Comey: FBI is ‘not on anybody’s side’

FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday reflected on the past year, which he said was easier than some might expect because the bureau “is not on anybody’s side.” 

Speaking at a dinner for the nonprofit Intelligence and National Security Alliance, Comey said the last year “has been both difficult and easier than you might think.” 

“What makes it easy is we’re not on anybody’s side, ever,” Comey said.

“We’re not considering whose ox will be gored by this action or that action, whose fortunes will be helped by this or that. We just don’t care, and we can’t care.”

{mosads}Comey came under fire last year after he sent a letter to Congress just before the November elections, in which the director alerted lawmakers that the bureau was reviewing emails potentially relevant to the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of State. Comey said last July that he would not recommend charges be brought against Clinton in the server investigation. The new emails did not change that conclusion.

The director reiterated that the bureau will never consider political implications when making its decisions. 

“If we ever start to think about who will be affected in what way by our decisions in a political sense, we’re done. And so we never will. And in that sense, it’s easy,” he added.

But the FBI director is once again caught in partisan cross-fire after testifying last week in front of the House Intelligence Committee for its probe into Russia’s interference in the presidential election.

Comey in the hearing confirmed that the FBI is investigating Russia’s attempts to interfere in the election, including any potential coordination between President Trump’s campaign staff and Russian associates.

At the Wednesday dinner, Comey told the crowd he had never been prouder of the FBI.

“We confuse people because a lot of people can’t imagine people who aren’t considering sides,” he said.

“If I have thought about it carefully and am doing the right thing, making the right judgment, it doesn’t matter what’s going to follow because it’s not about that. And honestly, the death of the independent FBI would lay down the path to considering impact,” Comey added.