Departing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid joined Joy-Ann Reid (no relation) via telephone on MSNBC’s “AM Joy” Saturday, where he compared FBI Director James Comey to J. Edgar Hoover and called for the Senate and intelligence agencies to investigate him.
Reid’s urging follows CIA’s conclusion this week that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election with the goal of electing Donald Trump, according to multiple media reports. Sen. Reid had warned about Russia messing with U.S. elections months ago, and blamed Comey’s partisanship — the FBI director is a Republican — for the lack of action before the election.
“I did not believe that Comey was the new J. Edgar Hoover,” Sen. Reid said. “I thought that he would do the right thing for his country.”
Hoover’s 37-year post as FBI director from 1935-1972 was marred in its later years by evidence of his secretive abuses of power.
The senator said Comey “let the country down for partisan purposes.”
“He violated the orders of the attorney general and the president, and good taste, by getting involved in the election like he had,” Sen. Reid said. “He would not leave well enough alone, he couldn’t do enough to help.”
While Sen. Reid thought it would be futile for Attorney General Loretta Lynch to try to remove Comey from his post, he did call for an investigation by people who aren’t on their way out of Washington next month.
“I think he should be investigated by the Senate, I think he should be investigated by other agencies of the government including the security agencies,” Reid said. “If there were ever a matter of security, it’s this.”
Sen. Reid had some conciliatory words for Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime Russia hawk who has pledged to go after the country, calling him an “accomplished trial lawyer” and “voice of concern” who should be part of any investigation. Fellow Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto will take over for Sen. Reid in January.
9 Democrats Who Could Challenge Donald Trump for President in 2020 (Photos)
Donald Trump shocked the world and beat Hillary Clinton to become the president-elect of the Unites States. He doesn’t take office until Jan. 20, 2017, but Democrats are already thinking about the next election. Here are nine Democrats who might be able to reclaim the White House in 2020.
Getty Images
Michelle Obama
The First Lady is a terrific public speaker and one of the most likable members of the Democratic Party. She has said the job doesn’t interest her. However, if Trump isn’t unifying the nation as his term winds down, expect Democratic leadership to beg her to run.
Booker is a talented campaigner who is one of America’s most prominent African-Americans. The New Jersey senator is extremely popular among his peers, and his speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention was widely praised.
The Vermont senator is arguably the most popular left-leaning politician in America and came close to upsetting Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. WikiLeaks emails exposed how the DNC favored Clinton, which may embolden supporters who argue it's his turn. But Sanders is now 75 and may be considered too old in four years.
The Massachusetts senator could pick up supporters of the Bernie Sanders movement, and she’s not afraid to fight back against Donald Trump. "We are going to be smart, we are going to be organized, we're going to use our time and talents in a strategic and careful way, but we are going to fight back," she recently told MSNBC. "We are not going to turn this country over to what Donald Trump has sold."
The outgoing vice president considered running against Hillary Clinton in 2016 but decided not to after the 2015 death of his son Beau. Biden is popular, particularly with working-class voters whom Trump lured from the Democrats. But he's 73, and like Biden may seem to old in four years.
Getty Images
Mark Cuban
Well, we can't laugh anymore at billionaire reality TV stars with no political experience. Cuban has shown a passion for politics and was a special guest of Hillary Clinton during a presidential debate. He is openly anti-Trump and might have the personality and attitude to beat the president-elect at his own game.
The governor of New York is a staunch supporter of same-sex marriage and gun control. Cuomo is popular in the Empire State and a close ally of Hillary Clinton.
The opposition party is already thinking about the next presidential election
Donald Trump shocked the world and beat Hillary Clinton to become the president-elect of the Unites States. He doesn’t take office until Jan. 20, 2017, but Democrats are already thinking about the next election. Here are nine Democrats who might be able to reclaim the White House in 2020.