Former FBI Director James Comey on Sunday said that truth “matters,” apparently in response to Rudy Giuliani’s comments regarding President Trump getting caught in a potential perjury trap as part of the special counsel probe.
“Truth exists and truth matters,” Comey wrote. “Truth has always been the touchstone of our country’s justice system and political life.”
“If we are untethered to truth, our justice system cannot function and a society based on the rule of law dissolves,” Comey continued.
Comey’s comments come after statements Giuliani made Sunday morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
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Giuliani expressed concerns about a potential perjury trap to anchor Chuck Todd, saying, “And when you tell me that he should testify because he’s going to tell the truth and he shouldn’t worry, well that’s so silly because that’s somebody’s version of the truth, not the truth.”
“Truth is truth,” Todd said.
“No it isn’t. Truth isn’t truth,” Giuliani responded.
Todd then warned Giuliani that his words were likely “to become a bad meme.”
Comey was not the only one to fire back at Giuliani for his phrasing. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) tweeted out Sunday that Giuliani’s statement “is another step towards authoritarianism.”
Comey has been a frequent critic of the Trump administration, as it has been of him.
When the Trump administration revoked former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance last Wednesday, Comey criticized the administration, saying Trump was going after those who disagree with him.
The Trump administration said last week that it is considering pulling Comey’s security clearance among that of other former officials.