Pro-Trump lawmaker defends FBI head Comey

Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) on Wednesday defended FBI Director James Comey and pointed blame at Attorney General Loretta Lynch for the outcome of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s personal email server. 

{mosads}Collins, a Donald Trump supporter, said he understands where Comey is coming from in his recommendation, but noted the Department of Justice, not the FBI, made the final call not to charge Clinton. 

“As he presented it, I can understand where he’s coming from,” Collins said on CNN. “I think we have to separate the FBI from the Department of Justice. Director Comey did an extraordinary job.

“It was the Department of Justice’s decision whether to prosecute or not. We have to remember Bill Clinton was on the airplane with the attorney general just a week ago.” 

A 30-minute private meeting between Lynch and the former president sparked a political firestorm. Collins agrees with Trump’s claim that Lynch was “intimidated” into not prosecuting Clinton. 

“I think Loretta Lynch was intimidated by Bill Clinton on the airplane. Loretta Lynch does know that she would be more secure in her job if Hillary Clinton was President,” Collins said, echoing comments Trump made Tuesday at a rally in Raleigh, N.C.  

“She said today that we may consider the attorney general to go forward,” Trump said Tuesday, noting that Lynch headed the investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email account and server while secretary of State. “That’s like a bribe isn’t it? Isn’t that sort of a bribe?”

“It’s a bribe, it’s a disgrace,” he added.

On Sunday, The New York Times cited unidentified Democrats who said Clinton would consider retaining Lynch if elected president, but the presumptive Democratic nominee has not publicly confirmed the report.

In a statement released hours after the FBI’s decision, Trump said the investigation’s results were politically motivated, pointing to former Bill Clinton’s meeting with Lynch last week.