White House suggests ex-FBI director committed perjury

WASHINGTON: The White House renewed its attack Monday on former FBI director James Comey, justifying his controversial dismissal with suggestions that he committed perjury and leaked sensitive information.
After a top ex–aide to Donald Trump described the decision to fire Comey as a grave mistake, the White House hit back with a volley of allegations against the former lawman.
"The president was right in firing director Comey," said spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, claiming "new information about his conduct" had "only provided further justification" for Trump's decision.
That new information, Sanders said, included "giving false testimony" and "leaking privileged information to journalists."
Asked whether she was accusing the ex–FBI chief of committing perjury — which can result in a five–year prison sentence — Sanders said that was something for the Justice Department to examine.
"I'm not an attorney," she said.
The comments came after former chief strategist Steve Bannon said firing Comey was the worst mistake in "modern political history."
Trump's move fueled allegations of a coverup of his campaign's ties to Russia and spurred the appointment of a special prosecutor and the empanelling of a grand jury. — AFP