[T]here was an interesting exchange regarding where James Comey, the head of the FBI, stands on this bill. During her testimony, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates seemed a little cagey on this subject. So Al Franken asked her flat out where Comey stands (it took him two shots to ask this coherently -- Yates had to ask him for clarification after his first attempt).
Yates answered that Comey supports "the goals of sentencing reform."
Well, yes, I too support the "goals of sentencing reform," if those "goals" could be said -- as they could -- to bring about (1) a better world, (2) a peaceful life for everyone, and (3) the advancement of wonderfulness.
It's not difficult to translate what Ms. Yates was actually saying. If Comey truly backed this legislation or anything like it, she would have reported his position as, "I am happy to tell you that Jim Comey enthusiastically supports this bill, with at most quite minor modifications."
Her much different answer said a lot, however. My guess, after a few years as a political appointee at DOJ and a longtime Beltway observer, is that the actual answer is, "Comey can't stand this bill because it's dangerous and it guts much of what he worked successfully to achieve as an AUSA, but he's keeping it zipped out of loyalty and political prudence."
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