WASHINGTON (AP) – Breaking with President Donald Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday he rejects Trump’s assessment that former FBI Director James Comey is a “nut job.”
“Yeah, I don’t agree with that. And he’s not,” Ryan, R-Wis., told the Axios website.
Ryan said he likes Comey, who was fired by Trump two weeks ago amid an FBI investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion by the Trump campaign with Moscow.
The New York Times reported last week that Trump told Russian diplomats that firing “nut job” Comey had relieved “great pressure” on him. The White House has said Comey’s firing was unrelated to the Russia investigation.
Ryan, who’s frequently disagreed with the president, said he works well with Trump and that Trump’s best quality is “his energy and his engagement.”