and not slink away into retirement but stand up and speak the truth. i find it frustrating to be here answering questions about things that are far less important than the values this country is built upon. >> that was former fbi director james comey taking republicans to task for not doing more to stand up to the president's constant attacks on his own justice department and the rule of law. comey's been much more vocal in recent weeks in his defense of our institutions and norms. it was a theme he discussed at length during our discussion this month at the 92nd street y in new york. >> and i've said this to a lot of republicans. let me ask you all a question. if the next president of the united states is a democrat and wakes up in the morning and starts tweeting that there ought to be criminal investigations of the current republican leadership of congress and naming names of people who should be in jail, what's your reaction going to be? i said don't answer that. your head is going to explode. so why is it not exploding now?