Former FBI Director self-admitted leaker: White House
Washington, April 16: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has criticised former FBI Director James Comey, whose controversial memoirs will go on sale this coming week, adding that it is time to "move on" from the Russia investigation.
"Not only has... special counsel (Robert Mueller) but a number of different congressional committees have been looking at this for over a year and come up with nothing. I think it really is getting time to move on and I certainly think the American people would appreciate Congress and the rest of the country being able to focus on some of the things that really impact them," said Sanders on Sunday on the ABC News programme "This Week", Efe news reported.
Mueller is investigating the links between the Kremlin and President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign, but is also looking into other areas such as obstruction of justice, money laundering and a number of others issues.
Sanders' remarks came at a time when Trump has been openly engaged in a media and public opinion war to undermine Comey, who in an interview to be aired Sunday night - but from which numerous excerpts have already been made public - compares the president to a "mob boss".
"James Comey is a self-admitted leaker. He lied to Congress. He's been inconsistent," said Sanders, who went on to claim that the former FBI chief has no credibility and no support from either Democratic or Republican lawmakers.
In fact, Trump on Sunday once again unloaded on the man he fired last May, a decision that is being investigated by Mueller as a possible attempt to obstruct justice in the Russia probe Comey was heading at the time.
"Slippery James Comey, a man who always ends up badly and out of whack (he is not smart!), will go down as the WORST FBI Director in history, by far!" Trump wrote in a Twitter post.
The Comey interview on ABC, the first he has given since he was fired, comes on the eve of the publication of his book titled "A Higher Loyalty," in which he recounts his recent experiences as FBI director.
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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
