Former FBI Director James Comey on Monday condemned President Donald Trump for his ongoing attacks on the FBI, as well as Republican lawmakers who continue to shield the president amid his inflammatory rhetoric against law enforcement.

” So, another era of Hillary Clinton’s emails and the Steele dossier ,” Comey told reporters as he emerged from a closed-door hearing on Capitol hill.” This while the president of the United States is lying about the FBI, assaulting the FBI, and attacking the legal rules in its own country. How does that making such a smell at all ?”

He continued,” Republicans used to understand that the actions of a president concern, the words of a chairman concern, the legal rules matters and the truth questions. Where are those Republican today? At some quality, someone has to stand up in the face of dread of Fox News, dread of their basi, nervousnes of planned tweets, stand up for the values of this country and not slink away into retirement .”

Comey, who had just finished affidavit as part of a Republican-led investigation into the FBI’s wars during the 2016 ballot, also flung Trump for his recent tweets labelling Michael Cohen, the president’s onetime personal advocate, a “rat” for cooperating with federal investigators.

” This is the president of the United States announcing a witness, who has cooperated with his own Justice Department, a’ rat, ‘” Comey said.” Say that again to yourself at home and remind yourself where we have ended up .”

“Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, you are required to stand on your hoofs, overcome your dishonor, and say something ,” he continued.

Comey performed before lawmakers earlier this month for a nearly seven-hour hearing that left Republican exasperated by the onetime FBI director’s refusal to answer certain questions regarding the Russia investigation. Trump afterwards hijacked on the transcript of the hearing to baselessly allege Comey of lying to lawmakers.

Read more: motherjones.com