Joe Rogan slams Trump DOJ indictment of James Comey as ‘nuts’
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Podcast mogul Joe Rogan criticized the Trump Justice Department’s latest accusation against former FBI director James Comey on Friday.
“This is crazy. This is crazy,” Rogan said on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
The Justice Department stirred up trouble this week by charging Comey with two felonies in North Carolina, including threatening the President, for his viral Instagram post last year showing seashells in the sand with the word “86 47” written on them. Comey claimed that he and his wife came across the message while walking on the beach, and that his wife encouraged him to take a photo and share it. He later deleted the photo after reactions.
The interpretation of “86” has been widely discussed, from a restaurant term meaning “to get rid of” to a call for murder.
JAMES COMEY TOLD COLBERT WHAT REASONED HIM TO POST THE CONTROVERSIAL ’86 47′ INSTAGRAM POST
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted for a second time by the Department of Justice in connection with an Instagram photo showing the “86 47” shell formation on the beach. (via @comey Instagram)
“You’re going after someone for something ridiculous. 86 47 is getting rid of 47,” Rogan said. “But this is just arresting one man, this is crazy.”
Rogan agreed with a guest that the indictment was “retaliation” against Comey for actions that led to Russiagate, which plagued President Donald Trump’s first term in office. Trump fired Comey as FBI Director shortly before his first term in 2017, and the two have been at odds ever since.
“They’re just looking for any reason, but it seems like there must be other reasons as well,” Rogan said. “For example, if the guy is really dirty, he should have something else on him other than this seashell picture.”
“Trump can shoot, but he can’t joke,” said guest Mark Normand.
ALINA HABBA FIGHTS ‘OPINION’ IN THRILLER OVER COMEY CASE
Podcast mogul Joe Rogan slammed the “stupid” Justice Department charges brought against former FBI Director James Comey. (Joe Rogan Experience YouTube channel)
Rogan, who is supporting Trump in the 2024 election, linked the Comey indictment to what he called the “crazy precedent” the Trump administration set when it deployed masked ICE agents in cities across the country.
“Yes, I understand that you want undocumented criminals out of the country. I agree. But you’re setting a precedent for militarized people with seven weeks of training to be walking around in loose jackets, with combat weapons, without identification, without masks. That’s all I’m saying. It’s a slippery slope you’re going to go down,” Rogan said.
LEGAL EXPERTS WARN THAT COMEY ’86 47′ CLAIM FACES FIRST AMENDMENT OBSTACLES
Legal experts across the political spectrum doubt whether the indictment will result in a guilty verdict. George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley told Fox News Digital that the Justice Department “will face a tremendous challenge under the First Amendment.”
“The image itself, in my view, is clearly protected speech,” Turley said. “Were it not for other unknown facts or elements, it would be unlikely to survive a constitutional threshold challenge.”
Former FBI Director James Comey maintained his innocence after being indicted for a second time by the Trump Justice Department. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Comey appeared to have not given up on the accusations and said in his statement, “I’m still innocent. I’m still not afraid. And I still believe in the independent federal judiciary. So let’s go.” he said.
Last fall, a federal judge dismissed perjury charges against Comey over his testimony to Congress about whether he authorized leaks to the press about the Russia investigation.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.
