of federal attorneys in different regions of the United States and soon became an assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York. At that time, he served under Rudolph W Giuliani or Rudy Giuliani, who is now famous as Trump’s personal lawyer. After rising through the ranks in government service, with a short stint at private firms in between, Comey became Deputy attorney general in 2003.

After being chosen as the head of FBI in 2013, Comey notably investigated Hillary Clinton’s e-mail controversy, the same one which cost the former first lady her presidential seat. However, his decision to clear Clinton’s name of any criminal impropriety was criticized by the-then Republican presidential nominee Trump. The case was reopened again soon. 

In 2017, as Trump assumed power, Comey faced a Senate hearing for his handling of the Clinton e-mail controversy. In the same hearing, Comey alleged the possibility of Russian interference in US elections. This spelled huge trouble for Trump. The allegation did not bide well with the Trump administration and Comey was fired by Trump less than a week later. The revelations prompted Trump to unleash a barrage of angry tweets against him, calling him an "untruthful slime ball". Comey retaliated in his own way through another of his books 'A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership,' and in an interview to publicize the same, he said that Trump was "morally unfit to be president."

What did Comey say in the latest BBC interview?

During the course of the video interview with BBC on January 13, 2021, Comey did not hold back while asserting his belief that the outgoing president belongs in jail. He, however, proceeded to add that such a course of action would not serve the best interest of the Americans. He went on to address Biden, theorizing that whatever decision he takes about his predecessor, he should maintain transparency and explain the same to the people. The interviewer then cited an example from history and asked Comey if Biden should pardon Trump, similar to Ford pardoning Nixon in 1974. 

“I don’t know. He should at least consider it,” replied Comey. He added, “As part of healing the country ... I think Joe Biden is going to have at least think about that.”

Comey also mentioned that he was unsure whether Trump would accept a pardon, given his eccentric nature and lack of political acumen, because that way his offenses would not face any punitive actions. A few days ago, reports surfaced that Trump is considering to pardon himself along with a few of his aides, just before his presidency ends on January 20, 2021, when Biden takes oath as the president of the United States. The POTUS had last year also asserted that he had every right to pardon himself.

However, whether it is issued by himself or his successor Biden, a presidential pardon will only revoke the federal charges against Trump, but he can still face actions for the many state crimes for which he is being investigated.

What does the Internet have to say about this?

After Comey’s remark about pardoning Trump hit the news, Twitter has been abuzz demanding Comey keep such ideas to himself. We unearthed some of the most interesting tweets in reaction to Comey’s comment.

A disgruntled user cited the example of Hitler's pardon: "Looks like @Comey wants Biden to pardon Trump. Perhaps sharing this screenshot of an earlier tweet would let him know why that is a totally f**kin' STUPID idea." Another user took a jibe at James Comey and America's cumulative apathy towards him: "America may seem deeply, hopelessly divided, but there are still things that can unite us, like a shared belief that James Comey should move to a desert island somewhere and never speak again."

Users did not hold back from accusing Comey of aiding Trump's rise to power: "This mess started with you James Comey. You're the one that started this nightmare!" one said and another posted, "Comey saying 'Donald Trump should be in jail but Biden should consider pardoning him' is exactly the kind of logic that got us Trump in the first place when Comey decided to influence the election to make sure he wasn't influencing the election." 

More jibes came Comey's way: "It's a good thing that Comey is not relevant anymore." Another user summed up how the majority felt : "I DON'T REMEMBER ASKING YOU A GODDAMN THING, JIM COMEY." — signed, everybody." There were some hilarious reactions as well:  "Armie Hammer, Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham, and James Comey all competing to be today’s main character."