Politicians go viral with April Fools' Day jokes

Former FBI Director James Comey announced a 2020 presidential run on Twitter.

ByJacqueline Yoo
April 1, 2019, 9:09 PM

When former FBI Director James Comey announced, "I'm in," on Twitter Monday afternoon, his post with "#2020" went viral.

About 90 minutes later, he replied, "But could you imagine a president who used this website to make dad jokes rather than to hurl insults? Happy #AprilFools."

Then-FBI Director James Comey testifies before the House Oversight Committee to discuss Hillary Clinton's email investigation, at the Capitol in Washington, July 7, 2016.
Then-FBI Director James Comey testifies before the House Oversight Committee to discuss Hillary Clinton's email investigation, at the Capitol in Washington, July 7, 2016.
J. Scott Applewhite/J. Scott Applewhite/AP, FILE
PHOTO: Congressman John Lewis is photographed in his offices in the Canon House office building, March 17, 2009, in Washington, D.C.
Congressman John Lewis is photographed in his offices in the Canon House office building, March 17, 2009, in Washington, D.C.
Jeff Hutchens/Getty Images, FILE

Also on Monday, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., announced his plans to grow a beard in a press release, following an incident at a church in Maryland where a person confused him for House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.

Lewis also said in the news release that he was considering getting a tattoo on his head to further avoid any confusion for Cummings.

"Elijah’s younger than me, so I guess being mistaken for him is kind of a compliment," the civil rights leader said in the press release. "Maybe one day when I have a schedule conflict, I’ll see if he wouldn’t mind sitting in a hearing for me. You think anybody would notice?"

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