American voters believe James Comey more than they believe President Donald Trump, according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University. They believe him more despite the fact that they have a negative impression of the former FBI director overall.
“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 A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
The poll found that 41 percent of voters have a negative opinion of Comey, compared to 30 percent positive. But they believe Comey more than the president by a margin of 54-35 percent.
The president did receive more support from members of some demographic groups. Republicans believe Trump more than Comey 76-13 percent. White men put more faith in the president’s words 47-39 percent, while white voters without a college degree believe Trump by a margin of 47-40.
All other groups by gender, race, age, education level, and political party affiliation believe Comey more than the president.
Fifty-three percent of voters believe that the Russians have compromising information about the president. The only groups that do not believe so are Republicans and white men.
Pollsters also asked respondents about the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. They believe that Mueller is conducting a fair investigation of possible ties between the Trump presidential campaign and the Russian government. But when that question was asked in a different manner, 52 percent thought the investigation was legitimate while 44 percent said it is a “political witch hunt.”
Voters said that Trump should not fire Mueller 74-13 percent. But they split on whether a special bill should protect him. Forty-six percent thought it was a good idea while 44 percent were opposed.
“Americans also seem to be on Independent Counsel Robert Mueller’s side in his ongoing look at the president and his people,” Brown said.
Poll Also Finds Support For Legal Cannabis
The poll also asked voters their opinions on legalizing cannabis. They support the legalization of marijuana by a margin of 63 percent to 33. Brown noted that support for legal pot was higher in this Quinnipiac University Poll than any previous one.
“Voters are more favorable to legalizing marijuana than in any previous Quinnipiac University survey, and do not see its use as a gateway to more serious drugs,” he said.
They also see increased tax revenue as a good reason for legalizing cannabis by a margin of 54-42 percent. Those polled said 61-31 percent that cannabis is not a gateway drug.
The poll also found overwhelming support, at 93 percent, for legalizing medical marijuana. Only five percent opposed medicinal use.
Twenty-two percent of respondents said that recreational marijuana is legal in the state in which they live. Forty-three percent of voters reported that they had used cannabis recreationally.
Opposition to federal government enforcement of cannabis laws in states with legal recreational or medicinal marijuana was also high at 70-23 percent, the poll found.
The Quinnipiac University poll surveyed 1193 voters April 20-24. Live interviewers called landline and cell phone numbers. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.
