Representative Elijah Cummings (D-Md) is no shrinking violet. The Congressman is an outspoken member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is not shy about making his opinions known on the floor of the House. Or in the press for that matter.
In an appearance on CNN’s Newsday this morning, Cummings expressed fury at the way that FBI Director James Comey is handling the situation with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
On Friday Comey sent a letter to members of Congress stating the the FBI had come across some emails on a laptop belonging to the notorious sex addict, Anthony Weiner. The account that the emails came from belonged to Weiner’s estranged wife, Huma Abedin, one of Clinton’s top advisors. Because of that connection, the FBI intended to “amend” its investigation into Clinton’s use of private email server.
What has enraged the Maryland Congressman so much is that Comey’s letter included no specifics about what was found. In fact, the letter stated that he couldn’t tell yet whether the information on the laptop was even relevant to the investigation that had been concluded in July.
In spite of his anger at the FBI Director for sending the letter before there was even a warrant to investigate the emails, Rep. Cummings is not surprised that he did it. He isn’t surprised at all.
He said:
“We don’t know how many of these e-mails are duplicates. And we don’t have very much information at all. But the fact still remains that — it doesn’t surprise me, though, in a way that he did this. Because I don’t think the American people have a clue as to how hard the Republicans, particularly on my committee, have been on the FBI.”
This is the real basis of Rep. Cummings disgust at the FBI. He told Newsday that Comey had been a favorite of the GOP, but when his investigation in July failed to indict the former Secretary of State, the Republican party turned against him.
Cummings says that he warned Comey back in July that the Republicans were going to come after him.
The Representative said that the Republicans have been badgering and hounding Comey for every shred of evidence about the Clinton email situation. They have demanded every note, every email, ever record of every interview and Comey has complied.
According to Cummings, he doesn’t believe that Director Comey was trying to influence the election or that he was acting out of partisanship.
He does, however, recognize that there is a true double standard, and that’s the other reason for his anger.
Cummings told CNN that Democrats have been asking for evidence of many of Republican nominee Donald Trump’s scandals and potential crimes. He said:
“One of the things that you all have not talked about. I listened to the interview with Jason Miller about information out there about Mr. Trump, Mr. Manafort and the Russian government. Members of Congress, including myself, have asked for months for the FBI to provide us with information as to whether Mr. Trump other associates and the Russian government have any coordination or connection with each other.”
So you can see the Elijah Cummings is right to be frustrated and outraged by what has happened in the last three days. He knows that there was no valid reason for sending that letter to Congress. Comey had no idea what is on that laptop. There is NO reason to be implicating Secretary Clinton.
And Elijah Cummings wonders why Comey has failed to reveal any information about any of the investigations of the Trump campaign and its well known ties to Russia.
You can see his rage in the video below.
Featured image via YouTube Screengrab.
