'He wanted to see this happen': Haberman reveals Trump's key motive for Comey indictment

26 September

CNN host Anderson Cooper and New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman (Image: Screengrab via CNN / YouTube)

President Donald Trump has been repeatedly calling for former FBI Director James Comey to be jailed. However, New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman said that isn't the only reason the president wanted his former FBI director to be indicted.

Comey's indictment on two federal charges — of making false statements and obstruction of justice — is only two pages long, and few details have emerged about the details of those charges. Comey is expected to file a motion to dismiss arguing that he is the victim of vindictive and malicious prosecution. But in a Friday interview with CNN host Anderson Cooper, Haberman suggested the Trump White House primarily sought an indictment against Comey because of how it would complicate his life.

"The first step here. Anderson, is getting the indictment," Haberman said. "And that is something President Trump wanted, and I think that its really important to remember that President Trump is aware that there can be a reputational cost and an actual financial cost to people who are on the receiving end of the criminal indictment. And that is part of the reason why he wanted to see this happen."

"Part of it is also that he believes he was wronged," she continued. "I don't know how far down the road they have thought about whether there would be a conviction, but as I've said, that is the step that they wanted to see first. And I think the bigger question is one, whether this case goes to trial and how a judge views this indictment in light of the circumstances around it, but the other is going to be how many other potential indictments might follow, because his other retribution targets are clearly at risk."

Cooper asked Haberman whether she believed Trump's initial Truth Social post that called on Comey and other political opponents — particularly New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) — to be prosecuted was meant to be a private message to Attorney General Pam Bondi, given that he began it by addressing "Pam." Haberman said it was, though Trump later reposted it after taking it down as he "never acknowledges a mistake and always doubles down."

"I don't think that was meant to be a rallying cry that the entire general public heard, but once it was he leaned into it and he told reporters at the White House they have to act, and they have to act fast," she said. "It's a little hard to un-ring that bell, Anderson. We have no idea how this case will play out, but his various statements have given fodder, almost certainly, to Comey's lawyers to argue against this case."

Watch the segment below:

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

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