Official James Comey testimony thread

[Cl1mh4224rd]

The whole "Comey leaked!" meme is self-defeating, regardless. It forces one to acknowledge that the meeting took place. After all, how can one leak details of a meeting that never occurred?

Apparently, the same way you can get arrested for leaking fake, classified documents.

I'd claim that the people who hold that sort of view of these situations are mentally contorting themselves to the point of grotesqueness, but I honestly don't believe they have the necessary degree of mental flexibility. Those people are not warped; they're broken.

 

[rdwight]

Of course a sitting president was forced to resign the presidency for trying to get the FBI to drop an investigation. And he probably would have faced criminal charges after he left office if he wasn't granted a pardon.

The difference? Republicans are bigger scumbags than they were back then (and Democrats controlled Congress).

I understand your position, but I don't think it can be applied as if it is identical to the current one. We can paint it however we see fit, but this is not something that would be prosecuted. Look at Comey's actions. At his words. If the FBI director did not believe the possibility was there, who am I to argue? Trump never passed the threshold. Comey was waiting for it, but it never came.

Guess we can call that lucky for Trump, but his current actions don't reach the level of criminality, at least not for a sitting President. It's a ****** situation, and I can see Comey's intent in what he did. It was a long play, in the sense that he was moving to build a foundation.

 

[Tony Stark]

I understand your position, but I don't think it can be applied as if it is identical to the current one. We can paint it however we see fit, but this is not something that would be prosecuted. Look at Comey's actions. At his words. If the FBI director did not believe the possibility was there, who am I to argue? Trump never passed the threshold. Comey was waiting for it, but it never came.

Guess we can call that lucky for Trump, but his current actions don't reach the level of criminality, at least not for a sitting President. It's a ****** situation, and I can see Comey's intent in what he did. It was a long play, in the sense that he was moving to build a foundation.

Yeah except for Comey never said that Trump didn't obstruct justice. Also Comey was presumably unaware of Trump's probable attempts to get the heads of intelligence agencies to intervene and get Comey to back off (literally exactly why Nixon was forced to resign). He also didn't know that Trump would fire him over the Russia investigation and then brag to the Russians that about how he relieved pressure on him by doing it. Those things matter.

 

[TheRealnz]

Although Mr. Comey testified that he only leaked the memos in response to a tweet, the public record reveals that the New York Times was quoting from those memos the day before the referenced tweet, which belies Mr. Comey’s excuse for this unauthorized disclosure of privileged information and appears to be entirely retaliatory.

-Kasowitz

Jimmy is in trouble.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

He has that authority until he no longer has that authority.

You really need to up your knowledge of the abuse of power concept including historical examples like Nixon's case.

You post an imaginary view of the US government and Constitution that seems to be of your own making rather than based on history and law.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Although Mr. Comey testified that he only leaked the memos in response to a tweet, the public record reveals that the New York Times was quoting from those memos the day before the referenced tweet, which belies Mr. Comey’s excuse for this unauthorized disclosure of privileged information and appears to be entirely retaliatory.

Jimmy is in trouble.

Got Trump's lawyer's erroneous timeline to support this or some actual evidence?

Trump lawyer botches NYTimes Comey memo timeline

I'll wait while you look.

 

[rdwight]

Lewandowski is going off on all kinds of CTs about Comey leaking all sorts of information, not just the memos Comey admitted leaking. Lewandowski claimed the link between Sessions and Kislyak was leaked by Comey.

That guy is ridiculous. I saw him on Tucker Carlson, and it was one of those situations that I wish I could be there to (stating calmly) put out obvious questions that he wasn't challenged with.

For example, he tried to play as if the 9 one and one conversations showed Trump is hands on and wanted the best team behind him. I think an easy follow up to that would have been questioning why of those 9 conversations why the VAST majority were only in regards to his own issues. With all the stuff going on in this country, even on his own agenda (terrorists) that the FBI director should be focused on issues related to the President/collusion/peepee tapes.

I hate when pundits get to go off on their spiel and aren't ever held to basic logic by the host presenting them.

 

[BobTheCoward]

You really need to up your knowledge of the abuse of power concept including historical examples like Nixon's case.

You post an imaginary view of the US government and Constitution that seems to be of your own making rather than based on history and law.

You are not even going to bother to present an argument? Just say I am wrong without any specifics?Its very hard to then take you seriously.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

OMG where does CNN get these idiot Trump supporter pundits? They go through incredible contortions with authoritative confidence spouting absurd POVs.

Who is paying these people to spout this nonsense?

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

You are not even going to bother to present an argument? Just say I am wrong without any specifics?Its very hard to then take you seriously.

I presented an argument. Perhaps the fact you didn't understand it is telling?

abuse of power

Look it up, look up how it applies to the POTUS. You seem to think there is no such thing, like Nixon saying, "When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal." So why then was Nixon forced to resign?

 

[Tony Stark]

Although Mr. Comey testified that he only leaked the memos in response to a tweet, the public record reveals that the New York Times was quoting from those memos the day before the referenced tweet, which belies Mr. Comey’s excuse for this unauthorized disclosure of privileged information and appears to be entirely retaliatory.

Jimmy is in trouble.

Presumably this is referencing this story: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/us/politics/trump-comey-firing.html

That story didn't say anything about memos.

But if you believe that Comey perjured himself surely you believe the Sessions Justice Department will prosecute him for that being such a strong upholder of the law that he is. When this doesn't happen, what will be your excuse?

 

[rdwight]

Yeah except for Comey never said that Trump didn't obstruct justice. Also Comey was presumably unaware of Trump's probable attempts to get the heads of intelligence agencies to intervene and get Comey to back off (literally exactly why Nixon was forced to resign). He also didn't know that Trump would fire him over the Russia investigation and then brag to the Russians that about how he relieved pressure on him by doing it. Those things matter.

Comey didn't even relate his issues to relevant departments. So yes, he didn't feel what Trump did was 'obstruction of justice'. He didn't even feel that the situations would warrant further action than recording the back and forth that took place.

I wish people would stop with these assertions that Comey was weak/incapable of knowing what Trump was doing. This is the ex-director of the FBI, an ex state attorney that has been in the upper echelons of politics for a LONG time. If you believe his scared school boy act, than you need to rethink that stuff pronto. Assume his actions were prudent, not unaware or unable.

 

[Tony Stark]

Comey didn't even relate his issues to relevant departments. So yes, he didn't feel what Trump did was 'obstruction of justice'. He didn't even feel that the situations would warrant further action than recording the back and forth that took place.

I wish people would stop with these assertions that Comey was weak/incapable of knowing what Trump was doing. This is the ex-director of the FBI, an ex state attorney that has been in the upper echelons of politics for a LONG time. If you believe his scared school boy act, than you need to rethink that stuff pronto. Assume his actions were prudent, not unaware or unable.

Comey told others at the FBI. He didn't tell Jeff Sessions about it because he figured Sessions would recuse himself. He also didn't want the people actually conducting the Russia investigation to know about it for reasons he explained (he feared it would might influence them). Even if Comey didn't feel at the time it wasn't obstruction of justice it doesn't mean it wasn't. Especially given what happened after that. You know, Trump probably doing exactly the same thing that Nixon did. And then firing Comey over the Russia investigation and then bragging to the Russians about how he relieved pressure on him for doing so. Those things would also contribute to the obstruction.

There is absolutely zero doubt in my mind that if Trump was a Democrat, that Republicans would try to remove him from office over this.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Lordy lordy, CNN just put a focus group on of people that voted for Trump to ask them about the hearing.

The alt-reality POVs were staggering.

 

[rdwight]

Even if Comey didn't feel at the time it wasn't obstruction of justice it doesn't mean it wasn't. Especially given what happened after that. You know, Trump probably doing exactly the same thing that Nixon did. And then firing Comey over the Russia investigation and then bragging to the Russians about how he relieved pressure on him for doing so. Those things would also contribute to the obstruction.

There is absolutely zero doubt in my mind that if Trump was a Democrat, that Republicans would try to remove him from office over this.

Impeachment is political. Obstruction of justice? Not so much. As to what happened after that, are you referencing Comey getting fired? No, by Comey's own comments, that did not 'obstruct justice'. It literally had no bearing on the investigation at all.

You could argue that Trump's intent was that, but to prove in a court of law, I doubt it would suffice. His lawyers would easily say that through firing he was able to put forward the position he was assured he was not under investigation, something he had asked for repeatedly and never received during Comey's tenure.

Comey specifically said himself Trump never mentioned the Russian collusion investigation with him. How would you prove he was fired in regards to something that was never brought up? When Comey himself said his firing would not affect the investigation? Really, it is grasping as straws.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Don't forget, Trump firing Comey then Trump saying in a news interview, the Russia investigation was the reason, changed Comey's obstruction conclusion.

Comey saying that, with half the evidence he was reluctant to say it was clear obstruction, doesn't mean his assessment couldn't have changed when he added the above two more pieces of evidence.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Investigation into Trump and into Flynn are related but not the same. Trump can get into trouble for obstructing either.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Impeachment is political. Obstruction of justice? Not so much.

Sure it is, when you add abuse of power.

As to what happened after that, are you referencing Comey getting fired? No, by Comey's own comments, that did not 'obstruct justice'. It literally had no bearing on the investigation at all.

Huh?

You could argue that Trump's intent was that, but to prove in a court of law, I doubt it would suffice. His lawyers would easily say that through firing he was able to put forward the position he was assured he was not under investigation, something he had asked for repeatedly and never received during Comey's tenure.

Except Trump went on the record with his confession. Kind of hard to walk that back.

Comey specifically said himself Trump never mentioned the Russian collusion investigation with him. How would you prove he was fired in regards to something that was never brought up?

By putting all the pieces, not half of them, together.

When Comey himself said his firing would not affect the investigation? Really, it is grasping as straws.

I think you are confused about this, but I'm willing to entertain a Comey quote or your logic.

 

[Tony Stark]

Impeachment is political.

Yes and Republican politicians are human trash who care about their party more than they do the country.

Obstruction of justice? Not so much. As to what happened after that, are you referencing Comey getting fired?

And bragging how the doing that would help him.

No, by Comey's own comments, that did not 'obstruct justice'. It literally had no bearing on the investigation at all.

Simply not true.


And here is what happened.

Trump told everyone including the AG to get out of the room then tried to get Comey to drop the Flynn investigation. He later reportedly tried to get some of the intelligence chiefs to intervene on the investigation (literally why Nixon was forced to resign). Then he fired Comey because he was unhappy with the investigation and then bragged to the Russians about it.


I am 100% positive that you people would have a very huge problem with this if Trump was a Democrat and did exactly the same thing.

 

[rdwight]

Don't forget, Trump firing Comey then Trump saying in a news interview, the Russia investigation was the reason, changed Comey's obstruction conclusion.

Comey saying that, with half the evidence he was reluctant to say it was clear obstruction, doesn't mean his assessment couldn't have changed when he added the above two more pieces of evidence.

This is another view where Comey is dropped to puppy dog status. Guy is not bait. He is a shark. Don't cloud your judgement. He viewed Trump's interactions as bordering on legally questionable, and was awaiting him to cross that line. There is nothing about his comments that has pushed him past that point.

His mind wasn't changed. He gained some relevant quote to use to push the narrative he believed to begin with. He still lacks proof to charge with a crime, which is why none of his comments during the session pushed beyond a generic tone.