James Comey Slams DOJ for Slow Prosecution of Trump, Says It Could Be Costly

Former FBI Director James Comey criticized the Biden administration for its slow pace in investigating former President Donald Trump, arguing that the delay could have significant consequences. Comey believes the DOJ should have moved more swiftly to appoint a special counsel and initiate legal proceedings against Trump.

Former FBI Director James Comey has expressed concerns about the Biden administration's handling of the investigations into former President Donald Trump, stating that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been "too slow" in its actions. Comey, who was fired by Trump in 2017, believes that the delay in prosecuting Trump could have costly consequences.

In an interview with MSNBC, Comey stated that the DOJ had "overlearned" from the lessons of his own tenure as FBI Director and the Trump administration's politicization of law enforcement. He emphasized that the delay in appointing a special counsel to oversee the investigations into Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and his role in the January 6th Capitol riot was a critical mistake.

Comey acknowledged that the Biden administration inherited a challenging situation when it took office, but he maintained that it should have moved more expeditiously in pursuing legal action against Trump. He pointed to the fact that a special counsel, Jack Smith, was not appointed until November 2022, more than a year after Biden took office.

The delay in prosecuting Trump has led to concerns that one or more of the cases against him may not go to trial before the 2024 presidential election. Trump is currently facing indictments in two separate cases related to the handling of classified documents and the Capitol riot, but no trial dates have been set.

Some Democrats have criticized Attorney General Merrick Garland for being overly cautious in his approach to investigating Trump, arguing that he has been too concerned with avoiding accusations of political bias. The New York Times has described the pace of the investigations as "maddeningly slow."

Comey suggested that the DOJ may have been influenced by the lessons learned from the 2016 presidential election, when the FBI's investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server became a significant political issue. Comey has expressed regret over the FBI's involvement in that investigation, believing that it contributed to Clinton's defeat.

Comey's criticism of the DOJ's handling of the Trump investigations highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between political neutrality and the pursuit of justice. He believes that the DOJ has a responsibility to act swiftly and decisively in investigating allegations of wrongdoing, regardless of the political implications.

The DOJ has not responded to requests for comment on Comey's statements.