The President

John Kelly Said He Was 'Sick' About Firing, Comey Writes

Comey's book is due out Tuesday, but multiple media outlets got ahold of excerpts or advance copies Thursday.

John Kelly Said He Was 'Sick' About Firing, Comey Writes
Getty Images
SMS

Former FBI Director James Comey's book could put more strain on White House chief of staff John Kelly's already tenuous relationship with President Donald Trump.

That's because Comey talks about Kelly in his upcoming book, "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership." The book is due out Tuesday, but multiple media outlets got a hold of excerpts or advance copies Thursday. 

Comey details that after his firing by Trump, Kelly called him on the phone. He told Comey he was "sick" about his firing and he planned to quit in protest. Comey claims he told Kelly to stay in his role, then as homeland security secretary.

The book also reportedly details a number of encounters between Comey and the president. But the bit about Kelly could have real-world implications. 

Kelly's reportedly been on the outs for a while now. He had to publicly deny claims he was ready to resign after domestic abuse allegations against a former staff member. 

Comey's about to start a book tour, and it's likely his book will be a talking point for several weeks. If their interaction becomes a major talking point, Kelly's tenure at the White House could come into question — again.