Comey Fired

[kalm]

Sounds like obstruction of justice.





https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nyt ... n.amp.html

I think so as well. Let's see the proof.

There probably isn't anything other Comey's memorandum, that's why the administration is denying it. Wouldn't they have to launch impeachment proceedings to get Trump to testify?

[BDKJMU]

Sounds like obstruction of justice.

President Trump asked the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, to shut down the federal investigation into Mr. Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo Mr. Comey wrote shortly after the meeting.

“I hope you can let this go,” the president told Mr. Comey, according to the memo.

The existence of Mr. Trump’s request is the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russia.

Mr. Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with the president immediately after the meeting, which took place the day after Mr. Flynn resigned, according to two people who read the memo. The memo was part of a paper trail Mr. Comey created documenting what he perceived as the president’s improper efforts to influence a continuing investigation. An F.B.I. agent’s contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

Mr. Comey shared the existence of the memo with senior F.B.I. officials and close associates. The New York Times has not viewed a copy of the memo, which is unclassified, but one of Mr. Comey’s associates read parts of the memo to a Times reporter.

“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey, according to the memo. “He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nyt ... n.amp.html

Sounds like a donk jack towel to me. That article left off a whole bunch of 'alledgeds'. The NYT claims someone calls them that the NYT claims is/was an associate of Comey's. This 'source' claimed that Comey wrote a memo. Person claimed to have read the memo which he claimed to have said ....

IF it was something that rose to the level of obstruction of justice Comey would have been legally duty bound to report it back in Feb.

And even if what the person who called the NYT said is all true you can't prove any obstruction off a memo that someone wrote after the fact. There would have to be at least one other person who was privy to the conversation or a recording of it. Otherwise it would be a he said/she said.

[Skjellyfetti]

Again, this isn't just the NYT reporting this. Most major orgs have corroborated. Maybe they were all duped ala Dan Rather, though. You still have that glimmer of hope, BDK.

The memos are subpoenable and verifiable. If someone close to Comey made it up - they done goofed... cause, it will be found out soon.

And, as to your last point:

An F.B.I. agent’s contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

If it comes to a "he said - he said" situation - Comey has far more credibility than Trump.

How about Trump release his "tapes", BDK? Clear this up real quick in one tweet. No? Not gonna happen?

[GannonFan]

Again, this isn't just the NYT reporting this. Most major orgs have corroborated. Maybe they were all duped ala Dan Rather, though. You still have that glimmer of hope, BDK.

The memos are subpoenable and verifiable. If someone close to Comey made it up - they done goofed... cause, it will be found out soon.

And, as to your last point:

An F.B.I. agent’s contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

If it comes to a "he said - he said" situation - Comey has far more credibility than Trump.

How about Trump release his "tapes", BDK? Clear this up real quick in one tweet. No? Not gonna happen?

Whether it rises to the level of obstruction of justice worthy of moving to an impeachment is another matter though. If Comey's notes are correct, Trump asked him in February to back off of Flynn. He fired Comey 3 months later, then, which in this Trump administration that's a lifetime. Did Comey think it was obstruction of justice that he made that request in February? Did any more conversations happen between the February memo people are talking about and the firing in May? I don't think that one conversation to lay off of Flynn, especially if those were the words used, are enough. If Trump kept at it, which considering Trump's personality is very possible, and if there were further conversations, especially those that escalated in the language and the urgency, then I think obstruction of justice will be easy to prove and legislators can decide how they want to move forward on that.

[Skjellyfetti]

Whether it rises to the level of obstruction of justice worthy of moving to an impeachment is another matter though.

Well, impeachment is a political calculation and not a legal one. It's about counting votes. We're a long way off - no matter what else is revealed.

Did any more conversations happen between the February memo people are talking about and the firing in May? I don't think that one conversation to lay off of Flynn, especially if those were the words used, are enough. If Trump kept at it, which considering Trump's personality is very possible, and if there were further conversations, especially those that escalated in the language and the urgency, then I think obstruction of justice will be easy to prove and legislators can decide how they want to move forward on that.

Yeah, we'll see.

Trump and Comey definitely had other conversations. Comey almost certainly has other memos. Just speculation - I don't think the most damning memo would be the first to leak. And, the memos will be subpoenaed and Comey will testify and we'll know a lot more.

[Ibanez]

Sounds like obstruction of justice.





https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nyt ... n.amp.html

Sounds like a donk jack towel to me. That article left off a whole bunch of 'alledgeds'. The NYT claims someone calls them that the NYT claims is/was an associate of Comey's. This 'source' claimed that Comey wrote a memo. Person claimed to have read the memo which he claimed to have said ....

IF it was something that rose to the level of obstruction of justice Comey would have been legally duty bound to report it back in Feb.

And even if what the person who called the NYT said is all true you can't prove any obstruction off a memo that someone wrote after the fact. There would have to be at least one other person who was privy to the conversation or a recording of it. Otherwise it would be a he said/she said.

It isn't just the NYT. Of course these are allegations but you aren't thinking critically.

[GannonFan]

Whether it rises to the level of obstruction of justice worthy of moving to an impeachment is another matter though.

Well, impeachment is a political calculation and not a legal one. It's about counting votes. We're a long way off - no matter what else is revealed.

Did any more conversations happen between the February memo people are talking about and the firing in May? I don't think that one conversation to lay off of Flynn, especially if those were the words used, are enough. If Trump kept at it, which considering Trump's personality is very possible, and if there were further conversations, especially those that escalated in the language and the urgency, then I think obstruction of justice will be easy to prove and legislators can decide how they want to move forward on that.

Yeah, we'll see.

Trump and Comey definitely had other conversations. Comey almost certainly has other memos. Just speculation - I don't think the most damning memo would be the first to leak. And, the memos will be subpoenaed and Comey will testify and we'll know a lot more.

I agree about the impeachment being a political decision. Also factor in that we are only 4 months into a President's first term as well. To impeach a President that soon into a term of office would be a rather remarkable thing to do. In the only other two impeachments, Johnson was three years into his term and Clinton was six years in and in his second term. Nixon's impeachment would've been at about the same time as Clinton's. Part of the political calculation is also the idea that impeachment overturns the outcome of an election. Sure, there are plenty of people who think the election was fraudulent for whatever reasons (Russian influence, Electoral College framework, just the idea that Trump won) but there are also plenty of people who saw the election as valid. Just as the left is rabid right now for anything anti-Trump, a rush to impeachment and removing the guy who just took office 4 months ago, taking all his buffoonery and recklessness into account, would certainly cause an uproar from the right and those who voted him in in the first place. Dicey times indeed.

[CID1990]

I think the Russia thing is a nothingburger

This, on the other hand, is not. If the Comey memo is correct (and Comey is well known to memorialize all contacts with the WH - both this admin and the last one) then I don't think Trump can survive it. If this was the only thing untoward he had done, then he could be safe. But given all the cringeworthy events since January I think it is reasonable to believe that enough GOP congresscritters will vote to impeach him.

We are only 3 months into the term- they'll see plenty of time to resurrect a more moderate (read: less embarrassing) agenda with Pence. Also plenty of time for Trump supporters to get over it - and most of them will. At least enough so they wont vote for Oprah in 2020 as a protest




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[kalm]

I think the Russia thing is a nothingburger

This, on the other hand, is not. If the Comey memo is correct (and Comey is well known to memorialize all contacts with the WH - both this admin and the last one) then I don't think Trump can survive it. If this was the only thing untoward he had done, then he could be safe. But given all the cringeworthy events since January I think it is reasonable to believe that enough GOP congresscritters will vote to impeach him.

We are only 3 months into the term- they'll see plenty of time to resurrect a more moderate (read: less embarrassing) agenda with Pence. Also plenty of time for Trump supporters to get over it - and most of them will. At least enough so they wont vote for Oprah in 2020 as a protest




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that sounds right. much better than a protracted fight which could damage the party further. plus it would make the party look responsible.

[Ibanez]

I think the Russia thing is a nothingburger

This, on the other hand, is not. If the Comey memo is correct (and Comey is well known to memorialize all contacts with the WH - both this admin and the last one) then I don't think Trump can survive it. If this was the only thing untoward he had done, then he could be safe. But given all the cringeworthy events since January I think it is reasonable to believe that enough GOP congresscritters will vote to impeach him.

We are only 3 months into the term- they'll see plenty of time to resurrect a more moderate (read: less embarrassing) agenda with Pence. Also plenty of time for Trump supporters to get over it - and most of them will. At least enough so they wont vote for Oprah in 2020 as a protest




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I forget his name but we already are seeing one GOP member talking about impeachment.


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[CID1990]

Rip Van Cummings on Chaffetz's committee wakes up from his 72 hour nap and accuses GOP of stonewalling getting the Comey memos

[BDKJMU]

Again, this isn't just the NYT reporting this. Most major orgs have corroborated. Maybe they were all duped ala Dan Rather, though. You still have that glimmer of hope, BDK.

The memos are subpoenable and verifiable. If someone close to Comey made it up - they done goofed... cause, it will be found out soon.

And, as to your last point:

An F.B.I. agent’s contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

If it comes to a "he said - he said" situation - Comey has far more credibility than Trump.

How about Trump release his "tapes", BDK? Clear this up real quick in one tweet. No? Not gonna happen?

I don't care if a million news outlets are parroting each other. They haven't 'corroborated' or unless they have seen an actual memo. The words of an 'anonymous source' isn't corroboration.

[Skjellyfetti]

Well, we'll find out eventually, BDK. You seem pretty convinced it's bunk. I don't think anyone will convince you otherwise.

Even after the memos are given to Congres and Comey testifies... you'll just shift to "what difference does it make what Comey says? He's lying!"

Again, Trump can always just release his "tapes." Will put it to rest pretty quick. Think that will happen?

You're hopeless.

[CID1990]

Well, we'll find out eventually, BDK. You seem pretty convinced it's bunk. I don't think anyone will convince you otherwise.

Even after the memos are given to Congres and Comey testifies... you'll just shift to "what difference does it make what Comey says? He's lying!"

Again, Trump can always just release his "tapes." Will put it to rest pretty quick. Think that will happen?

You're hopeless.

I don't think there are "tapes" - smelled like bluster to me

[Skjellyfetti]

I don't either.

I think there are memos and there are no "tapes." BDK will just keep burying his head in the sand.

[Ibanez]

Well, we'll find out eventually, BDK. You seem pretty convinced it's bunk. I don't think anyone will convince you otherwise.

Even after the memos are given to Congres and Comey testifies... you'll just shift to "what difference does it make what Comey says? He's lying!"

Again, Trump can always just release his "tapes." Will put it to rest pretty quick. Think that will happen?

You're hopeless.

I don't think there are "tapes" - smelled like bluster to me

I wouldn't be surprised if someone else was recording their conversations.

If I were working in/with the administration, every conversation would be recorded.

[Chizzang]

4 years of Trump would be an absolute death spiral for office holding Republicans...

On the way in he dismantled their party and their hero's and they were pissed at him
then he actually won and they put their tails between their legs and crawled back
Even Fox News crawled back and begged for forgiveness

But if he stumbles and they smell blood
He'll be swept under the rug

[BDKJMU]

Well, we'll find out eventually, BDK. You seem pretty convinced it's bunk. I don't think anyone will convince you otherwise.

Even after the memos are given to Congres and Comey testifies... you'll just shift to "what difference does it make what Comey says? He's lying!"

Again, Trump can always just release his "tapes." Will put it to rest pretty quick. Think that will happen?

You're hopeless.

I'm just pointing out you're

Most major orgs have corroborated

is wrong because the verbal claims of an anonymous source isn't corroboration. There won't be corroboration until we see the memo. And IF it is as alleged "I hope you can let this go" by itself doesn't sound enough to be impeachable, much less enough to get an obstruction conviction...

[HI54UNI]

Part of Comey's Senate Judiciary Committee testimony on May 3. Last sentence in this exchange is interesting. Is he splitting hairs about the AG or DOJ telling him to stop vs. the President?



HIRONO: Yes. And so speaking of the independence of not just the judiciary but I'd like you to clarify the FBI's independence from the DOJ apparatus. Can the FBI conduct an investigation independent from the department of Justice. Or does the FBI have to disclose all it's investigations to the DOJ? And does it have to get the Attorney General's consent?
COMEY: Well we work with the Department of Justice, whether that's main justice or U.S. attorney's offices on all of our investigations.
And so we work with them and so in a legal sense we're not independent of the department of justice. We are spiritually, culturally pretty independent group and that's the way you would want tit. But yes, we work with the Department of Justice on all of our investigations.
HIRONO: So if the Attorney General or senior officials at the Department of Justice opposes a specific investigation, can they halt that FBI investigation?
COMEY: In theory yes.
HIRONO: Has it happened?
COMEY: Not in my experience. Because it would be a big deal to tell the FBI to stop doing something that -- without an appropriate purpose. I mean where oftentimes they give us opinions that we don't see a case there and so you ought to stop investing resources in it. But I'm talking about a situation where we were told to stop something for a political reason, that would be a very big deal. It's not happened in my experience.

[JohnStOnge]

Well, we'll find out eventually, BDK. You seem pretty convinced it's bunk. I don't think anyone will convince you otherwise.

Even after the memos are given to Congres and Comey testifies... you'll just shift to "what difference does it make what Comey says? He's lying!"

Again, Trump can always just release his "tapes." Will put it to rest pretty quick. Think that will happen?

You're hopeless.

If a person had any inclination to use their critical thinking skills, they wouldn't have supported Trump to start with.

[houndawg]

Well, we'll find out eventually, BDK. You seem pretty convinced it's bunk. I don't think anyone will convince you otherwise.

Even after the memos are given to Congres and Comey testifies... you'll just shift to "what difference does it make what Comey says? He's lying!"

Again, Trump can always just release his "tapes." Will put it to rest pretty quick. Think that will happen?

You're hopeless.

I don't think there are "tapes" - smelled like bluster to me

Even Trump wouldn't be stupid enough to tape himself asking Comey to back off.

[JohnStOnge]

I don't think there are "tapes" - smelled like bluster to me

Even Trump wouldn't be stupid enough to tape himself asking Comey to back off.

I dunno. He's pretty stupid. I'm sorry. But at this point I want to see his standardized test scores.

[BDKJMU]

I think the Russia thing is a nothingburger

This, on the other hand, is not. If the Comey memo is correct (and Comey is well known to memorialize all contacts with the WH - both this admin and the last one) then I don't think Trump can survive it. If this was the only thing untoward he had done, then he could be safe. But given all the cringeworthy events since January I think it is reasonable to believe that enough GOP congresscritters will vote to impeach him.

We are only 3 months into the term- they'll see plenty of time to resurrect a more moderate (read: less embarrassing) agenda with Pence. Also plenty of time for Trump supporters to get over it - and most of them will. At least enough so they wont vote for Oprah in 2020 as a protest

I forget his name but we already are seeing one GOP member talking about impeachment.

Justin Amash, just turned 37 yr old Congressman from Michigan. One of the most vocal Never Trumpers going back over a year..

[Skjellyfetti]

The negotiations over James Comey's testimony have begun.

The former FBI director who was fired by President Trump has started preliminary discussions with special counsel Robert Mueller about his intention to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee about his communications with the president, as part of the panel’s ongoing inquiry into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, USA TODAY has learned.

A close associate of Comey who is not authorized to comment publicly said Tuesday that Mueller is not expected to block the former director from appearing before the Senate panel. However, that appearance would occur only after Comey is fully debriefed for the federal investigation, the source said.

The panel previously announced that Comey, abruptly dismissed earlier this month as he was running the FBI's Russia investigation, agreed to testify following the Memorial Day holiday. No date has been set.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pol ... 102316468/

[Skjellyfetti]

Fired FBI director James Comey plans to testify publicly in the Senate as early as next week to confirm bombshell accusations that President Donald Trump pressured him to end his investigation into a top Trump aide's ties to Russia, a source close to the issue said Wednesday.

Final details are still being worked out and no official date for his testimony has been set. Comey is expected to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating possible connections between the Trump campaign and Russia during last year's presidential election.

Comey has spoken privately with Special Counsel Robert Mueller III to work out the parameters for his testimony to ensure there are no legal entanglements as a result of his public account, a source said. Comey will likely sit down with Mueller, a longtime colleague at the Justice Department, for a formal interview only after his public testimony.

When he testifies, Comey is unlikely to be willing to discuss in any detail the FBI's investigation into the charges of possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign -- the centerpiece of the probe, this source said. But he appears eager to discuss his tense interactions with Trump before his firing, which have now spurred allegations that the president may have tried to obstruct the investigation. If it happens, Comey's public testimony promises to be a dramatic chapter in the months-long controversy, and it will likely bring even more intense scrutiny to an investigation that Trump has repeatedly denounced as a "witch hunt."

The appointment of Mueller as a special counsel in the Russia investigation had raised concerns among some members of Congress that his probe could scuttle the chance for Congress and the public to hear directly from Comey. That appears less likely now that Mueller and Comey have discussed the limits of his testimony.
Since his firing last month, dramatic accounts have emerged in the New York Times, CNN, and elsewhere about the tense confrontations with Trump that Comey memorialized in memos afterward. A week after he took office in January, Trump allegedly demanded Comey's "loyalty" if he kept him on as FBI director, and he urged Comey to drop his ongoing investigation into Michael Flynn, Trump's fired national security adviser, in a separate, one-on-one meeting.

The source said that Comey is expected to stand by those accounts in his testimony.

"The bottom line is he's going to testify," the source close to the issue said. "He's happy to testify, and he's happy to cooperate."

Officials with the Justice Department and Mueller's office declined to comment.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/31/politics/ ... index.html