Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump‘s lawyer, tried to clarify his much-mocked comments on truth early Monday morning, but not before taking a swipe at former FBI Director James Comey.
Over the weekend, Giuliani, on Meet The Press, spoke about the ongoing probe into Russian election interference and other related matters by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and claimed that “truth isn’t truth.”
When pressed about Trump being interviewed by Mueller’s team, Giuliani made his remarks about truth.
“Look, I am not going to be rushed into having him testify so that he gets trapped into perjury. When you tell me that, you know, he should testify because he’s going to tell the truth and he shouldn’t worry, well that’s so silly because it’s somebody’s version of the truth. Not the truth,” he told host Chuck Todd.
When the host told him “truth is truth,” Trump’s lawyer continued:
“No, no, it isn’t truth. Truth isn’t truth.”
The comment spurred backlash online—or as Todd predicted during the interview, became a “bad meme”—including from Comey, who has been known to jab Trump on Twitter since his controversial firing last year.
“Truth exists and truth matters. Truth has always been the touchstone of our country’s justice system and political life. People who lie are held accountable. If we are untethered to truth, our justice system cannot function and a society based on the rule of law dissolves,” Comey wrote on Sunday afternoon.
Truth exists and truth matters. Truth has always been the touchstone of our country’s justice system and political life. People who lie are held accountable. If we are untethered to truth, our justice system cannot function and a society based on the rule of law dissolves.
— James Comey (@Comey) August 19, 2018
Apparently, Giuliani wasn’t thrilled with Comey’s not-so-subtle comments about his appearance on Meet The Press.
“Since proven leaker Comey is now sanctimoniously lecturing us on truth, I can say sometimes the truth is clear it’s the opposite of what Jim Coney is saying. His disgraceful performance with the FBI makes him the last person who should pontificate on truth,” he wrote early Monday.
Since proven leaker Comey is now sanctimoniously lecturing us on truth, I can say sometimes the truth is clear it’s the opposite of what Jim Coney is saying. His disgraceful performance with the FBI makes him the last person who should pontificate on truth.
— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) August 20, 2018
After bashing Comey, Trump’s lawyer pivoted to trying to clarify his “truth isn’t truth” remarks.
“My statement was not meant as a pontification on moral theology but one referring to the situation where two people make precisely contradictory statements, the classic “he said, she said” puzzle. Sometimes further inquiry can reveal the truth other times it doesn’t,” he said.
My statement was not meant as a pontification on moral theology but one referring to the situation where two people make precisely contradictory statements, the classic “he said,she said” puzzle. Sometimes further inquiry can reveal the truth other times it doesn’t.
— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) August 20, 2018
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