James Comey testimony: Trump asked me to let Flynn investigation go

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

5 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

This ^^ sums it up.

 

There seemed to be a lot of sour grapes from a disgruntled fired employee, who -- as the heart of the matter -- served at the pleasure of his boss.  The fired employee lost a position of high pay, prestige, and visibility -- which he apparently valued more than the alleged improprieties or illegalities that weren't serious enough to bring to light until he was fired.  Even then, he avoided proper channels and gave his information (opinions?) to an unrelated private party who released it to a dedicated media enemy of the former boss.  Now, how noble or classy is that sort of behavior?

 

Any worthwhile investigation would have been continued by others after the firing of the one employee.  Furthermore, in terms of accusations, it's the boss' word against the fired employee's word.  In addition, what human being with any brain could mistake "I hope that you..." for "I order you..."?

 

The FBI Director is not above the President.  After J. Edgar Hoover's excesses became clear, steps were taken to limit the influence of the FBI Director, and it's unclear that anything has happened since to re-expand that influence.

 

Nothing in the testimony changes my conclusion that the fired employee's complaints were about his former boss' administrative and communication style, versus anything of legal relevance.

If his boss being a congenital liar on several matters of national security when his boss is the leader of the free world comes down to administrative and communication style , then that is an indictment of how low our standards have fallen as a country #sad

[Jacque67 7,328]

13 minutes ago, ccneat said:

If his boss being a congenital liar on several matters of national security when his boss is the leader of the free world comes down to administrative and communication style , then that is an indictment of how low our standards have fallen as a country #sad

Orange koolaid for those on the trump train.

so trump has accused Comey of perjury!

what Comey laid out was obstruction of justice. If Comey is a liar how can any of his statement be taken to be "total and complete vindication "

trump is nuts.

appears to have taken some meds...second tweet 6.55 am he thanks Fox News ...doubt Murdoch is listening...

thanks predisent trump 

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/trump-lawyers-statement-on-comey-littered-with-typos-including-misspelling-president/

spellcheck costs extra and trump ain't cash rich....

[IAMX 3,055]

22 minutes ago, ccneat said:

If his boss being a congenital liar on several matters of national security when his boss is the leader of the free world comes down to administrative and communication style , then that is an indictment of how low our standards have fallen as a country #sad

At worst it's a continuation of the standards from the last 8 years. 

[Dashinka 25,891]

18 minutes ago, IAMX said:

At worst it's a continuation of the standards from the last 8 years. 

You know the MDL doesn't recognize hipocrisy in its own ranks!

 

[Jacque67 7,328]

Comey, Mueller and IC setting traps for the clown-he's too dumb to realise.

Mueller will eventually make trump testify under oath , like Clinton's sworn deposition by Starr team...

 

meanwhile Rubio has taken to giving bible quotes on his Twitter feed ever morning.

 

hahaha!!!

[Teddy B 17,252]

5 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

You know the MDL doesn't recognize hipocrisy in its own ranks!

 

You know the hypocrisy is rampant on both sides. It's like standing in front of the mirror and pointing your finger at the image in front of you.

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

43 minutes ago, IAMX said:

At worst it's a continuation of the standards from the last 8 years. 

I disagree...but you knew that. 

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

17 minutes ago, Jacque67 said:

Comey, Mueller and IC setting traps for the clown-he's too dumb to realise.

Mueller will eventually make trump testify under oath , like Clinton's sworn deposition by Starr team...

 

meanwhile Rubio has taken to giving bible quotes on his Twitter feed ever morning.

 

hahaha!!!

Do you think Trump can parse "is"?

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

58 minutes ago, Jacque67 said:

Orange koolaid for those on the trump train.

so trump has accused Comey of perjury!

what Comey laid out was obstruction of justice. If Comey is a liar how can any of his statement be taken to be "total and complete vindication "

trump is nuts.

appears to have taken some meds...second tweet 6.55 am he thanks Fox News ...doubt Murdoch is listening...

thanks predisent trump 

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/trump-lawyers-statement-on-comey-littered-with-typos-including-misspelling-president/

spellcheck costs extra and trump ain't cash rich....

Trump and his lawyer are on the same hair medications

Edited June 9, 2017 by ccneat

[IAMX 3,055]

Gregg Jarrett: Comey exonerates Trump – so much for obstruction

 

James Comey’s public testimony exonerates President Trump of obstruction of justice.

To put it simply, “hoping” that something happens is not a crime.  The law demands much more than that.  Felony obstruction requires that the person seeking to obstruct a law enforcement investigation act “corruptly.”  The statute specifically defines what that includes:  threats, lies, bribes, destruction of documents, and altering or concealing evidence.  None of that is alleged by Comey.

Instead, the fired FBI Director recounts how President Trump expressed compassion for the man he dismissed as his National Security Adviser, calling Michael Flynn “a good guy” who “has been through a lot.”  Comey agreed.  Then the president said, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.” 

The president’s statement is not an order or mandate.  It is not even a “request,” though Comey insists he understood it to be.  But even if we construe it as such, it is not enough to constitute obstruction.  Not even close.  There must be a “corrupt” act that accompanies the directive.

For example, if the president had said, “Bury whatever incriminating evidence you have, exonerate Flynn, and terminate the investigation of him entirely… or I will fire you.”  That is, arguably, obstruction.  It includes two corrupt elements –a threat and concealing evidence.  However, this is not what happened.

Comey knows all this.  Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, posed the key question: “Do you know of any case in which someone has been charged with obstruction based on the word ‘hope’?”  Comey answered, “I don’t.”  On that point, Comey is correct.

Hoping or wishing for an outcome bears no resemblance to the crime of obstruction as defined not just by statute, but by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2005 case of Arthur Anderson v. United States.

Intelligence Committee Chairman, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., asked Comey quite directly, “Was the president trying to obstruct justice?”  As expected, Comey demurred by claiming, “It’s not for me to say.”  While there is no legal basis for declining to answer the pivotal question, Comey dodged it for a reason.  If he said, under oath, that he regarded the president’s words as obstruction, Comey would have incriminated himself in a crime known as “misprision of felony.”

As explained in an earlier column, the law imposes an affirmative duty on federal officials, like Comey, to immediately report knowledge of a felony such as obstruction to a person in authority.  In the case of an FBI Director, his superior is the Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice.  Comey admitted he did not tell anyone at DOJ.  His excuses were legally vacuous.

Thus, one can conclude that Comey either did not believe the president obstructed justice (and, therefore, had no duty to report it) or he did not want to put himself in legal jeopardy.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/06/08/gregg-jarrett-comey-exonerates-trump-so-much-for-obstruction.html

 

Poor lefties, all ado about nothing.. again. 

 

Where's that popcorn? 

[Jacque67 7,328]

23 minutes ago, Teddy B said:

You know the hypocrisy is rampant on both sides. It's like standing in front of the mirror and pointing your finger at the image in front of you.

Hey, how much was the spellcheck???

[Dashinka 25,891]

25 minutes ago, Teddy B said:

You know the hypocrisy is rampant on both sides. It's like standing in front of the mirror and pointing your finger at the image in front of you.

Absolutely, but for some reason one side will not recognize their own hipocrisy.

[Jacque67 7,328]

4 minutes ago, ccneat said:

Trump and his lawyer are on type same hair medications

Vindication: obviously doesn't know what the word means!!!

 

the last stand of the 34 percent approval crowd!!!

american education levels appear very low-SAD!!!

[Jacque67 7,328]

31 minutes ago, Teddy B said:

You know the hypocrisy is rampant on both sides. It's like standing in front of the mirror and pointing your finger at the image in front of you.

Reported for correct spelling!!! Are you an elitist???

[Teddy B 17,252]

9 minutes ago, Jacque67 said:

Hey, how much was the spellcheck???

3000₽

 

7 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Absolutely, but for some reason one side will not recognize their own hipocrisy.

Again, that goes for both sides. When you have no allegiance to either side like myself, it's funny to watch them both play the same game with each other and then feign outrage about the very same thing they just did last month. I know you have a hard time seeing that due to your allegiance with the kremlin.

 

1 minute ago, Jacque67 said:

Reported for correct spelling!!! Are you an elitist???