James Comey, former director of the FBI, wrote in the Washington Post on Wednesday that people shouldn’t worry about MAGA threats interfering with Trump’s criminal cases. He argued that individuals almost never go beyond empty threats.
Firm commitment
“We must not let the idea of Trumpian violence become some kind of boogeyman,” Comey argued, “frightening us away from our commitment to the rule of law.”
Stupidity not malice
Comey argued that only a minority of Jan 6 rioters had truly “seditious intent.” Most of the crowd “were morons who bought Trump’s lies,” he wrote.
No excuse
“They must be held accountable,” Comey clarified, “but they shouldn’t be the monster under our national bed.”
Threat passed
Comey argued that the vast majority of MAGA supporters are normal people, who might “feel a sense of grievance” but would not “die for [Trump], or even go to jail for him.”
Questionable argument
However, as Comey himself pointed out, more than 1,265 people have been charged in relation to the Jan 6 riot. Roughly 750 have been sentenced, of which about 500 will spend time in prison.
Empty threats
“I know from professional — and, unfortunately, personal — experience,” Comey wrote, “that people mostly tend to threaten because they want to live rent-free in your head,” even if they don’t intend on actually carrying out their threats.
Under the spotlight
Comey caused headlines — and drew controversy — for his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails during the 2016 election. Trump fired him after taking the White House.
Accusations
“Strong words from the guy who threw the 2016 election in Trump’s favor,” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote in response to Comey’s article.
Not popular
“James Comey’s antics destroyed the reputation of the FBI,” another user commented. “He should be shunned not given columns.”
Continuing violence
Despite Comey’s claims, multiple Trump supporters have been arrested for allegedly committing or attempting to commit violent acts in the last year. On Thursday, before the closing arguments of Trump’s civil fraud case in New York, a bomb threat was called into the judge’s home.
Targeting the judiciary
The day before, the judge in Trump’s election interference case was the target of a swatting call. Two weeks earlier, Special Counsel Jack Smith was similarly swatted.
Very real
In mid-December, the New York Fire Department claimed that a man had deliberately started a fire in the court building where Trump’s civil trial is being held. Seventeen people were injured in the blaze.
Shots fired
In early January, police said a man broke into the Colorado Supreme Court after judges ruled that Trump was ineligible to appear on the ballot. The man held a guard at gunpoint and later opened fire, though no one was injured.
Anger leads to violence
In March 2023, a MAGA supporter was arrested outside a Manhattan courthouse for allegedly pulling out a knife and threatening a woman and her children.
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