Moment Senator Kennedy BRUTALLY DESTROYS EX-FBI Director James Comey During a FIERY EXCHANGE

Intense Scrutiny: Former FBI Director James Comey Faces Relentless Questioning from Senator John Kennedy

In a highly charged Senate hearing, former FBI Director James Comey found himself under intense and relentless scrutiny from Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), who delivered a series of pointed questions regarding the FBI’s handling of both the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails and the early stages of the probe into Russian interference, including surveillance activities.

The exchange, which quickly devolved into a fiery clash, saw Senator Kennedy challenge Comey on his decision-making process, the impact of his actions on the 2016 presidential election, and the accuracy of documents submitted to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC).

The Dual Investigations: “Equal Opportunity Egotist”

Senator Kennedy opened the confrontation by characterizing Comey as an “equal opportunity egotist” who “tried to screw both Trump and Clinton.” This set the stage for a detailed critique of the FBI’s public statements and actions related to the Democratic nominee’s email server investigation.

Kennedy challenged Comey on the timing and content of his public communications:

The July 5th Statement: Comey defended his unprecedented July 2016 press conference, stating he was attempting to offer transparency regarding the justification for ending an investigation of intense public interest.
The October Letter: Kennedy then focused on the controversial letter sent to Congress 11 days before the election, announcing the reopening of the investigation based on new material. Comey confirmed sending the letter but pushed back on Kennedy’s sensational phrasing, simply confirming the intent was to examine additional material.
The Follow-up: Kennedy pointed out that just days later, Comey issued a statement saying the examination was completed and did not change the FBI’s view. The Senator pressed Comey on whether he recognized the massive impact these back-and-forth public statements had on the election. Comey conceded, “I knew it could potentially have an impact no matter what we did.”

The Carter Page FISA and Allegations of Falsehood

The focus then shifted to the investigation into the Trump campaign, specifically the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants obtained for former campaign associate Carter Page. Kennedy raised the serious allegation that the FISA warrant was based on material that was misleading or false.

Kennedy’s questioning centered on Comey’s involvement and responsibility as the head of the FBI:

The “Lie” and Accountability: Kennedy repeatedly hammered the point: “You got a FISA warrant. That was a lie. And you say, ‘Well, it wasn’t you’re head of the FBI.’ Didn’t you check?”
Comey’s Defense: Comey distanced himself from the initial application process, stating, “I didn’t Senator go get any warrants. The investigative team and the lawyers from DOJ got offers.”
The Scope of Surveillance: The Senator sought to clarify the invasive nature of the FISA authority, asking if it allowed the FBI to follow Page, bug him, or open his mail. Comey clarified that the FISA authority in this context was for electronic surveillance and wiretapping.
Regret: When pressed on whether he regretted his actions, Comey stated he would not have signed the narrow certification required of the FBI director if he had known then what he knows now about the inaccuracies in the application materials.

The “Went Rogue” Claim and the Flynn Interview

Senator Kennedy also aggressively questioned Comey about the decision to interview then-National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, referencing a public criticism from former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.

The Accusation: Kennedy quoted Yates directly: “Sally Yates says you went rogue. Isn’t that accurate?”
Comey’s Explanation: Comey firmly denied the claim, asserting, “It is not accurate.” He offered an explanation for Yates’s comment, suggesting she was “disappointed that I didn’t coordinate the Flynn interview with her in advance.” Comey concluded by defending his use of authority, saying he “had to do it without coordinating.”

The Final, Personal Blow

The hearing concluded with Senator Kennedy delivering a highly personal and pointed critique of Comey’s leadership and legacy at the FBI. After getting Comey to agree that the FBI is the “premier law enforcement agency in all of human history,” Kennedy delivered the final, sharp question:

“Mr. Comey, if you’d chosen a different career, say a driving instructor, and you’d never pursued a career at the FBI, don’t you think the FBI’ be better off?”

Comey finished by correcting the Senator, stating he “didn’t pursue a career at the FBI” but was asked to become director while happily teaching at Columbia, thereby avoiding a direct answer to the substantive criticism inherent in Kennedy’s final remark. The exchange highlighted the profound disagreements between the two men over the judgment, accountability, and political sensitivity displayed during one of the most tumultuous periods in the FBI’s history.

This analysis is based solely on the provided transcript of the exchange.