Former FBI Director James Comey may be facing the dumbest federal criminal prosecution in American history — claims that he threatened Donald Trump’s life by taking a picture of some sea shells — but at least the ordeal hasn’t 86’d his capacity for unintentional comedy.
Appearing with Nicolle Wallace to discuss his case, the straight-laced Comey was asked if he knew Todd Blanche outside of the criminal case. Comey offered a withering response:
Comey quickly covers himself to say, “not saying that to be facetious,” explaining that paralegals perform an important role at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, but not really one that interfaces with the U.S. Attorney much.
And he’s not trying to denigrate paralegals, but his offhand remark is nonetheless brutal. It underscores the gap between a former U.S. Attorney and FBI Director so seasoned that Blanche is still a cub prospective law student in his mind. It reminds us that Todd Blanche wasn’t notable enough on the white-collar scene to earn Comey’s attention in all the intervening years. And most devastating of all is the “might have.” Comey hasn’t even bothered to figure out if Blanche really did overlap with his tenure at SDNY.
But this works on multiple levels because it parallels Todd Blanche’s approach to this case. After a press conference where Blanche basked in the credit for ginning up this case with current FBI Director Kash Patel, the Acting AG has furiously backpedaled now that everyone started making fun of it as both stupid and clumsily predicated on a legal theory that the Supreme Court explicitly rejected just a few years ago. Blanche went so far as to say he doesn’t even know the name of the local prosecutor who brought the case — even though Ellis Boyle stood right next to him at the presser.
Comey is not funny enough to have come up with this on purpose. But sometimes the best comedy is unintentional.
Earlier: James Comey Indicted For Playing With Sea Shells In New Low Point For DOJ Integrity
Todd Blanche Goes Full ‘What Sea Shellgate Case?’ Now That Everyone’s Making Fun Of Him
Todd Blanche’s Kayfabe Comey Case
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter or Bluesky if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
The post James Comey Levels Sick Burn On Todd Blanche appeared first on Above the Law.
Former FBI Director James Comey may be facing the dumbest federal criminal prosecution in American history — claims that he threatened Donald Trump’s life by taking a picture of some sea shells — but at least the ordeal hasn’t 86’d his capacity for unintentional comedy.
Appearing with Nicolle Wallace to discuss his case, the straight-laced Comey was asked if he knew Todd Blanche outside of the criminal case. Comey offered a withering response:
Comey quickly covers himself to say, “not saying that to be facetious,” explaining that paralegals perform an important role at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, but not really one that interfaces with the U.S. Attorney much.
And he’s not trying to denigrate paralegals, but his offhand remark is nonetheless brutal. It underscores the gap between a former U.S. Attorney and FBI Director so seasoned that Blanche is still a cub prospective law student in his mind. It reminds us that Todd Blanche wasn’t notable enough on the white-collar scene to earn Comey’s attention in all the intervening years. And most devastating of all is the “might have.” Comey hasn’t even bothered to figure out if Blanche really did overlap with his tenure at SDNY.
But this works on multiple levels because it parallels Todd Blanche’s approach to this case. After a press conference where Blanche basked in the credit for ginning up this case with current FBI Director Kash Patel, the Acting AG has furiously backpedaled now that everyone started making fun of it as both stupid and clumsily predicated on a legal theory that the Supreme Court explicitly rejected just a few years ago. Blanche went so far as to say he doesn’t even know the name of the local prosecutor who brought the case — even though Ellis Boyle stood right next to him at the presser.
Comey is not funny enough to have come up with this on purpose. But sometimes the best comedy is unintentional.
Earlier: James Comey Indicted For Playing With Sea Shells In New Low Point For DOJ Integrity
Todd Blanche Goes Full ‘What Sea Shellgate Case?’ Now That Everyone’s Making Fun Of Him
Todd Blanche’s Kayfabe Comey Case
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter or Bluesky if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
