Thune Defends Justice System Amid Comey Indictment, Urges Trust in Legal Process

While it’s a “highly charged time” in America, our judicial system is in place for a reason, reminded Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Sunday.

Thune joined NBC’s “Meet the Press” where he discussed former FBI Director James Comey’s recent indictments and a possible government shutdown.

The Department of Justice charged Comey with perjury and obstruction of a congressional investigation Thursday.

Thune said these are “not unserious allegations,” and people have “gone to jail for lying to Congress before.”

“There was a time, certainly just a few years ago, where people took this seriously enough that Chuck Grassley, who was the chairman of the Judiciary Committee at the time, launched an active investigation into these allegations,” Thune said. 

So what’s happening with Comey right now is “not a new thing,” he noted. It’s simply about “the law and the facts” and “where they lead.” 

While President Donald Trump is not a fan of Comey, neither is Comey a fan of Trump, Thune said.

“[Comey] did something recently. ‘86-47,’ he wrote on the sand and then posted on social media,” Thune added. “That doesn’t seem like something that you would have an official of his stature—at least formerly of his stature—doing.”

It all comes down to what the justice system finds, Thune said, adding that he trusts the system and its process.

“These are serious enough allegations with Mr. Comey that a grand jury of 14 members—a jury of his peers—thought that it was worth pursuing,” Thune said. “Let the justice system work, and he’ll have his day in court, and if he is in fact innocent, I’m sure he’ll be found that way.” 

As for the possibility of a government shutdown, Thune said it’s “up to a handful of Democrats” whether this happens or not.

“There is a bill sitting at the desk in the Senate right now. We could pick it up today and pass it,” Thune said. “We need eight Democrats to pass it through the Senate.”

Republicans helped the Democrats do this “13 different times” when “the Democrats had the majority over the last four years,” Thune reminded. 

The Democrats have taken the “federal government as a hostage” which extends to Americans as they try getting “a whole laundry list of things they want.”

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