Bernstein calls on Kelly to resign following Woodward book

Carl Bernstein on Tuesday called on White House chief of staff John Kelly to resign and submit congressional testimony about what he has seen during his time in President Trump’s orbit.

The call from the veteran journalist comes following the release of a bombshell book about the Trump administration written by his old partner, Bob Woodward.

{mosads}”It would seem to me that Gen. Kelly, in the interest of the country, needs to resign and with a statement that says, ‘The presidency can no longer be entrusted to this man,'” Bernstein said on CNN after reviewing the contents of the book.

Bernstein went on to say what Kelly should write in a resignation statement.

“‘We now have a picture of what we’ve all been dealing with here,'” Bernstein said the chief of staff should write in a resignation. “‘I will be happy to appear before committees of Congress … and tell them what I have seen about this president of the United States and whether or not he is competent and able to lead the United States.'”

According to excerpts from the book published by The Washington Post, Kelly told White House aides that Trump is “unhinged” and “an idiot,” adding it is “pointless” to advise the president. 

Bernstein on CNN said “given what he is quoted as saying by Bob [Woodward] in this book,” it would be an act of “great patriotism” for Kelly to resign.

Bernstein, who became a prominent journalist alongside Woodward for their reporting on the Watergate scandal, said Woodward is able to prove the accounts in his book,”Fear: Trump in the White House.” 

“There are so many tape recordings from his sources that the account, the narrative accounts, are based on,” Bernstein said. “We finally are inside the Trump White House and it is a horror show.” 

Kelly denied the allegations that he called the president an “idiot,” repeating the same language that he used when similar reports emerged earlier this year. 

“The idea I ever called the president an idiot is not true,” Kelly said in a statement on Tuesday. “This is another pathetic attempt to smear people close to President Trump and distract from the administration’s many successes.” 

Kelly is expected to depart from the White House soon, but it is unclear when he will exit and whom Trump will choose as his replacement. 

“He’s an idiot,” Kelly is quoted as saying in the excerpts published by the Post. “It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here.” 

“This is the worst job I’ve ever had,” Kelly added, according to Woodward.

Trump last week called Bernstein a “degenerate fool” over his reporting on the administration.