American voters don't like James Comey but they still trust him more than President Donald Trump, who fired the former FBI director, a new Quinnipiac University National Poll released Thursday reveals.
According to Quinnipiac, which surveyed 1,193 voters nationwide from April 20-24:
- 41 percent have an unfavorable opinion of Comey, who is currently promoting his critical-of-Trump book "A Higher Loyalty," compared to 30 percent who have a favorable view of him.
- 54 percent believe Comey more than they do Trump, with just 35 percent believing the president more.
- Believing Trump more than Comey are Republicans 76 percent to 13 percent; white men 47 percent to 39 percent; and white men with no college degree, 47 to 40 percent.
- But every other party, gender, education, age and racial group backs Comey.
"American voters aren't enamored of former FBI Director James Comey, but they trust, by 19 points, his version of events more than President Donald Trump's version," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll.
In addition, Quinnipiac asked voters about their views on the federal investigation into Russia's interference with the 2016 presidential race and whether the Trump campaign had a hand in it.
The poll found:
- Voters believe 53 percent to 35 percent that the Russian government has compromising information about Trump. Only Republicans and white men don't believe this. And white voters with no college degree are divided 45 - 46 percent.
- Voters say 74 percent to 13 percent that Trump should not fire special counsel Robert Mueller. That includes 59 percent to 25 percent among Republicans.
- But voters are divided in their support of a bill to prevent the president from firing the special counsel with 46 percent supporting the bill and 44 percent opposed.
- Voters oppose 52 percent to 42 percent impeaching Trump if he fires Mueller.
- Voters say 54 - 31 percent that Mueller is conducting a fair investigation into possible links between the Russian government and the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.
- Asked differently, 52 percent of voters say the investigation is legitimate and 44 percent say it is a "political witch hunt."
"Americans also seem to be on Independent Counsel Robert Mueller's side in his ongoing look at the president and his people," Brown said.
The poll also found that American voters disapprove 52 percent to 25 percent of the job Scott Pruitt is doing as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt's time as administrator has been wracked with ethical scandals.
Voters were also asked about their opinion of the news media:
- 66 percent said the media is an important part of democracy, while 22 percent said it is the enemy of the people.
- Republicans say 51 percent to 37 percent that the media is the enemy of the people, rather than an important part of democracy, the only group to believe that.
- Voters also trust the media more than President Trump -- 53 percent to 37 percent -- to tell the truth about important issues.
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