Fired FBI Director James Comey has reportedly hired former US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to be one of his personal lawyers.
Talking Points Memo reported exclusively:
Fired FBI Director James Comey has retained former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as one of his personal attorneys, bringing in a heavy-hitting former prosecutor, close friend and longtime colleague to help him navigate his dramatic role as a potential witness in the investigation of President Trump’s campaign and potential obstruction of justice.
Two Capitol Hill sources independently confirmed to TPM that Fitzgerald was serving as a lawyer for Comey.
Comey and Patrick Fitzgerald go back many years as buddies.
In the early 2000’s, then-Deputy AG James Comey authorized the special counsel investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of CIA employee Valerie Plame. Comey’s choice for special counsel was Patrick Fitzgerald.
Dick Cheney’s Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby was eventually charged by the special counsel for perjury and obstruction of justice.
Plot twist: President Trump just pardoned Scooter Libby.
Talking Points Memo also reported:
David Kelley, another of Comey’s old allies whom he’s brought on as one of his attorneys, would neither confirm nor deny to TPM that Comey had hired Fitzgerald — but noted that “Pat and Jim have been friends and colleagues for a long time.”
“I’ve represented Mr. Comey since not long after his firing,” Kelley told TPM, but would only say “Ask Pat” when pressed on if Fitzgerald was working with him.
Fitzgerald is definitely swamp friendly.
On March 18, 2016, Strzok and Page engaged in a discussion about the possibility of a special counsel in the Clinton investigation and referenced Patrick Fitzgerald, who was the Special Counsel in the Valerie Plame matter:
Strzok: Thought of the perfect person D can bounce this off of[.]Page: Who?
Strzok: Pat [] You gotta give me credit if we go with him. And delay briefing him on until I can get back and do it. Late next week or later.
Page: We talked about him last night, not for this, but how great he is. He’s in private practice though, right? Suppose you could still bring him back. And yes, I’ll hold.
Strzok: Yes, he’s at Skadden in Chicago. I haven’t talked to him for a year or two. Don’t forget that Dag Comey appointed him as special counsel in the Plame matter, and that he was there for Comey’s investiture.
Strzok: I could work with him again. And damn we’d get sh*t DONE.
Page: I know. Like I said, we discussed boss and him yesterday.
On Friday, the Office of Inspector General opened an investigation into James Comey over his classified memos.
