by Jack
Okay, it was not quite a nothing burger, but it was close. If you believed Trump was guilty of something going in then you probably found enough in Comey’s testimony to support your position. If you believed he was NOT guilty of anything, then you could probably find something in there to support your side too.
FILE -In this file photo combo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, and FBI Director James. Comey. (AP Photo/File)
Bottom line, there were no totally unexpected revelations as Comey testified before the Senate hearing. But, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t some damage done. Namely there was some damage done to the Trump Administration, Obama’s Attorney General, Loretta Lynch and to Hillary Clinton as a candidate. None of these actors came away unscathed, but there were no bombshells that could result in an indictment.
DONALD TRUMP – President Trump’s personal attorney Marc Kasowitz issued a statement on James Comey’s opening statement, saying “the President feels completely and totally vindicated.” Further, Kasowitz said President Trump was pleased that Comey’s testimony only reaffirms other testimony that he (Trump) was not ever under investigation over the allegations that he or his election team somehow colluded with Putin to through the election his way.
Comey said he was asked by Trump to make public that he was not under investigation, because this allegation was creating a cloud over his administration and it was making it difficult for him to move forward with his agenda. (This was also reported in the news months ago)
Regarding Trump’s alleged statement to Comey, that Comey wrote down in his personal notes, “Flynn is a good guy and has been through a lot. I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go.”
There’s a lot of people who think that would be an inappropriate statement, however, there’s a big difference between inappropriate and criminal. Many think Trump was acting more like a real estate guy unfamiliar with the ways of Washington. He made an innocent, but possibly ham-handed, comment without fully grasping how it could be perceived later.
LORETTA LYNCH – Comey said Lynch had previously given him instructions on the investigation into the use of a private server by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — which “concerned” him. “At one point, the attorney general had directed me not to call it an investigation but instead to call it a matter, which confused me and concerned me,” Comey said. “That was one of the bricks in the load that led me to conclude I have to step away from the department if we’re to close this case credibly.”
INDICTMENT – Legal experts point to two opinions written by the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in 1973 and 2000, both concluding that indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would impermissibly undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions. Here’s the conclusion from the 2000 memo written by then-assistant Attorney General Randolph D. Moss: “Our view remains that a sitting President is constitutionally immune from indictment and criminal prosecution.” That revelation will surely disappoint a lot of people!
HIGHLIGHTS –
- Former FBI director James Comey charged President Donald Trump had peddled “lies” when he said the FBI was in disarray under Comey’s leadership.Comey said that there was “no doubt” that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic National Committee information, that it interfered with the 2016 presidential election and that the Russian government was aware of this.
Comey said that he took as a directive Trump’s comments that he “hoped” the investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn would go away.
But Republicans have seized on the fact Trump didn’t explicitly demand an end to the probe on Flynn. But again, Comey did say he felt under pressure to do so.
Comey took a lot of heat from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for not telling Trump directly that the president’s asks and interactions were improper.
Comey admitted that he leaked contents of his own memos to a friend at Columbia Law School, who then sent that information to a reporter at the New York Times with the aim to prompt a special counsel at the Department of Justice. (Later, Comey said he was unsure if that source still has the memos.)
Columbia U professor Dan Richman confirms to the Washington Post he was the friend Comey asked to share info about his mtg w/ Trump.
My sources –
https://www.recode.net/2017/6/8/15762032/findings-fbi-director-james-comey-testimony-hearing-president-donald-trump-russia-senate
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/16/politics/obstruction-of-justice-donald-trump/index.html
https://www.recode.net/2017/6/8/15762032/findings-fbi-director-james-comey-testimony-hearing-president-donald-trump-russia-senate
https://thinkprogress.org/revelations-comey-testimony-2530edef5450
At this point it’s become a left media driven dumpster burger.
Remember all those news(?) outlets citing “reports” and anonymous sources with each day more nasty accusations against TheDonald?
There won’t be any apologies from the LunaticLeftie media presstitutes, but don’t think the voters and viewers will forget it.
Just like their touting of $hrilLIARy’s “guaranteed” win last year. They’ve cried “wolf” too many times so nobody with a smidgen of sense believes them anymore.
Gotta wonder if Comey will be prosecuted for his admitted leaking. However his leak on Trump’s tapes tweet (May 12) but the leak of loyalty pledge hit NYT on May 11 .. . Something smells here!
Alan Dershowitz adds much needed context, “History, precedent and James Comey’s opening statement show that Trump did not obstruct justice”
But it’s cleared the decks nicely for Mueller. Now can we please just get on with it?
The fact that Comey has admitted to being the leaker is, indeed, a big thing. Whether he composed those notes just to himself or not, they are government records. By leaking them to the press via a lefty lawyer, Comey has committed a serious crime. Unlike Trump, Comey does not have constitutional immunity.
Two things that really caught my ear was:
1) Comey admitting to leaking his notes he wrote on a secure laptop after meetings with Trump to a friend to give to the media. (Note the only information not leaked was confirming that he told Trump he wasn’t being personally investigated.)
2) Comey was of such high morals he wrote up his resignation prior to his run in during the Bush administration. He continued to work under Obama after being told to lie to the public by using the word “matters” instead of investigation. And when asked if he thought he’d still be working today, if he had not been fired, he answered yes even though he stated today he believed Trump was such a big liar he felt he had to write down everything said during their conversations.
So, who’s the liar is my question? Comey’s credibility has been brought into question by his own actions and words. And based on the numerous acts of charity reported on for decades I can believe his wanting to give Flynn a break, because he’d suffered enough.
It will be interesting to see if charges are brought against Comey for his leaking documents to the media given that young woman Reality Winner has been charged already for doing the same thing.
Senators Lankford and Rubio asked the best questions and got the best responses, in my opinion.
Oops… Clarification
I omitted Trump’s name when talking of “numerous acts of charity..”
Gregg Jarrett had a clear, concise evaluation of Comey’s performance today:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/06/08/gregg-jarrett-comey-exonerates-trump-so-much-for-obstruction.html
And for your further enjoyment . .
http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/06/08/7-unhinged-celebrity-reactions-to-comey-hearing/
Always enjoyable to watch the steam come outta both ears of upset Lefties!
Someone on FNC just point out the president has certain authorities over the justice dept. He has the authority to grant pardons and he has the authority to begin and end investigations, as long as they don’t violate our Constitution.
Remember Holder, under Obama’s direction, not pursuing voter intimidation when blacks were involved?
Peggy, thats right! Excellent find. Thank you!
Yup, Comey could be in big trouble. Hear it from the expert, Jonathan Turley.
Also, heard he leaked his memos the day before Trump made the Tweet about possibly recording their conversation and that the NY Times reported the information.
https://jonathanturley.org/2017/06/08/did-comey-violate-laws-in-leaking-memo/
Oh this is getting good. Chris Matthews even got it. Poor Dems are going to lose even more seats next two elections.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/chris-matthews-trump-russia-collusion-theory-came-apart-with-comey-testimony/article/2625372
I’m sitting here laughing at the reports of all the people who gathered at pubs to watch the four hour plus coverage on every cable and network news channel. All of the lies they’ve been told by the liberal media just went up in flames while they munched on the hot wings and sipped their beers and wine.
The media just got exposed today for the disinformation they’ve been pushing all of these years. And if they saw Chris Matthews admit there was no Russia/Trump collusion now or ever, it was all just an anti-Trump coordinated propaganda
conspiracy that blew up in their face.
What a big waste of taxpayers’ money for a special council that was never needed.
“The media just got exposed today for the disinformation they’ve been pushing all of these years.”
Related: Gateway Pundit has created a chart with a ” list of the leaks, the date they occurred, the source of the leak, and analysis of the leak.” At least 9 of the 38 are likely related to Comey.
Comey is set to make at least $10 million in advance money on an insider’s book about Hillary. Is that why his “notes” read like a novel?
Makes me wonder how much the enticement of a book deal directed Comey’s decisions and actions. They certainly put him in the spotlight and once in the spotlight he created lots of conflict…perfect for a book. Money and power corrupt like no other.
Well, we all know now what happened to Hillary’s 30,000 missing emails, her staff computers that were supposed to have been destroyed, but someone reported the FBI had them and why there are no “official” records of her and her staff’s interviews. I’m sure we’ll learn more from his book than from any of the congressional investigation committees and hearings.
I also don’t trust Comey’s previous co-worker friend being in charge of this special council. He’s as much a member of the corrupt good old boy’s club as Comey is. Remember, we all thought Comey was an honest standup guy before Obama became president.
Power corrupts.
The media is today’s version of the Democrat’s KKK of the past. They along with the BLM and other George Soros funded organization are orchestrating another civil war. We are back in the 1950’s. MLK and Cesar Chavez are crying in their graves.
If only Comey, Obama, Lynch, Holder and the Clintons would be held accountable for breaking our laws. I know I’m dreaming. Hear the NY Times is in all out bashing Trump and lying in support of Comey.
Is it really a leak if an employee releases meeting notes that do not contain classified information. It was my understanding that Comey did this so that his notes would be available to congress/public sooner rather than later. This way ensures that his notes are not mired in political gridlock. Comey covered his ass and there is no law against that.
BTW…I find it odd that Trump calls Comey liar and claims vendication all in one tweet. Can we all agree that Trump, at the very least, sends mixed and confusing messages?
Comey was more than simply an employee. He was a Special Agent, a sworn police officer. As a former (retired) Special Agent myself, I can assure you that Comey did do something illegal. Yes, there is a law against leaking as well as stealing government documents, which they were, since Comey used his position to acquire the information, wrote his notes on an FBI laptop, and took that stuff with him when he was fired. What I wondered about is why did not anyone in the hearing ask Comey when he last took a polygraph. It is normal protocol for all FBI agents to take poly before being hired and at the conclusion of any significant investigation along the way, such as the Hillary whitewash. Before anyone jumps in and says a poly is not accepted in court, this was not a court. It is used all the time in law enforcement. I took one, and I presume that Jack has too.
It’s my understanding that anything a government employee has, including notes to himself, are considered government property. In this case they covered a private (confidential) conversation with his boss that he was not authorized to share. I guess that’s what makes it a “leak.” Not all leaked information is classified information.
Trumps messages can be mixed and confusing. He doesn’t speak like a practiced politician…more like a NY developer talking with the crew on one of his build sites…lots of sarcasm.
It’s interesting that at least some of the tweets/remarks that the media have used against him turned out to be accurate. I’ve also noted that remarks he’s made have been construed to fit the media’s perceptions. For instance, Trumps remark that Comey had better hope there weren’t tapes of their conversation sounded to me like a sarcastic remark from someone who knew he had nothing to hide.
Trump has been treated very badly by the media, in my opinion, and the treatment is unwarranted. It began from the moment he declared his intent to run. Most presidents are given at least a 3-6 month “honeymoon” to allow a smooth and much needed adjustment to a difficult job that few have ever had.
Trumps approval rating is slightly higher than Bill Clinton’s at this point in his presidency, a testament to the fact that Trump supporters see the bias and contempt.
The media and Congress are more disappointing to me at this point. At least Trump is making an effort which would be understood if the media would report honestly and bag the open hostility.
I heard too like Tina even though what Comey leaked wasn’t considered classified they were still the property of the gov’t since their content was work related, written originally on a gov’t computer, in a gov’t owned car, driven by a gov’t paid driver on gov’t time.
He was having a business meeting with the president of the US, much the same if the CEO was having a dinner meeting with the CFO. It was business not personal is what most, but not all, lawyers I heard explain the situation.
Really, people … not THE leaker. Most of his administration has come to the unhappy conclusion that the only way to get The Donald to pay attention to anything is to leak it to the media … which is really weird.
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My guess is that this is a scam. Or at the very least a very poorly thought out registration process. I went to create an account at http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ and it required my name, DOB, and SSN. No way in hell Im giving out that info. Hey Jack/Tina I suggest not allowing advertising on Post Scripts.
And in the Voter Fraud Department . . . .
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/06/09/canvassers-for-dem-tied-group-charged-in-voter-registration-fraud-scheme.html
Notice that every time voter registration fraud and ID comes up the Dems play the race card.
Hopefully, Trump’s new committee will shine some light on the problem and solve the problem if it does exist.
Trump Establishes Panel to Probe Voter Fraud:
http://dailysignal.com/2017/05/11/trump-establishes-panel-probe-voter-fraud/
this is just another distraction by trump who can’t stand the fact fact that he lost the popular vote by almost 3,000,000 votes.
trump is all about his ego and making the office of President pay off… for him and his Wall Street buddies.
why doesn’t he release his tax returns as he promised he would?
but what the heck trump promises a lot but deliver little to the American people.
Soaps, good points. I’m thinking Comey should be in trouble for leaking those notes, as you say, they were government property, i.e. official records. Anytime I testified in court about my report I was always asked “and did you take notes?” If I said yes, they made a demand to see my notes. This is standard procedure. Next, when Trump said, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go.” To me, the wording is clear. Trump is saying you are in charge Comey its your call. He is asking, not telling. But, the left won’t see it that way, I’m sure, because they don’t want too.
It’s always helpful to hear from you guys in law enforcement on such matters. Thanks soaps and Jack.
“Next, when Trump said, ‘I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go.’ To me, the wording is clear. Trump is saying you are in charge Comey its your call. He is asking, not telling.”
I agree. But as you said, the left hears what they want to hear…which often has nothing to do with what was meant.
Strong words about Comey by Sundance at Conservative Treehouse, “Top Five Facts and Examples Showcasing Comey’s Political Motives…”… “five facts that showcase how badly James Comey politicized the FBI”
A “nice guy”…but the more we learn the worse he looks.
Jack … really … that’s how you read it?
If that’s how it was to go … why even bring the subject up? You are not thinking clearly about this … you are grasping at nonsensical straws.
All theater for the American public
You really think we were going to learn anything in an open session? Not these days.
it is a house of cards where 2 sides are battling.
they never mention the real crimes, they never go to jail, and this house of cards includes FBI/CIA Ratlines being protected.
They still move guns, drugs, sex, and now add harvesting organs.
Bipartisan crimes where the innocent are Blackmailed, USA is in deep trouble as the ratlines are so out of control it is a danger to our security.
I’ll take Who are the Awan brothers? for $10K Alex
We posted the story on the Awan brothers when it first broke. I don’t know what the purpose of your sarcasm is accept to feed your own ego…whatever.
“Bipartisan crimes where the innocent are Blackmailed”
Statements like that are meaningless. If you have specific information</b? about specific politicians post it. If not shut your conspiracy theory pie hole.
Those who might have an interest in the Awan brothers will find an American Spectator article informative. It reveals the names of those in government who hired the brothers and offers background into the brothers “side activities”:
Andre Carson and Jackie Speier composed a letter demanding financing so the brothers could be given “access to Top Secret Compartmented Information Security (TS/SCI) Clearance.”
According to the article congressional staffers took $100,000 from an Iraqi politician, Ali al-Attar, while they had access to the House of Representatives’ computer network. That money was funneled through a company “with ‘impossible’-to-decipher financial transactions” that the brothers controlled. Al-Atar was indicted in 2012 on fraud charges involving his IRS returns. The IRS claimed his business partner diverted $500K to personal accounts…they suspected there were actually millions involved.
The possible ways this bunch may have compromised national security and military operations are numerous and may including the deaths of military personnel.
As far as I know there were no Republican members employing the brothers.
Elite media burying this story are in bed with elitist Democrats and have been in bed with them for decades.
The Daily Caller has written many articles about this scandal (scroll to bottom).
trump is unfit to be President by character/lived values, intellect and temperament.
he has disclosed classified information to the Russians and done his best/worst to keep Americans divided .
he lies about everything including the number of Americans who voted for him, the size of the crowd at his inauguration and the alternative fact that God stopped the rain during his inauguration.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims/?utm_term=.ceb5cf74fed7