Comey: Impeaching Trump lets Americans ‘off the hook’

Former FBI Director James Comey said Sunday night he hopes President Trump is not impeached because he believes it would let citizens “off the hook.”

“I think impeaching and removing Donald Trump from office would let the American people off the hook and have something happen indirectly that I believe they’re duty-bound to do directly,” Comey said in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

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He said special counsel Robert Mueller should continue his investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, but added that he thinks Americans should be forced to reexamine their core values instead of fighting over political issues.

“People in this country need to stand up and go to the voting booth and vote their values,” Comey said, saying impeachment “in a way, would short-circuit that.”

Comey’s interview coincided with the release of his book, “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership,” which details his interactions with the president and the fallout from the 2016 presidential campaign.

In the days since the first excerpts of Comey’s book were released, President Trump has lashed out at the former FBI director, labeling him a “leaker and liar,” a “slimeball” and “worst FBI Director in history, by far!”

Trump fired Comey last May. His ouster from the FBI led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller to lead the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign.