The fakest things the nation has seen in the last year is our low vocabulary, lying President, his verbal attacks on anything and anyone who doesn't kowtow to him and the revolting obsequiousness of the Republicans in Congress — the most nauseating of all being Senator Hatch’s comments in praising T.’s skill for passing the Tax Bill. I actually had to run to the bathroom to throw up.
Note that Russia supports ALL the Far Right Parties in Europe, and so does Trump. It is a throw back to the old, old Stalin-H-word pact. So, maybe the Far Right inherited the prejudice against the FBI from the Far Left. Anyway, Trump is clearly desperate as Mueller closes in on him. Donny Deutsche on the MSNBC program Morning Joe said that Trump is like a man who has a body buried in his back yard and the police just showed up with shovels. He was right. Trump is clearly desperate. Remember, he knows what he did so he knows when the investigation is getting hot and when it is getting cold. Right now, the investigation is getting red hot as it examines Trump's financial records. Trump is a crook, and he always has been. I always used to wonder how he became so fabulously wealthy after losing his shirt in Atlantic City and on the Trump shuttle. Now I know. It was lots and lots of Russian money via the oligarchs. Note that not a single American or British bank would loan Trump a red cent after he declared bankruptcy so many times. So where was Trump getting the financing to run his vast commercial empire? Of course, Trump could be lying. Maybe he is not as rich as he claims to be. He lies all the time, so it is hard to tell when he is lying and when he is telling the truth.
The actual problems with the FBI (e.g. making spectacles of "stopping terrorist attacks" by mentally ill people they personally armed and egged on) are well-known.
But covfefe's "problem" with this law enforcement agency, and every other, is that they're not loyal enough to him or bigoted enough to non-whites and the poor. If they don't solve the entrapment problem or avoid following his lead, they'll have a reputation in tatters in real life, not just covfefe's tiny world.
They can start by distancing themselves from the endorsement of covfefe by the Fraternal Order of Police and other thug frats, and calling out their fellow "bad apples" all MeToo-like. They'll lose their job, but keep their soul.
43
We warned you, United States of America. Donald Trump lost the vote in New York City: Hillary Clinton: 87%. Donald Trump: 13%. You can look it up.
102
The FBI was demonstrably not impartial. It also has a very long history of corruption. But when Trump dares to criticize them, or react to outrageous conditions, you label it 'verbal abuse.'
Extremely hypocritical (let's say the FBI were investigating Obama) and a deliberate misuse of 'verbal abuse.' I lived with verbal abuse. This isn't it.
You are like very spoiled teens who have always gotten their way, and now are not, so instead of reflecting on why, you launch a ginormous never-ending temper tantrum that is more and more unhinged from reality and never points a finger at yourself, your allies, your own actions.
17
The republicans got what they wanted. Wealth redistribution.
Sooner or later the GOP will throw Trump under the bus like a used bounty paper towel. I myself have an orange pillow named Trump and each evening when I come home I remove my shoes and chuck them one at a time at the pillow chanting “LOOSER” “BIGTIME”
53
Come on, Republicans. You got your dream tax bill passed and your anti-abortion judge onto the Supreme Court. Now can you please impeach and get rid of Trump and save the country? After all, we Democrats are willing to accept Pence as President. (gulp)
34
Total distraction by Donald. Mueller is about to catch the big fish(es). Maybe not soon but will be in the near future.
53
Ex-FBI James Comey is certainly part of the biggest shame and share. He shamed the FBI with his partisian hack of supporting Republican presidential candidate Trump during the presidential election Nov. 2016 by defaming Democrat candidate Hillary. He is a real huge disgrace of the top cop organization. He gave the "Genocide" of the moral and positive effect the FBI has so many years contributed to the protection of the American peole.
15
Having read quite a bit about former FBI's Director Comey's personal actions in the Clinton email investigation, he did as much damage to the Clinton campaign as did the Russians. Shame on them both!
58
So the GOP is (actually) choosing Russia over the FBI?
79
I look forward to the day when Gangbusters comes knocking on the White House door.
37
Trump promotes himself (as usual) as a great businessman. The reality is he was a serial bankrupt, and a likely tax cheat (where are those returns anyway ???) It should come as no surprise to anybody that the least qualified POTUS ever is also an abusive colleague and boss. This malignant sociopath is the polar opposite of a true "leader".
83
Why is Donald J. Trump destroying the United States? Is he working for Putin?
57
Soon Trump and his clan will realize it's not smart to keep poking a bigger animal.
26
....but at the very least, we can thank our president for ending the need to whisper ‘merry christmas’ to each other!
12
To all of Trump supporters claiming liberal media bias....take it from a New Yorker. Donald Trump is nothing but a scam artist. This country fell for NY snake oil salesman. See Donald is worried because he has made a ton of enemies over the years and he has a lot to hide such as his income taxes.
My prediction....another east coast bully politician is out to seek his revenge. Watch Chris Christie sink the Trump ship. He is already beating the Kushner drum. I am sure Christie has some info that he is wait to use as a weapon for how DT embarrassed him.
67
Or maybe, to the contrary, the President lashings make the job of the FBU director easier to drain the swamp?
4
However much we're pompously told, "the sun is rising and approaching noon," whatever the heck that means, or that "people in the heartland see Washington differently," or, "the US intelligence community has branded," Steele's dossier a fake, the fact of the matter is that this is Trump and Republicans attacking...Republicans.
For politics. To get Trump out from under an investigation of Russian meddling in our Presidential election.
You guys can bluster all you like, blather about phony bias all you like, rebroadcast Fox&Friends all you like: facts are, you've got nothing more than supposition that this agent or that agent must be dishonest, because they privately said something you don't like.
You've got zero actual evidence, which is why you're yelling.
But wait, you've got Congressman Gay Space Stations, Louis Gohmert: that alone should make you hang your head in shame for what you're helping do to the FBI, and to this country.
27
..... and the demands for loyalty continue. if you're not with us you're against us. the brainwashed go along with all of this...... their reality has ben permanently skewed. ever wonder how a people wind up living under a dictator? we are seeing it in real time.
33
How is it possible this person is still the leader of this country?
49
Trump suffers from a fragile ego and psychosis. Isn't that apparent to even an armchair shrink? He's a bully in the Oval Office, careening off the walls, his extremely short attention span bouncing from one idiotic conspiratorial theory to the next, via Trump's go-to outlets: Either FOX "News"'s Murdoch propaganda machine, or the not-too-bright Breitbart site run by that disheveled bum/mentor Steve Bannon. You know, the folks who brought you the Roy Moore Victory party.
What Trump says and does have no correlation to reality. His words, slurred, disconnected, incoherent, gibberish are irrelevant, except to make a fool of himself and the United States in the eyes of the world. It's his actions which we much acutely aware, and in that department Trump has failed miserably. By putting either incompetents or contrarians to head various agencies, Trump and his henchmen are working at dismantling them from within, then claiming our government is in "tatters", a shambles, and impossible to fix. A self-fulfilling prophecy courtesy of Trump and Republicans who want to see government fail, thus calling for further downsizing.
Trump has made everyone's job in government harder, on purpose. Trump invites chaos wherever he goes. His business is a mess, always has been. This shaman has sold his supporters a bill of goods. He's rich, he's oh-so smart. Balderdash. Trump is a very sick man, and you've elected him your leader.
DD
Manhattan
54
The body politic is dying of invasive cancer. The cancer must be destroyed if we are to survive.
22
Not ideal, but I was at least harboring the hope that even the leaders of the GOP realized what an unqualified dolt we have as fake "president." After the other day's love-in, I realize that that's probably not the case, although God knows why.
Our only, only solution is to elect as many Democrats as possible next November, with the goal of removing this dangerous imbecile from office.
39
The FBI brought this on itself.
9
“This man cannot be president. She just has to win.”
“It’s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you’re 40.”
“... in Andy’s office.”
That’s intent. There’s motive. Names with no alibis.
It doesn’t take a trained FBI agent to deduce there’s crime involved against our democracy.
The question is, can you .. or how do you .. turn around the agency from where it is right now?
10
11 months into Trumps first year of his first term:
7 members of Trumps inner circle are under federal criminal investigation, 4 indictments and 2 guilty pleas.
Now you know why Trump hates Mueller, FBI & DOJ. By they way, they’re all republican.
57
From the dictionary- "fascism: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition". Welcome to Trumpland- where the swamp is deeper and more polluted than the Marianas Trench, and the GOP is his lapdog..
35
How would Trump know how great the FBI is? He's spent his life getting around the law.
24
This is quite sad after the apolitical administrations of James Comey and Loretta Lynch.
4
Hard for me to see how most of the GOP is not now in line to be prosecuted for obstruction of justice along with the President.
No Howard Bakers or Barry Goldwaters in this generation.
27
It's the presidency that's "in tatters".
40
Given the Republicans' massive, relentless criticism of the FBI Special Agent working on the Russia matter who was not a Trump supporter can we safely assume that everyone who worked on the Benghazi hearings was a Clinton fan?
15
I believe the FBI field agents are still the best law enforcement professionals in the world. But FBI headquarters has become rotten to the core. HQ needs to be cleared out.
7
It is inconceivable a U.S. President would constantly undermine his own top law enforcement agency. Such is the pathology of having a crazy con man as President. Those of you who voted for him should be scorned.
28
Mr Wray knew who the president was when he signed up for the job and swore an oath to the Constitution. Honor your oath. Trump and his cohorts see the writing on the wall, Mueller, the 2018 elections. He thinks he can bully, fire and conspire his way out of the mess he created. This is what you get when you elect a mentally challenged mob boss as president.
25
Hint: Please don't pay attention to anything Louis Gohmert says or does. We have learned not to as he's decidedly lacking in higher thinking skills. I mean, almost none.
21
Progress at the FBI? Seeing an IG Report would be progress. Seeing how the testimony Andrew McCabe gave for 7 HOURS behind closed doors on the Hill shakes out would be progress.
5
The two most intriguing unanswered questions remain: Exactly what is the “Insurance Policy Against Donald Trump” ? and. Where can we buy it?
9
Trumps treats the FBI and CIA as if it was a private security firm guarding Trump towers ---
17
The married FBI agent investigating Clinton and the Trump Dossier was having an illicit affair with a co-worker. This lack of morality automatically disqualifies him and all his work.
Having sex with a co-worker would get you fired at Walmart. It's a disgrace the FBI has lower standards for employees than Walmart.
6
Thank you FBI for putting your lives on the line to thwart a planned terror attack in San Francisco this week.
Acting San Francisco Mayor London Breed credited the "diligent efforts of the FBI and local law enforcement agencies" for thwarting the planned attack..."
It is so utterly shameful that this cowardly president calls our brave FBI men and women who jeopardize their lives every day to protect our nation, a "disaster". Sickening.
19
Trump needs to go..what could be plainer than that? He is a con artist and a liar and its either him or democratic institutions...one or the other /..both cannot stay.. and lets NEVER forget the cowardice in the face of danger shown by the GOP ...every last one of them!
9
You have a general who is a fool and is leading troops down a path to certain destruction, so what is the captain to do, allow his troops to march on to certain death or follow the path to save lives even at the expense of undermining a crazed general?
I know what a leader would do.
Why don't Mr. Wray?
2
In the Trumpian era of Opposite Speak Post Patriotism, our Democracy is being shredded by Republicans at the state and national levels who only adhere to their sociopathic supporters who are following their benefactors directions to destroy the public good and the truth.
This has created a state of being in the United States of clear and present danger to our Democracy, from within and without. And this is a matter of historically unprecedented magnitude.
There now exists a path to excise Trump that was docketed, with original jurisdiction, in the United States Supreme Court on 12/15 - Docket #17-857, In Re Shane v Trump.
Of course it is not in the best interests of Russian collaborators to support the FBI or the National Security Agencies of our Democracy. But it is in the best interests of all Americans to be Partisans for America.
The United States Supreme Court, as the last of the framers' checks left standing, must assume its right and Constitutional Authority to step up to the line to protect our Democracy, and remedy the electors having unlawfully elected a President-elect that is exactly the kind of individual Alexander Hamilton feared, and described explicitly in Federalist No. 68.
Americans cannot sit idly in resistance just hoping to overcome the gerrymandered House districts in 2018, nor does it make sense to bloviate about the implausibility of impeachment, when now there is a plausible path to stopping Trump & Pence now.
www.citizensfortruth.net
5
the only way to keep politicians from interfering in the FBI business is to STOP TAKING THEIR CALLS.
4
Attacking the FBI is an attack on the rule of law and is very dangerous.
13
Is there any government agency that now has -- as a result of Comey, Lynch, McCabe -- less credibility than the FBI? Perhaps the IRS? or Homeland Security?
3
Next: loyalty oaths for military officers.
4
If the FBI isn't actually broken (and nobody with half a brain actually believes that), President Fool will see to it. What's broken is the country, thanks to Republicans. The GOP is more like a plague these days than a political party.
12
Are we all going to be verbally lashed into submission? Tweeted down? Come on people in DC, be adults--especially GOP congress folks. Enough sheepishness. Good grief already.
4
The FBI is full of politics and has been since Obama was elected. Trump is trying to get politics out of it.
5
Trump sees himself as the future dictator of the US. This is the reason for these baseless attacks.
4
Hey F.B.I. Director Wray: Criticism is part of the job, especially when it is so well deserved. Clean up your act and your agency, stop favoring the Democrat party in every decision, and the criticism will cease.
5
So Goldman and Haberman write: "...Mr. Trump has not made Mr. Wray’s life easier as he seeks to restore the public’s confidence in the country’s premier law enforcement agency...", thus turning Trump's "fake news" that the public has lost confidence in the FBI, in to real news! Good job Goldman and Haberman!
3
F.B.I scams are coming back to haunt them, and now when the case is real and big.
3
If you replaced Trump's name with Putin's in this article there would be no difference.
9
All autocrats attack the press, government security depts and the opposition. Sound familiar?
8
Donald Trump and his administration colluded with the Russians, period. He is thus an installed puppet. Yes, "he's the puppet." Now he wants to silence and pillage all the institutions that make us indeed a great democracy. It cannot be too soon 'til the emperor's clothes completely fall off (there's a pocket or sleeve still stuck on) and a responsible congress removes him or forces him to resign. Oh wait....a GOP-led congress. All must vote the bums out in 2018, seat a congress willing to get rid of him and get back to being a respected nation.
9
Anyone who didn't understand the term "Bully Pulpit" has seen how Bully Trump has exercised the power of the Presidency. This is worse than sad. This is treasonous.
9
So the FBI has to pass a test to be sure that he/she is loyal to Trump, and we can forget that SCJ Thomas's wife is right in the thick of Republican politics.
11
The most bizarre thing is that the political spectrum is so distended that former enemies of the FBI are now forced to defend its leadership. This in order to at least protect what is the petite bourgeois, from the on going right wing coup attempt by Trump and cohorts. The left these days is somewhere just outside Mueller's office!
4
Reading between the lines, sounds like McCabe is going to be asked to “take one for the team”. Why not ask Trump, instead, to take one for the country?
Yeah, right...
9
A lot of the criticisms of President Trump's calling into question the integrity of the FBI seems to be based on nothing more than an anti-Trump bias and no facts. Well here are some facts that prove that the FBI is not just political, but has some issues with integrity and corruption. Over the past several years, I have made public corruption complaints with the FBI against officials with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the US District Court and San Jose city officials. These complaints were made based on collusion and obstruction of justice by the courts and San Jose officials during the litigation of two lawsuits I filed against the City. I have received no response from the FBI even though the evidence of criminal misconduct by the federal courts and San Jose city officials is indisputable and overwhelming. Director Wray's promise that the FBI's work would be based on the facts, the law and the impartial pursuit of justice is suspect. The President is right for demanding accountability from the FBI. Here is a link to my blog that provide the details of this scandal that's being ignored by the FBI: http://crnctz.blogspot.com/2015/08/exposing-cover-up-of-cheating-scandal...
2
The continual scrutiny of Hilary Clinton by the Trump administration, the Republican congress, and republican followers is absurd. The former mentioned use this as a distraction technique to ensnare the latter mentioned, who seemingly have no ability for critical thinking to consider all actors in the frightening passion-play we're held captive as citizens in the United States.
There is so much evidence that our elections in 2016 were not fair. Donald Trump did not win the election fairly. The donor class, read KOCHs, MERCERS, OLIN'S, other billionaires and their many minions, are dismantling the USA daily. Will we survive this? I'm unsure. The Republicans have NO HONOR. The addiction to money and greed for more of it is worse than any opioid crisis reviewed or scrutinized. Helpful if the NYT would report on how billionaires get their money, or how the current tax bill was written by republican lobbyists working for the donor class
6
Time to think about accepting the fact that Trump is not familiar with the rule of law - if the electorate does not wake up the country will become a dictatorship. When people voted for him no one told the rest of the country Caveat emptor.
9
[Mr. Wray] "promised the F.B.I.'s work would be based on the "facts, the law and the impartial pursuit of justice - period." "Yet Mr. Trump and his allies in Congress are making the task much harder."
Rightfully so! Who politicized the FBI? Who made it so that, looking at the evidence, the American people can no longer blindly trust either the FBI or the IRS to base their actions solely on the law? They need watching until ALL vestiges of partisan politics are removed, not just transferred.
5
What almost all of the media continually fail the realize is that there are essentially two FBIs. First, there is the FBI that consists of over 10,000 Special Agents who work in the 59 Field Offices throughout the United States. These are the agents whose whole focus is on enforcing the laws of this country and protecting the American people. Second, there is FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC where senior management is located, many of whom are viewed by the field agents as incompetent egotistical sycophants. The field agents are more outraged than anyone regarding Comey's politicalization of the FBI and the actions of his top aides. The press needs to stop asking these sycophants about Trump and the mood at the FBI but rather get the accurate picture by talking to the real agents who, for the most part, will tell you that they believe Comey firing was justified and that Wray needs to do a complete house cleaning of the seventh floor at FBIHQ.
6
It is dangerous to our country that any member of congress and the president are trying to control the FBI through intimidation and innuendo. There is a mechanism for investigation of wrongdoing by FBI staff. To try to ruin a man’s career and reputation for political purposes is beneath contempt and should be stopped.
Rosemary Rappa
7
Can this be the same FBI whose diligent experts thwarted a potential near-term attack on San Francisco that we learned about yesterday?
Stay the course, Mr. Wray. While the so-called president and his unpatriotic worshipers in Congress malign your institution and dedicated employees daily, be assured that decent Americans are grateful for this, and the countless other averted atrocities that we'll never hear about.
9
".... James B. Comey, whom Mr. Trump had grown to distrust and eventually fired."
What exactly is this malarky? We've known all along that he fired Comey for not pledging personal loyalty and not dropping the Flynn case. He admitted as much to Lester Holt.
"...the president said in a Twitter post that the F.B.I.’s “reputation is in Tatters.” " She said the president was “referring to the political leaders at the F.B.I., particularly those that were involved in the Hillary Clinton probe.” In both cases for that remark to be uttered there must first be an intrinsic lack of understanding of our system of government underlying an intrinsic lack of understanding of how being a human being works.
First our system is designed to allow anyone of any POV to do the job if qualified. The things those agents said about Trump had no effect on the quality of their work or we would be talking about that work not their opinions. Next Seriously Ms Sanders et al think there is "political" leadership in the FBI?! It is a police agency it does not have a party affiliation and if it did it would certainly be GOP!
If you do not trust that the facts always lead to the truth then you don't believe in the very foundation of our nation. If you don't like the answer the facts deliver and try to create the impression there was bias you are actively trying to destroy our nation.
The republicans are trying to subvert the very basis of our system. Why isn't that being pointed out?
9
Dumpster fire rages as Mr. Trump attacks the FBI + has Mueller renting space in his head. A wave went sky high for Democrats after GOP losses in Virginia, New Jersey, Alabama. Trump's approval ratings cratered in the '30s. And a close former staffer just called him an 11 year old child with a limited grasp.
Abandoning him are women, mothers, grandmothers, higher earning workers and better educated voters. In a matter of time, voters will experience higher medical costs then will lose the tax deductions they once had. He just bragged about secretly sabotaging health care for millions.
Voters know the GOP supported a suspected child molester with racist moorings, twice removed from the court for not following the law. Now their tax bill will bring cuts to Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid/ Meals on Wheels and School lunches/Education/Local Services.
5
The FBI did not have a turn over of lower level agents. The same agents from the Obama admin. are still there hampering the FBI. A lot of those hold overs do not like Trump and are sabotaging any investigations into Hillary's, Comey's, Lynch, and Obama's crimes. That is why there is dissatisfaction in the FBI. Trump should fire ALL Obama holdovers in the FBI and other agencies.
2
Remember when the FBI spied on Rev. Martin Luther King? Police agencies , which we generally admire for protecting the public, can abuse their power for political motives. As the Dems say :" where there's smoke, there's fire". Let's check it out.
3
I'm not sure I understand why professional, experienced law enforcement officers would have such delicate feelings that a few negative Tweets and/or comments from Mr. Trump, or other Republicans, would affect their ability to do their jobs. These are men and women charged with investigating violations of federal criminal law and monitoring/investigating terrorist activities against the country. How can they manage that if they allow some Tweets and/or comments from a president, who some allege is mentally unbalanced, to upset them? Mr. Wray and his agents need to stick to their jobs and ignore the Trump sideshow. Mr. Wray does not report to the president, he reports to Robert Coats, the director of National Security. Wray should stay within that chain of command and let Trump fluster and bluster as he wants. If Wray is truly a "man of character and integrity" then he will not allow Trump to dictate who should be deputy director or general counsel. Why does everyone in government allow Trump to behave like the dictator of some banana republic?
8
Frightening. Trump himself has vigorously and loudly participated in at least one political conspiracy theory, the one claiming President Obama was not a citizen (and various nefarious side-theories based wholly on his middle name).
He accuses the FBI of bias because a couple of accusations against his own political opponent didn't pan out the way he and some of the crazies at Fox News thought they should. Nothing political there.
But now that it is our deep misfortune to have this unthinking man our president, he can apoint someone to clean up the non-existent mess, all the while loudly, and probably effectively, trying to distract investigation into far more credible accusations regarding his dealings and misdealings with Russia. If we are not careful, Trump will have a DOJ and FBI that suits his needs.
Trumps blather should not be allowed to be effective, though it has already gotten Peter Strzok off the Mueller team. Wray should not be shuffling chess pieces around just because trump says there is a mess. The basis for any such action has to be outside independent authority, such as the doj IG.
6
Trump is a traitor pure and simple. He would sell his country out for a Big Mac and a sympathetic bankruptcy judge. Diet, venal impulses, and the actuarial tables will solve this soon enough. Then those who voted for him need to be heartily thanked for the elucidating lesson in what America is not.
9
If someone can come up with something (non-lethal) to stop Trump in his tracks, please do so.
Is there support for a nationwide General Strike regardless if Trump-supporters (no pun intended) participate?
3
After finally sticking it to future generations with the trump Corporate Welfare Bill, our naked emperor gets back to making sure justice will be denied. GOP patriots in Congress? There are none. Vote, vote, vote.
4
I have always thought Trump's involvement in Russian money laundering is the key to Putin's hold over him: the fact that, at any moment Putin could produce evidence of Trump's involvement in extensive unlawful transfers of billions of dollars of dirty Russian money. Apparently, Robert Mueller thinks so too. And he is closing in. The recent upsurge we have seen by right wing media, and Trump himself, to discredit Mueller and his investigation – as well as the FBI in general – came immediately after Mueller subpoened records from Deutsch Bank -- which is at the center of the Russian-dirty-money laundering scheme to which Trump has connections. Take a look at the article at this link.: https://investigaterussia.org/media/2017-12-22/following-money
Here is an excerpt from the article:
“What lingers for Trump may be what deals—on what terms—he did after the financial crisis of 2008 to borrow Russian money when others in the West would not lend to him. … Today, the questions Mueller is asking [are] … Was Trump hiding a connection to Russian money? And if so, was Moscow blackmailing him with that information? And how?”
We are truly through the looking class when Republicans – Republicans! – are condemning the FBI for investigating Russian subversion. If you lived through the Cold War (or just heard about it) this is truly head-spinning. Trump will do anything for power, and the GOP will do anything to keep their donors happy, even if it means discrediting the FBI.
7
Trump doesn't seem to realize that each of his lame attempts to stymie the investigation just convinces more people of his guilt. Now i'm beginning to think that the congressional committees may've been in on the effort to help Putin defeat Clinton and mess up our Democracy.
5
Why the American People allow Trump to continue is one of the world's great mysteries.
4
While NYT readers are not likely to be representative of US citizens in general, still I'm picking up on a recognition and fear that Trump is moving us rapidly towards autocratic rule. That's an improvement; in the beginning of Trump's reign, the populace was preoccupied with his tweets and with specific outrages on ethnic groups. I so wished the media, including the NYT, minimized their coverage of the tweets and focused more on the huge consequences of Trump's anti-American sentiments: every hatchet blow to the trees of democracy will take down the forest.
Case in point: a poll reported by TV last night (MSNBC or CNN) had Mueller's previous sterling reputation slipping. This after just a week or two of negative Trumpisms.
So I ask: is it at all possible for the media to stop magnifying Trump's voice: it is akin to taking a terrorist's toxic gas and spraying it onto millions of us.
5
If the Bureau wants to remain above politics, they should refrain from holding meetings in the Deputy Director's office on Government time to discuss using the official powers of the Bureau to throw the result of a Presidential election in progress for "insurance". See Mr. Strzok and colluding cronies on the record.
3
So now we see appearances of impropriety with anything aligned with the Democrats but the GOP can continue its complicit actions along with Fox and Friends to undermine this nation. Let the Salem witch trials continue as the devil in Emperor's clothing - Trump continues his tirades against all that is good in this nation.
4
Shah really threw Comey under the bus in his quote. That should give incentive to his friend Mueller. Glass half full: For 40 years, we had J. Edgar Hoover in there, hiding his private life in plain sight, blackmailing presidents, and burnishing a good reputation he didn't deserve. It's arguably been worse than now, if that's possible.
3
It's simple: if the FBI digs up facts that show the Trump and his associates are guilty of crimes, whoever's in charge of the FBI will become the object of republican fury and smears. Wray, Bowdich, and other new members of the FBI leadership team are not immune. Likely they themselves are only months away from being accused by radicals like Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, and Jim Jordan as fifth columnists in the pay of the Clintons.
The net result is that over the next three years, FBI leaders will cycle in and out as Fox News and Breitbart discover obscure relationships between its leaders and Democrats. Low morale and instability in the FBI will prevail.
Maybe that's the point though. Can our adversaries (e.g., Russia) have hoped for any outcome better than that?
6
Step by step and little by little Donald J. Trump is doing what he set out to do when he declared that he was running to become POTUS: He is dismantling the U.S. governmental institutions bit by bit. There is no question that every department of our government can, be and should be improved,. But none is so bad that it needs to be destroyed before it can be improved. Trump is slashing and burning just to destroy. Why? Because everything he does draws attention to Donald J. Trump who craves attention much more than he cares about "making America Great Again".
Trump is a traitor because he is actively working to destroy our government, not to improve it. And he is colluding with Republicans in Congress to do this. Vladimir Putin couldn't have chosen better than Donald Trump when he sought to influence the election in order to diminish America's power around the world. Putin never realized how easy it would be to dupe the American electorate to get the most incompetent, unqualified candidate out there in 2016 to become POTUS. Trump is Putin's dream come true. If Americans don't wake up soon we will find ourselves among the most backward and poorest nations in the world.
12
We all have our own beliefs and biases. Does that preclude all of us from being able to serve as jurists, judges, officers of the law or in any other civic role? Do we not expect reasonable, thoughtful and well trained people to be able to set aside their own prejudices and go about their daily tasks in a fair and honest manner? If one has a conversation with a friend or peer where opinions or concerns are expressed, does that automatically mean that he or she is incapable of accepting the truth and facts at face value?
If not, then why should we stand by and allow the president to destroy the reputations and careers of people who have sworn an oath of office to uphold the constitution as an integral condition of their jobs? We must reject and oppose tyranny when we see it.
Another terrorist attack was thwarted by the FBI in San Francisco last night. This is not an organization in tatters. If we expect the FBI to be there for our nation, then we must respect the men and women of the bureau and trust that they are living up to their oath. This is not to say there should be no oversight of our public agencies but, it does mean that we should respect that the men and women who serve the public are entitled to their opinions and a presumption that their opinions can be set aside in order to perform their duties.
7
If Mr. McCabe is forced to resign or is replaced at the FBI on the basis of his wife's political activities, I am certain that Trump and his sycophants will find it only fair to demand that Clarence Thomas resign from the Supreme Court, given his wife's connection to the Tea Party and conservative PACs.
7
Do Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan really want to be part of this? After they have sold their souls, Trump will throw them under the bus and their only memories will be of standing idly by while Trump destroyed every shred of decency in the process of governing.
3
The GOP members of Congress are only bolstering their false claims that the FBI and its agents are corrupt, politically motivated and no longer a reputable investigation agency. These members should be ashamed to be willing to help Trump weaken the FBI.
2
It wasn’t smart for McCabe’s wife to take the $500k from McCauliff’s organization while HRC was being investigated my Mr. McCabe. Sometimes a little common sense works wonders.
In all likelihood, McCabe should go. Once again, elections (and campaigns) have consequences. I don’t doubt Mr. McCabe’s integrity. I do doubt his judgement. Although giving him the benefit of the doubt, like most of the nation, he probably never envisioned Trump winning the election.
27
Recent revelations about potential transgressions within the FBI during and subsequent to the 2016 Election involve more then merely people with "opinions". It appears that there may have been a move afoot to ACT on those POLITICAL OPINIONS through "a brilliant, sudden,highly successful stroke or act." involving the Fusion GPS dossier false narrative. I have placed in quotations the definition of a COUP. The bureaucracy subsequently acted in accordance with Bureaucratic Doctrine, the musical chair shuffle.
4
Yes, Where do we go from here, more specifically Att. Gen. Sessions?
1
We are on the proverbial slippery slope, and like kids sledding down a snowy hill into a stand of trees, we'll get to where we're headed unless we change direction or bail. As a country we should have insisted at every turn that Trump raise his game. (Now that's you've won big fella, it's time to do your homework and figure out what it takes to run this ship.) But no. It is alarming, heartbreaking, appalling and dangerous that every institution of our government seems to be cratering to play at his pathetic level of pathological narcissism, delusion and utter incompetence. An entire political party has abandoned all integrity and made it its duty to lick the boots of a bully and a liar all the way to the bottom of the rat hole where accused pedophiles are the choice for Senate and the FBI is under fire for disloyalty.
Perhaps Mr. Wray will take a page out of the Sally Yates playbook and be the unlikely hero who takes a stand.
10
If Mueller is fired, there will be mass demonstrations. There will be violence, and Trump will institute martial law. This is a slow-moving coup.
7
After 18 months of campaigning, one of the least qualified and at times the most cartoonish character was elected by a minority of voters to be the president of the United States of America. In the almost 11 months since that notable moment when he raised his hand and accepted the role of president, he has continually shown that he does not represent all of the American people nor even a large portion of those who foolishly voted for him.
He is nothing more than a typical politician whose actions and theatrics contradicts much of his rhetoric how all in the US will benefit from his presdential executive orders, his presidential appointments, his presidential holidays which has consumed possibly 25% of his time in office, his flights to meet with other heads of states and the enormity of his his tweets.
Mush of which is silly prattle.
After all of fhis time in office and all of his actions, the Republicans have shamed this country by being simply enjoying the spoils of legalized plundering, attacking those who have reason to believe that many more serious problems and ethical problems have arisen which requires serious deep investiagtions .
Just a simple change of a rule put in place by one of Trumps "stellar" appointments should raised the hackles of any American and any immigrant going back more than 100 years who have suffered through governemnt censorship.
That may be coming next!
11
Mr. Comey was grandstanding and grossly exceeded his remit. He deserved to be fired as should anyone else who support him.
4
Trump is right - several FBI leaders tried to damage his campaign, presumably trying to get Clinton elected.
It's up to Wray to get rid of such leaders and to keep the FBI out of US politics.
Remember J. Edgar Hoover, who did not like ML King and attacked the latter's weaknesses, such as adultery?
3
Trump is a threat to democracy in this country but it is the Republican led congress that can destroy it and it looks like they are fully prepared and willing to do so. As Socrates wrote earlier in these pages: "Nobody hates democracy more than Republicans." The fate of the nation rides on the mid-term elections.
10
Big problem is that Trump doesn't want to be President; he wants to be King. And he is quite willing to destroy any person or organization that he feels is a threat. Steve Bannon told us early in this administration that their goal was "deconstruction of the administrative state" and I believe they are well on their way to doing exactly that. Look at many of his Cabinet appointments (Pruitt, Tillerson, DeVos ...) and federal judge appointments. Many of those appointments were obviously made with the intention of destroying the organization. I fear for the future of our country and I am ashamed of the leaders in the Republican Party who have become co conspirators by their cooperation in this insanity.
10
When testifying before Congress earlier this year , Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein said he could only dismiss Muller for cause and so far he has had no cause to remove him from that post. The same justification should apply to McCabe. Simply because his wife ran for political office is no cause to remove him from his post.
If McCabe is dismissed because he and/or his his wife have personal opinions about the president, where does this end? If the opinions of federal employees match those of the general public then fully two-thirds of them view the president negatively Should we expect the president to remove 66% of the employees? If so, then we have the equivalent of Recep Erdogan in the White House. No one voted for that. No one should tolerate that.
20
This can only end in violence. When you have the president's official spokesperson refer to this matter as an FBI "hoax," it's only a matter of time until someone will get the bright idea to overthrow the government. Everything is in position for such an event. The go-word will be a criminal indictment of Donald Trump or any of his family members. The only silver lining I can see in all this is, apparently, DT missed school that day when they studied mob rule in sociology class. Once the mob gets going, it's difficult to impossible to control the trajectory. Once the land grab starts, the land they grab may be his.
On another bright note, the U.S. must be stronger than one would assume. In my mind, I can't see why no one takes this opportunity to invade us. We're demoralized, have little social cohesion, and a majority of us pledge no allegiance to our current 'leader.' It seems like it would be a cakewalk. Of course, why waste bullets, when we're imploding and doing the work for them.
We have a president with no capacity for strategic thought. I don't think he could score a kill on an xbox game.
Merry Christmas. If we make it that long.
6
Considering the disgraceful, arguably anti constitutional and illegal conduct of the FBI and DOJ under Barack Obama and extending into the Trump era by holdovers it is not an unforeseen that such conduct elicits at best a jaundiced view of their tactics and intent.
Does Mr. Wray have there backs is not the question. The question is are there backs, backing Clinton/Obama et al or the truth?
2
If i were a defense attorney for a client charged with a federal crime, you can be sure I would quote the president and Republicans about the tattered FBI, with political biases and criminal leadership and general investigative incompetence.
What would the jury make of that?
2
Didn’t Comey help kill Hillary Clinton’s campaign when he announced a probe into her secure e-mail sever at her home, and that some of the messages (probably spam)had ben deleted?
It was the excuse Donald Trump used for becoming the first modern presidential candidate not to release his tax returns.
The pointless, beyond political investigation proved that Clinton, like predecessorColin Powell had a typical (for the agency) backchannel, a system where Alice could complain about Bob”s policy proposals to her boss without Bob finding out.
It used to be done by State Department employees slipping letters into diplomatic courier pouches.
But voters, ignorant of things digital, were swayed by her installation of Internet equipment they could not define, but sure sounded sinister, something reporters, who understand e-mail delivery systems never bothered to explain.
Or how the big news was the electronic Watergate-style burglary of both Clinton’s 24-hour-availability work-from-home gear, the haul lacking in documents important to national security, and of servers at the Democratic National Committee, were carried out by theRussian government to help Trump win - the conclusion of every national security agency from NSA to DIA.
But one FBI agent sending e-mail about Trump is somehow much more important to the security of the nation, Putin’s choice for POTUS says.
9
Eatoin, it's actually Etaoin...
1
The Deep State is real! The only way confidence will be restored is if all the FBI agents who are loyal to Obama are fired.
To reject the notion that there are Obama loyalists in the FBI is at best naive, and at worst a hatred for the Unites States. There has been, and will always be, subversive forces in any government, and it is impetative to be on guard by removing these people as soon as they are discovered.
The article says there is low morale in sections of the FBI. These are the people who thought their sole job was to damage the Trump Presidency, and because they have not been able to accomplish their mission, they are sad. These misguided FBi agents need to be fired immediately. Then morale will improve.
3
To the untrained eye, it seems that the FBI problems are entirely self inflicted. From what we know, it does seem that they have quite a few swampy elements that decided to undermine the democratic process. The burden of proof is on them at this stage. Trump (as usual) is expressing what a lot of people is thinking.
3
How is Trump's harassment of the FBI not obstruction of justice? I trust that the Mueller team is taking notes. I realize Donald is dense, but we need to get the message to him that we have no kings in American, nor do we want any. Let him buy an island somewhere and be emperor of all the palm trees and birds. Donald is clearly incapable of functioning as a president. That does not mean he should be allowed to destroy the office. Shame on the GOP for protecting him.
12
What Trump and his Republican enablers/coconspirators are doing is seriously scary, the kind of things that bring down a government and transform a democracy into an authoritarian regime! Turn independent legal and justice bodies into security forces for the dictatorship, rewrite or dismantle government’s role in our lives to create uncertainty and chaos, foment unrest and distrust among citizenry about its government—putting all trust in the all-knowing “President,” be it Trump or Putin.
5
Given that Trump May have obstructed justice in firing Comey. Wray should use this window in which Trump can’t touch him, to methodically tackle his current workload, and ignore the taunts. Very methodically.
4
Now is not the tie to COWER because the juvenile coward who illegally gamed the system to become President by using every apparent device of a kleptocrat and traitor is attempting to bully us. To the contrary, now is the time to stand up to Trump and impeach him. He is a threat to everything we have ever believed we had stood for as a people and a nation and if we fail in this test, we will have failed not only ourselves, but every succeeding generation and our forefathers and mothers. It is that simple.
Investigate, impeach, indict and imprison Trump and his family for their heinous crimes and actions.
12
We where are the former leaders of the GOP? Where are the two living GOP presidents? Where is Romney? McCain? Dole? Why aren’t these people speaking out against Trump and his relentless attack on our institutions?
5
Another another story that shows why Trump is utterly unfit to be president. If you think he is fit, you have not been paying attention.
6
Trump has an amazing skill of bringing all attention to himself and disrupting agencies like the FBI by clever attacks, filled with pseudo-truths and repainting of appearances.
It is clear that he is now a serious threat to what is left of our democracy. He has some how collected a support base built on greed and joy at attacks on the credibility of government.
Many of his appointments and his executive and congressional acts done so much damage to this country, physically, legislatively, and internationally. He is accelerating the descent into poverty of a majority of Americans.
The most powerful country in the world brought to its knees by a lying bigot. With cheerleaders all around. A black year for all.
5
Perhaps we should start the winnowing process now, and eventually we'll find a person who is deaf dumb and blind and has absolutely no opinions about anything. We can then put him in charge of this investigation. Of course no such person exists, and if such a person existed, we would not want them in this position. This is just Trump trying to escape the consequences of his actions. Unfortunately, for Trump, when he ran for president, he put himself in the position where the consequences of his actions are examined under the lens of the public microscope. Hopefully the law is stronger than our Banana Republic president.
6
The photograph of Mr. Wray accompanying this article is worth $1M plus. He is the guy who has been entrusted (by Mr. Trump himself) to base his work on the “facts, the law and the impartial pursuit of justice — period.” Looking at Trump, and based on the facts, Is this possible?
3
Trump's work is already done in that he has altered the behavior of FBI Director Chistopher Wray. This is clearly Trump's intent, and I'm sure that he's pleased that he has already won.
When Republicans "go along" with Trump to avoid his unhinged attacks, they move themselves from being independent, and become sycophants. Their behavior is indeed the definition of sycophant, unless you think it should really be boot-licker. The most prominent of these are McConnell and Ryan, who have already degraded themselves in the service of "more money for the rich".
3
Trump is further making the case for Mueller to act against him, not just as someone who overstepped authority to hide his Russian collusion, and/or coverup, but as a President bent on destroying the legitimacy of the FBI and Justice dept. There could not be any more qualified individual than Mueller to appreciate this. Clearly we’re poised for the big showdown and the only thing in “our” favor is if Republicans fear an electorate turning on them. Probably not yet...
3
Is Trump attempting to turn the FBI into his own, personal Secret Service? Loyal only to him? And willing to do anything to support only Trump? Because that's what it looks like to me.
3
If we want to see the rule of law and true democracy preserved in America for our children and grandchildren:
PROTEST AND RESIST EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY!
4
Wray as the new FBI director was a bad choice because Trump now has a back channel communication option with the FBI director through Chris Christie. On the surface, it may have seemed like a safe mainstream pick but it is far from it. The choice of Christie's friend and defense counsel in the Bridge-gate scandal shows that Trump can and surely will push the envelope to solidify his inner circle. His next move will be to disembowel the FBI itself, the same way the EPA is being gutted, removing all remnants of its investigation into his Russian connections. With new FBI director Wray expect funding cuts, resignations and dismissals. Doubtless this cleansing is already afoot with the deliberate surreptitious sabotaging of all related records throughout the entire administration. The system is rigged and the further we let this guy get away with this, the more damage he will do to our democracy. James Clapper is right, Watergate pales in comparison to the Russia probe.
3
The FBI is the greatest police agency in the world, and the most important protection the American people have against terrorism and cyber warfare. There is nothing wrong with the FBI. The problem is that Donald Trump is a criminal, and criminals don't like the rule of law.
4
All those that are attacking the FBI and Mueller should be charged with Attempted Obstruction of Justice. Especially those in Office or the Lawyers of such. That is blatantly illegal, Plain and Simple, that is what they are doing.
In this case it is not 'politics' or 'free speech' it is interfering with a Law Enforcement Officer Doing His Duty and Defamation of Character with Libel on top.
Republicans and Trump need to step back and rethink thier actions, they, themselves are not above the Law.
1
I am as frightened and angry as most of my liberal friends, or for that matter the horrified Republicans who regularly appear on MSNBC, at all of this. Assuming, however, that this sick individual does not start WWIII in the next six months, I have reason to be optimistic.
Donald Trump's supporters are not the majority. The Democrats are fired up for 2018 (even I, a songwriter, am kicking in a few bucks a month to nationwide political campaigns). Mueller is, countless times over, smarter than Trump and surely has a plan in place should he be removed by nefarious means. And I believe the president, even if it's just through stupidity, has committed a serious crime that will render it impossible for him to remain in office. His subservient attitude toward Russia makes no sense otherwise.
1
Mr. Trump is ruining our country.
President Trump is corrupting politicians He's also trying to corrupt and destroy lifetime career government employees in his attempt to bend them to his will, to be loyal to him, to lie for him, and most of all praise and flatter him.
This is all happening so clearly under the REPUBLICAN'S watch, who seem to have sold their souls to the devil just to keep their seat at the table.
In the wrong hands, power can be very corrupting and we're witnessing it first hand.
1
There's a definite pattern emerging from Washington. First Trump flatters, then insinuates, then attacks, then flatters again, then fires. All of which has absolutely nothing to do with the men and/or their performance. I understand why so many in this administration are fleeing. I don't understand why anyone would accept a job for which all one's time would be spent waiting in fear for the next day's slings and arrows. I'm waiting for Trump to appoint a horse to a position of importance.
2
It's not going to happen but the leadership of the GOP needs to take a moment and reflect on where the country is herding under the rule of Trump. Political fortunes ebb and flow and the Dems will someday be on top, looking to unwind everything done by Trump and the GOP. The U.S. is on the verge of a banana republic scenario where the sole priority of the party in power is to undo anything that was done by its adversaries. This is a disaster for the people and eventually leads to the breakdown of institutions and order.
Responsible leaders in both parties need to come together and agree on some common areas where they can cooperate for the benefit of the American people, with or without Trump. Otherwise we are doomed to a future of worsening political fighting and the degradation of our democracy.
No surprises here. Trump is showing his characteristic patterns of dictatorial ownership of anyone and everyone who either doesn't pray at his altar of narcissism or becomes a distracting thorn in his bluntly self-serving 'presidential' narrative.
What I do not understand is how on earth our election managed to hoist this decrepit, egocentric extremist onto our modern political stage, someone who clearly is living not only in his own isolated bubble of self-styled 1950's swagger and ideals, but alarmingly confident in his determination to control the message through instilling fear and intimidation. I'm becoming more and more of the belief that this man is taking his governing notes straight out of any one of Orwell's dystopian fictions. Sad thing is, it's becoming our reality. And, that HAS to change. Soon.
6
The FBI is said to be the best organized intelligence agency in the world. A reputation, the agency has earned over the years, with men and women trained for the job. Often, they place their lives on the line. All done, to safeguard our lives and the security of our nation. Personnel at the FBI, not only confine their duties domestically, also often called to assist in solving problems overseas. This agency has such a magnificent reputation that law enforcement officers from various countries come to be trained at the agency's academy.
With all what the FBI stands for, we the citizens of this country owe so much for what the agency's men and women do for us and for the country. It is so very unprecedented and beyond comprehension how politicians view and perceive things differently.
Mr. Trump, our POTUS must know this. The FBI for who they are cannot function and align themselves to suit any individual's personal view and thinking. To do so, the agency will be seen as not been impartial, and would be another political organization. We see that happening in totalitarian states. Off all people, the POTUS must stand by and support the mission of the FBI. There is no alternative to that.
97
It's only 'politics' if it doesn't serve Trump and his kleptocrats and enablers. When they do it, it's fine. But try to tell the truth and help people who are not in Trump's twisted support group, and hell hath no fury.
Trump, our wannabe godkingemperor, thinks he can say anything and do anything (shoot someone on 5th avenue, buddy up to the Russians who helped him survive those bankruptcies and probably have the goods on him, grope women, threaten nuclear annihilation, promote climate catastrophe instead of working to solve the obvious problems, ignore every kind of worldwide humanitarian catastrophe by blaming victims, the list is endless).
He and only he can solve our problems. Not!
Destroying democracy, that's his plan. The people who support him are deluded, foolish and shortsighted when they're not outright corrupt and cruel.
12
In regard to groping women you should mention Steele's dossier and all the details that are in it such as the Golden Shower performed in a Moscow hotel room in a bed that former President Obama and his wife once slept in.
We do need to fight back hard!
As Laurence Tribe tweeted:
"The greatest danger isn’t that Mueller will be fired but that Rosenstein will be ousted and replaced with a “minder” who clips Mueller’s wings in a way that’s less likely to arouse mass protest and harder to challenge in court."
10
The 2016 election was a tough one for the FBI. Especially since H. Clinton decided to throw the election way off course accusing the Russians of trying to subvert her campaign and give the election to Trump. Clinton's State Department deceptions about her non compliance with a law which was supposed to bring transparency to gov't were an ongoing controversy. She was defensive, evasive and dishonest about her actions. Comey first criticized her judgement but said she broke no laws. Then the FBI reopened the case. Then closed it again. The FBI was shooed away from investigating the alleged hack of Clinton and Podesta's emails by the Russians. It is now generally clear the emails were leaked by someone in the DNC. Trump doesn't like being investigated and he figures since he is president he can end any investigation on his own authority. The FBI has failed not get caught up in the politics of Trump's tweetocracy. One can see there a lot of "not Trump" people in important positions in the FBI who want to end Trump's presidency by hook or crook.
9
Riiiight ... Comey threw the election to Trump and it's Clinton's fault? Russians never hacked? As to Benghazi, it was Republicans who defunded embassy security and spent years and millions trying to pin the result on Hillary. Even then ...
"Through all of the many Benghazi and e-mail investigations I can't seem to remember Republicans saying that only Clinton supporters could fairly investigate her.
"The hypocrisy is not the least bit surprising."
Meanwhile, remember Matt Lauer who bullied her and didn't let her speak, while he buddied up to Trump? Remember Trump's abusive looming in that debate? Right, he's a saint and she's the devil ... not.
2
Yet why was the Trump Campaign meeting with Russians at all. Bush,Reagan, even Nixon did not use a foreign government to help their election.
2
One wonders exactly what the evidence might be supporting that "it is now generally clear that the emails were leaked by someone in the DNC."
Note: some dingbat's claim on Fox&Friends is not, repeat not, evidence.
1
If it wasn't so serious it's almost laughable that Republicans are criticizing FBI agents who aren't avid supporters on Trump, as if such supporters are the only people who can "fairly" investigate his mis-deeds.
Through all of the many Benghazi and e-mail investigations I can't seem to remember Republicans saying that only Clinton supporters could fairly investigate her.
The hypocrisy is not the least bit surprising.
73
It appears only Clinton supporters did "investigate" her.
1
J. Edgar Hoover was known to be an uncontrollable and wholly biased abuser of his power during the many years he served as FBI Director. His propensity to blackmail otherwise powerful governmental officials into compliance with his whims was legendary, and ultimately prompted what was truly a necessary "redo" of the FBI. These are not those times.
Donald Trump is another matter entirely as he attempts to publicly pressure even his own appointees into inappropriate complicity with his personal objectives. Whether he is successfully facilitating the numbing of America, or relying on the dumbing of America, the acid test for his unprecedented political pressure being exerted on top FBI officials, as he himself rails against alleged politicization of the bureau, will be the American people.
The 2018 midterm elections will matter, perhaps more than ever in our nation's history. Apparently, we cannot count on the Republican members of Congress to bring Trump to heel, or use their heels to boot him out of office. It will be up to We the People to send an unequivocally clear message in terms that these congressional poseurs will understand. The price we would pay for failing to do so will be too high and a burden too great for the country to bear, lest America becomes another type of country altogether.
It's bad enough that Trump feels the FBI is going down the tubes. It's far worse when it's the fundamental principles of American government are being flushed into oblivion.
35
Lincoln said, "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it." The extraordinary abuse of power beginning with McConnell's rejection of Garland, continued by Trump's disregard for Constitutional law and daily administrative depredations and the Congress' failure to correct him are making millions of Americans "weary of the existing government." We get closer to confrontation every day. There is nothing new about a government tempting its people to get rid of it. I pray this can be done peacefully .
31
True, and well said. However, we do not "get rid of it" by bringing back the old and failed.
We need the new ideas, and new people. We won't get it with "we was robbed" and blaming the Russians and calling our own voters stupid.
We know what is needed. It was winning a huge following before the last election. I say "it" not "them." It is the ideas that inspired.
4
I agree. One idea is not so new. A flaw exists in the Constitution. Abolition of the electoral college would be a good place to start. We might have avoided the Iraq war that way and we certainly would have avoided Trump. The college hobbles our democracy and must go. The new people seem to be coming out of the wood work. They will need support and nurturing. The dogma of the quiet past is inadequate to the stormy present. Lincoln said that also.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident......That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...."
Millions of Americans were dissatisfied with the form of our Government that had been wrought by the Washington Political Establishment. Bloated, self-serving bureaucracies, career politicians, enormous debt and votes for hire. Trump was a logical, if unlikely, result of this dissatisfaction.
The Trump "rebellion" was accomplished at the ballot box. It would be foolish and fruitless for your "weary" faction to engage in a less than peaceful confrontation as you insinuate. The First Civil War was ugly, just as the French and Russian Revolutions were ugly. Pray long and often that you do not choose that path.
Trump is 100% correct about the FBI, The leaders of the agency are as corrupt as Hoover's FBI or as corrupt as the FBI was in Boston in the 1970s. The suspected agents were illegally working to change the election. The creation of the dossier, the legal decisions based on the phony dossier and the collusion with the Clinton campaign, foreign agents and people from Russia. I hope Trump will make the right decisions, fire Mueller, ending the investigation and then go after the true culprits.
7
Right. I'm going to quote another commenter here who kept it simple:
"Through all of the many Benghazi and e-mail investigations I can't seem to remember Republicans saying that only Clinton supporters could fairly investigate her.
The hypocrisy is not the least bit surprising."
2
What evidence, empirical evidence, exists that you can refer us to that would support your beliefs?
I too hope that the "president" fires the special prosecutor, but, for different reasons-I remember what happened to another president that fired a special prosecutor...
That's a strange perspective. Clinton would have won the election, probably, if not for Comey's dramatic, and unusual, public comments about the email investigation, and reticence on Trump-and-Russia. In 2016, even Republicans thought the FBI was putting its thumb on the scales to hurt Clinton:
https://www.vox.com/world/2016/11/5/13525698/fbi-clinton-trump-leaks-ser...
1
In psychological warfare, the key to success is conditioning through constant blasts of whatever you are pushing and persistence. The president of his base has utilized this method throughout his career and has applied it, successfully, to the Oval Office. America was great before Trump, Christmas was not under attack before Trump, the law enforcement and intelligence agencies were not in tatters before Trump. All remained in tact until Trump's personal needs as a businessman became the priority and the conditioning began as his campaign picked up speed.
Through Trump's tweets and his propaganda arms, FOX News and Breitbart, his base has been conditioned to believe everything is falling apart and ONLY TRUMP can save them. That's how dictatorships begin. Trump's enablers know the closest they can get is to install an autocratic oligarchy and they are well under way to succeeding. Trump's 95% (ers), regardless of their level of academic education, appear to be intellectually numb to reality until it begins to slap them in the face in the near future.
27
Don't be simple. We all know that trump views Wray's job as "ending the Russian investigation and declaring trump as pure as new fallen snow". No one, and I mean no one expected trump to "let him do his job unimpeded".
13
Each day brings new examples of how ill-prepared this president was for the highest office. This is what is "quite sad to see..." That the FBI has to duck and cover to survive this man who would be king is just another example of how threatened our democracy is. Key point: separation of powers. Three branches with division of responsibilities to prevent the abuse/concentration of power. Apparently the president did not understand this aspect of our government which after all is different from Russia's organizational plan.
17
I think it's an important point that Mr. Trump creates a political situation with the F.B.I. simply with his comments and attacks. It is a circular logic - a sort of self fulfilling and induced prophecy whereby Trump inserts himself and produces a political situation that he can then weaponize and claim a bias within the other party. Because Mr. Trump is so polarized, everything he comes into contact with subsequently becomes polarized. We must call this out and recognize for what it is.
10
Trump, having failed to gain Comey's fealty, appears now to be heading a political purge to do that very thing throughout the organization.
These are dark days.
15
The smears are all part of the Republican playbook: Their only principle is do whatever benefits them; for Republicans, there are no neutral and generally applicable rules that should be applied to everyone equally. As a corollary, if the facts uncovered in a criminal investigation implicate a prominent Republican, their "principle" is to discredit the investigator. I truly do not believe that the congressional Republicans who are relentlessly attacking the FBI care about President Trump, but there is plainly some reason for this behavior. Hopefully, we will find out what it is sooner rather than later.
11
The reasons for the GOP sellout of the U.S. are simple:
1) stack the courts with ideologues
2) reward those who fund them
3) rollback what they view as the 'welfare state'
4) throw people back into the unregulated rapacious 'private markets' of health care
5) reward the military-industrial complex that will give many of them cushy positions after they get booted out of office
6) codify a Christian caliphate
Scary, huh?
2
I think we found out yesterday. Well-off republicans will become multibillionairs if they behave and conform.
Trump is undeniably despicable for many reasons, including his ignorance of the Constitution and his resultant actions contrary to upholding the rule of law and separation of powers, but if we are focusing upon his totalitarian tendencies toward the FBI (and the Dept. of Justice), its best-known director, J. Edgar Hoover, was, so far, more culpable of questionable anti-American (think principles of freedom and the Bill of Rights) direction of the Bureau's enforcement and intelligence operations than Trump.
That fact doesn't give Trump any kind of pass, though he will surely take one at any opportunity to get away with it.
4
As I have said before, the liar in chief and his cronies are determined to autocratically dismantle all of the agencies within the government. Little do they know, but the threat to undermining the FBI is also a threat to to the White House and everyone in it. All of the subtle and not so subtle protections afforded by the FBI will vanish and we will be left with Trump law. Next the CIA and all other security agencies. Look at it this way. Our current form of government protects us from Trump running roughshod over the Justice department. So Trump uses a demoralizing method to force retirements and dismissals. We can still win against Mr. Un the second, if we vote him out of office and the process begins in the 2018 election where we dismiss a host of republican senators and congressmen.
11
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 101: Trump epitomizes the main tactic of psychopaths, namely to create overwhelming fear in the hearts of everyone in his sphere. The threat of being fired is not so big; most of us can accept that even if unpleasant. Nope. The real fear is the nagging sense that One is not safe around this man. He creates this illusion by being mercurial, which leads to chaos. POWs know only too well the devastating effects of never knowing what their captors have planned or will do next. The beatings are painful but predictable. It is the verbal threats, the fierce looks, the smile and extended hand, the total disregard for another human being — which leads to our fear that we are next. Why do we allow this criminal mind in the Whitehouse?
17
He doesn't create fear in me--I am too old. But he does create overwhelming rage in me, to the point that if I weren't so old I would seek to physically hurt him, like he is hurting this country.
2
“Why do we allow this criminal mind in the White House?”
THAT is the $64,000 question. That question can be directed at the criminal minds in Congress. You will hear CRICKETS as your answer. Gangsters, all.
1
If Trump tries to push too hard, maybe this will be the final straw and the GOP will have to respond. I'm not counting on it, but then the chaos that will ensue will likely consume the entire country until it's resolved. And I can guess there are at least 165 million citizens that won't stand for it.
8
Certainly the people who work in government agencies have opinions. The issue is simple: Can the people in government agencies check their political opinions at the door?
Is it possible to set your personal opinions aside and provide a neutral opinion when you are searching for the truth? It should be possible - but in today's political atmosphere it has become less-than-likely that the government employees are unable to do so.
This is true of government employees, plural: both Democrats and Republicans have allowed their bias to shape their opinions and their reports. Fire a few of the more outrageous and see if the rest don't fall into line and give neutral opinions: Just the facts, ma'am.
I submit that it is possible to provide neutral
2
Lawyers provide excellent defense for guilty people all the time. Of course good FBI agents can do their work without their politics dictating how they work.
1
Of course it's possible, since it's what the FBI's been doing since J. Edgar...often through Republicans such as Mueller and Comey.
This has zero to do with that: it's a line of poltical attack.
Trump will continue to commit these atrocities of justice as long as the GOP continues to enable him. Remove the enablers to remove Trump.
20
Christopher Wray can't answer questions? His salary is just paid for him to collect without accounting? BTW, he deflected every thorny question to the Inspector General, anyway.
3
The only thing that will save this nation is a democratic majority in the House in 2018. Plain and simple.
20
LOL: We have a "Democratic majority in the House". They just happen to be Republicans not Democrats. Thanks for allowing me to straighten that out. You're welcome.
1
Recently nominated by Trump and approved by a GOP Congress ( after Trump abruptly fired his predecessor), no political appointment may be more secure in their job. It would not take much courage for Wray to stand up to Trump and protect the integrity of his agency and the faith of the American people in it. However I fear our government has devolved to nothing more than bullies and cowards.
7
This is completely unacceptable, a major assault on our democracy. If Trump and his ilk are so innocent, why is he trying so hard to impede and/or stop this investigation? In the beginning, a least a few Republicans stood up to him. Now, none of them are, and worse, they're fawning all over him like a bunch of sycophants. It's truly sickening.
22
Donald Trump is under investigation by the FBI. He is attacking these same law enforcement officials who are doing their legal duty. Why isn't this considered obstruction of justice?
And why aren't those Members of Congress who are helping in this obstruction at the explicit request of this President not considered to be co-conspirators?
20
Trump is clearly engaging in obstruction of justice and should be behind bars. There is no way to do this without confronting the crime and the criminals and that is Trump's entire crew. Pathetic that American justice is so weak. This is not a reality show. Lock him up.
16
Well, we could have seen this coming. Without exception, anyone who challenges Trump’s absolute power becomes the victim of a well-funded smear campaign and being fired - losing a career in which he or she has invested decades of hard work.
At the root of all lies “Citizens United” vs. FEC, the cruel irony which enables monied interests to pull the fabric of America thread by thread, one patriot at a time. Yet to be seen, whether this strategy of divide and conquer will be capable of destroying what a civil war and 620,000 casualties couldn’t - whether the first government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall perish from the earth.
18
The theory goes like this. Congress has a 15% approval rating. Trump has maybe 35% on a generous day. If you can tear down other institutions, the GOP won't look nearly as bad, relatively.
Not gonna believe anything from the GOP. They've made too many Faustian deals along the way.
7
Mr. Trump evidently believes any Democrat is guilty of political bias and all of them should be removed from the FBI, even absent any workplace bias. The problem is that two-thirds of America do not support the president, and the large majority of those actively despise him. Does the president really believe FBI employees should be handpicked from his shrinking base of loyal supporters? Talk about political bias!
12
Republicans who support and/or directly enable Trump’s unethical and unAmerican behavior should be held accountable come election time. Never in my life have i witnessed this kind of destructive sales serving behavior and we need to call it out everywhere we see it. The fawning over President Trump was almost comical if it weren’t so real. Let’s hope and pray that Mr. Mueller and his team gather the legal evidence to end this nightmare of an administration.
10
The next election cycle will determine whether or not our country will survive as as a democracy within a republic or simply become another of history's lost empires. The path to emulate our forbears is slowly, but surely, getting narrower and slimmer each passing day. And congress is more concerned with tax breaks for the richest among us! How I'd love to see what future historians will say about this sorry mess created solely by and for the repubs!
1
Everyone and everything trump touches is diminished, destroyed, or made a laughing stock.
For example, if trump had a foreign policy, it would be impossible to carry it out because the Department of State is being made dysfunctional. The Department of education -- completely inept, and the same with the others.
Whoever follows trump in the White House will need to rebuild a functioning government.
Other than giving tax breaks to the wealthy and funding the military/industrial complex, the congress is pretty much hopeless. We are entering the era of government by the cities and states.
9
At this point, maybe that is not a bad thing. Trump and his thugs are already trying to dismantle our civil service, etc. So let the cities and states take over, at least some of them. Some have already shown good ideas. And if we are going to have to split up, this may show us who we would want to join, etc.
To FBI agents: The louder they scream the harder you work! This is a matter of principle. Their screaming and threatening constitutes obstruction of justice. Are you going to give into that?
16
" Mr. Gohmert singled out a seemingly random group of agents."
What happened to their horror of unmasking? The Republicans were furious over the alleged unmasking of Michael Flynn - who has since pleaded guilty no less! - but seem perfectly OK with unmasking FBI agents who have done NOTHING illegal.
49
Does anyone in the current Washington DC administration walk a straight line?
What is happening in/to our Republic?
Is there any help on the horizon?
The best we can hope for is the 2018 election.
Please vote!!
52
This article is unbelievably biased. It is time for the public to realize that were it not for Trump, all this "stuff" at the FBI and the Department of Justice would have been buried.
Read this quote again from the article;
"But nearly five months since Mr. Wray started the job, Mr. Trump has not made Mr. Wray’s life easier as he seeks to restore the public’s confidence in the country’s premier law enforcement agency — one that the president says is in “Tatters.”
Five (5), read it FIVE months - nothing has been done to examine what happened to cause politics to enter the FBI and the DOJ... and the people with those jaded ideas of protecting us are still working there.. Come out to the Midwest and ask people what they think of Washington and east coast media bias... it's a different world, I can assure you.
15
This "stuff" is Trumpian fake news. Are FBI agents supposed to not hold personal views? Are we to forbid them from voting? Ban then from reading? The real problem is the idea that because our current "leadership" cannot act in a professional manner, the FBI can't either. There are in fact, people that hold a political view, yet function professionally.
3
Yes, a different world that wants to return to the dark ages.
1
What you fail to recognize is that every person has a political viewpoint regardless of their job. We all know that the employees in the FBI have a difficult time remaining neutral. Perhaps you are too young to know that in spite of this they have done an excellent job under both Republican and Democrat presidents. My hope is that no one in the FBI has your viewpoint. I assume you think Jeff Sessions is not biased and only Wray is biased. BTW, the FBI is part of the DOJ.
3
Someone should be investigating the right wing Trump supporters in the FBI's NY office who so intimidated Comey that he released that rule-breaking, election-interfering letter which badly damaged Clinton. Comey could not control the anti-Clinton leaks that were constantly coming from that office, being passed to the media as well as buddies like Giuliani.
Those agents actually tried to pressure the Justice Department into opening an investigation of the Clinton Foundation based on bogus allegations from Breitbart author Peter Schweitzer's book "Clinton Cash". They apparently had no problems with Trump's scam of a foundation. (What do you want to bet it was those agents that convinced both the Times and Post to print Schweitzer's allegations without fact checking? ) Meanwhile their ex boss and close ally, James Kallstrom, was regularly on Fox News bashing Hillary and supporting Trump.
At the very least I would like reporters who were recipients of those anti-Clinton leaks to ask those agents how they feel about Trump now that he is damaging their institution. It would be worth knowing if they are still more loyal to Trump or to the FBI - and our democracy.
53
Trump will promote the anti-Clinton leakers.
3
He sure did not promote Comey.
Powerful Submission- Thank you.
As has been said before many times, if DT is so innocent, why all this?
40
Trump’s remarks were clearly aimed at Obama administration holdovers on the FBI’s senior management team. The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General is inspecting these officials for alleged misconduct and partisan bias during the 2016 presidential election. The allegations are that they (1) redacted investigative reports to protect Hillary Clinton from prosecution, (2) colluded with the Clinton campaign, Democratic National Committee and former British spy Christopher Steele to produce the Russian Dossier, and (3) used the dossier—which the U.S. intelligence community has branded Russian disinformation—to obtain FISA warrants, allowing the FBI to spy on the Trump campaign. Democrats want to “move on” because the yearlong IG investigation is beginning to produce concrete results that might reveal that the investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia is a partisan smear campaign.
8
For openers, the "U.S. intelligence community," has branded no such thing, however much such phrases are rolled out in an effort to pretend to authority.
This at least is a cogent argument unlike some others. However, unless the Justice Department’s investigation has been secret, and the commentator is a highly placed government official, it is patently false. And the conclusion, that Meuller’s investigation has been found to be a political smear campaign, doesn’t logically follow. In fact, the comment would appear to be the fake news plant of a political operative, perhaps foreign, perhaps not, and I hope the Times investigates to find out who wrote it and why.
This is utterly ridiculous. All the DOJ has investigated, and found problems with, is a lack of "appropriate", i.e. In writing, by FBI AIU to office of OIG and/or FBI INSD of potential misconduct by employees. The FBI has stated these could have been made verbally during meetings. These are general allegations, not specific to Clinton, election, etc. and in fact the opposite is true of the Steele dossier. There is information regarding the big elephant Trump and his existing financial obligations to Russian interests via Trump Soho, Rybolovlev and the Florida mansion, etc. That Clinton campaign continued to pay for work that Republican operatives had started, during th eprimaries, regarding Trump finances is neither here no there. Theh were all dealing with. Acandidate nobody had ever believed would become viable, yet here we are. Stop watching and reading fake news, check your sources.
Trump has been against the FBI and the Intelligence Department since day 1. Why? He has to destroy the credibility of those who know or can find the truth. Then he has to put his "own" people in there who will protect him. Look at his cabinet. That is what he has done there. Why does Trump have to be protected? Ask the GOP Congress....they are doing their best to keep the little signer in chief in there to do their bidding even if he destroys our safety nets of intelligence. "Few men can withstand the highest bidder". George Washington. Fits Trump to a T.
37
The FBI deserves the tongue lashings. The once great agency is in tatters. The naked politics at FBI is embarrassing. We need a special counsel counsel to investigate the invesgators.
11
I suppose that you think that the glory days of the "once great agency" was when J. Edgar Hoover, who greatly abused the power of his office, was at the top of the heap. You have bought into the rhetoric of a con man.
1
Trump will not back off. It is an irrational sense of survival for him. So we (anyone who wants Trump to be reasonable) need to steel ourselves to persistent confrontation. The stakes are high.
19
Thanks to the fake Trump/Russia collusion nonsense. we have discovered that Democrats and senior leaders at the FBI colluded to ensure Hillary and her tribe of crooks were not charged with any crimes for the various crimes they obviously committed.
Furthermore, the Democrats used their fake, Russia sourced dossier as an excuse to goad a coopted FBI into harassing and attacking a political opponent and to sway a US election with fake news.
While the Democrats and the NYT would like the FBI to move on quickly from this - because they are scared what the public will learn - in order for trust to be restored in the FBI, it is necessary to first learn the depths of the depravity they engaged in at behest of Clinton and the Democrats and remove the bad apples.
Stay tuned. It is not comfortable learning the establishment is corrupt, but sunlight is the best disinfectant. The sun is rising and approaching noon.
14
Russia is fake and the democrats colluded. What absolute nonsense. What about Russia is fake? Be specific as opposed to repeating tWalking points. The danger you miss is Trump attempting to make law enforcement an extension of Trump not about the law. Wake up to the real danger. Oh Russia is real and presents areal danger to our institutions.
2
It is too late to "keep politics out of the Bureau." It was already thoroughly politicized. Hopefully, Mr. Wray is trying to "get politics out of the Bureau."
6
Trump wants nothing less than to be a dictator, and in order to do that he has to destroy our confidence in the rule of law, the bedrock of this or any democracy. He seems to be doing quite well in this.
26
You would think after the gazillion hearings on Benghazi that Republicans would be used to weaponizing the investigative powers of the Government. I guess what’s good for the gander isn’t good for the goose.
21
Trump's goal is to protect his skin at all costs. He lashes out at the FBI because he is scared. He is a cornered rat. He doesn't care about truth. He doesn't care about honesty. He doesn't care about anything but himself and he is willing to take down the country to protect himself.
37
It is critical to the operations of a dictatorship that the internal police such as the KGB or the Stasi must swear loyalty and work only for head of state. Trump is a true enemy of the constitution
38
The picture says it all! The expression on Wray’s face shows how most of us feel when Trump is pontificating.
15
An attempt to stifle an criminal investigation one can only conclude Trump is a criminal
23
Do the worst first--start work on a coup, say--and then accuse your victims of doing the same.
12
Within the FBI the Clinton Investigation was coded "HQ special investigation" and was a joke.
Rank and file FBI agents are appalled that Mrs. Clinton wasn't investigated the same way that Paul Manafort was investigated. The FBI agents picked the Manaforts front door lock at 6AM rushed in yelling, removed files, stayed till 4 PM and made copies of all computer hard drives and took their cell phones. When it came to Mrs. Clinton they called her in advance, rang the doorbell, never searched the house or took any computers or phones. They probably had tea and crumpets. Fair? c'mon really.
6
How do you know this?
So...Comey was a big Hillary fan when he announced the FBI was re-opening the email investigation just days before the election? The single most obvious blow to her candidacy? Gee, he sure had a strange way of showing how biased he was.
38
Well folks, you chose this congress and this president. I blame you!
19
There has always been politics in the FBI to one extent or the other. Remember J Edgar Hoover? The question is how prevalent is it now and as typical to times you will be either in one camp or the other.
6
You are correct.......it's just more outrageous now. Fire a few of the more outrageous biased 'finders of fact' and the rest should fall into line and check their bias in favor of facts.
And anyone who thinks the bias is all on one side is way too biased and therefore unable to recognize the truth.
I'm shocked! Shocked! to learn that there is political bias afoot at the FBI. We'd do well to take a lesson from the past and emulate the workings of the bureau back in the days of J. Edgar. At least back then we knew we could count on the FBI for a completely neutral and objective stance.
4
Surely you jest. I hope so. Or perhaps you are just writing tongue-in-cheek. Hoover was a power-hungry and abusive FBI director who was as misguided and manipulative as our current president.
Every judge, policeman, soldier, medical examiner, forensic scientist, bailiff, court stenographer, sheriff, CIA agent, FBI agent, lawyer and prosecutor in the United States has political and religious opinions to which they are entitled. Where on earth would we find legions of qualified law enforcement and justice professionals with no political preferences? Successful and honest career professionals in these fields develop the ability to do their jobs, follow the evidence, sort facts from feelings, guard against bias including their own, and weather the pendulum swings of administration after administration from varying political parties with various priorities. There is no other option for us. Do we expect legions of robots to do this work?
That two FBI agents who were having an affair used work phones to discuss their politics was idiotic. That they had strong opinions and favored Hillary Clinton over Trump should surprise nobody. She won the popular vote. Does anyone not believe there were millions of law enforcement and justice professionals who voted for her?
The FBI has multiple layers of oversight, checking, proofing, sourcing and evidence analysis for every investigation, especially one as important as the Clinton email investigation. Mueller immediately removed these agents, who may well have performed their jobs professionally despite their political opinions and messy personal lives.
Denigrating the FBI is a symptom of authoritarianism.
55
It is well documented that Trump has donated to Democrats throughout his adult life. Does that disqualify him as the head of the Republican Party? Trump and his allies are desperate and will attack anything and everything and hope it will stick.
3
POTUS Trump consistently engaged in self-destructive activity.
Unintended consequence weakens the nation and its government.
Will the electorate act to change the political balance in 2018?
Dems will have to accept that the movement will succeed from the bottom up, not vice versa.
9
Time is relative, and flexible according to Einstein. I wish we can accelerate the remaining term of the dotard and have an immediate election. Alas, we have to suffer for three more years and God willing even less if we are lucky! Problem solved.
4
We all have to hold on till the next Congress. Hopefully, if the Democrats gain control of the House, they can appoint Mueller as a special prosecutor for the House of Representatives and everything that needs to be known about Trump and his associates going back decades will be subject to public scrutiny. That should put the final nails in the coffin.
12
J. Edgar Hoover's way was to control his potential political critics with private damaging information about them. Trump may encourage this same behavior on Weather and his replacements. Then we really would have the mess Trump claims.
6
The 'Trump Dossier' seems to be right out of Hoover's playbook. Now that we know the Clinton campaign funded the writing of the dossier and that the FBI deputy director may have been far less than neutral, we should question what happened.
We should always question any apparent bias: fact-finders must leave their bias at the door.
The President’s approach to Governance is aligned with how he ran his Business. That is in direct conflict with the checks and balances of our Government. There are leadership positions that serve at the pleasure of POTUS but not the rank and file of workers and professions that have long and distinguished careers. They have protections and due process. His move to try and purge employees that do not bow to his very wish is not unlike what we experienced in the 1950’s and McCarthyism.
13
I’ve always tried to empathize with friends and family who escaped from regimes ruled by the whims of petulant, narcissistic authoritarians, but it’s fair to say I didn’t really understand.
I’m beginning to understand.
27
In my past working life I worked for a boss who was a narcissist, a bully and marginally competent. He made my life miserable for years affecting my physical and mental health. I survived, got my pension and still did a great job. And so will Wray and the other decent, honorable Civil servants working in our government. Trump is an aberration in our history. Somehow I feel that he will be punished severely for all the evil he has brought to the White House. May all of his enablers suffer the same fate.
24
Trump already has a track record of firing people who are in position to negatively affect his presidency and/or his deals with Putin.
Whatever happened to Kushner's attempt to use the Soviet Embassy to make secretive phone calls to Russia?
13
My fear is that he wants the FBI as his attack dogs pursuing any and all who dare to be fact based supporters of rule of law and the Constitution. Will he clean house of all but rabid right wing GOP minions? Do we have a country and a Constitution under Trump and the corporations?
3
It would seem to me that if a vast number of federal law enforcement officers who specialize in, intelligence, racketeering crimes, graft, money laundering counterintelligence, and ethics are not on your team, or you feel as if they're not, the problem is not them, it's you.
How many times has Donald heard from someone he's tried to woo, "it's not me, Donald, it's you."
Preemptive delegitimization is the ploy of the guilty. It's Donald's tell.
3
Between the FBI disparagement and the attacks on Mueller, tell me that both groups are getting closer to serious conclusions on Trump and his cronies in proving all of their illegal behavior. That is why most of Trump’s supporters, especially Fox News, are calling for the firing of Mueller.
Hopefully Mueller and company are ready to issue more subpoenas
9
Is it possible to fail to do Mr. Trump's bidding without being accused of partisanship or incompetence?
If one does Mr. Trump's bidding, is it possible to escape being thrown under the bus if things turn out badly?
Is it possible to critical of Mr. Trump without one of his idolaters (1) flatly denying the facts; (2) repeating a lie; (3) attacking the critic; (4) insisting that Obama, Clinton, or whoever, were way worse; (5) blaming the "fake" media; or (6) changing the subject completely?
Come on, Democrats! Make America functional again!
8
A laughable argument from the Times. The FBI was far from impartial before the election. No amount of self-serving articles will change this.
7
If hell never existed, it will be created now on special orders, if only for this President and this Congress.
15
Everything and everyone Trump touches seems to be diminished, tarnished or risk indictment. Wow....such an inspirational POTUS.....no wonder nobody of substance wants to fill open positions and others are fleeing like the proverbial rodents from a sinking ship. Is it 2018 yet?
57
More people should take the oath of service:
“I, [your name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 424.)
7
Leave out the "So help me God" part, Mark. Atheists who mouth the words are being required to express a belief in the existence of a mythical being. The overwhelming majority of Christians who express them do so only as a rote exercise. There is no religious fervor stirred in the recitation. And the Constitution itself does not mention a god of upper or lower case "G" anywhere in its 7,000+ words, but does say explicitly that no religious test shall be applied to hold any office of government.
8
What was that I heard Trump say? “L’etat cest moi”?
When loyalty to the Dear Leader becomes the most important thing in government you get these kinds of abberations.
Things like the disgusting display of Republican sycophants when the Tax Giveaway to the Rich was passed. Things like the Praise and Worship Sessions that have replaced Cabinet Meetings.
When will enough become too much?
49
This guy Wray is worse than than that whipping boy Sessions who always looks like he got doing something socially inappropriate.
6
"He has promised the F.B.I.’s work would be based on the 'facts, the law and the impartial pursuit of justice — period.'”
Well, see, that's where Director Wray's problems lie. Our current President cannot aide any so-called 'facts' -- they impede him, and that's just not something he'll allow -- not with his Mandate* and the Commies knocking at our door. He is, after all, The President.
* He won by over eight (currently) million votes.
10
The problem is Trump's insane. He inappropriately interjects himself into situations not only because he wants to discredit people because of his crimes. He also continually involves himself in things because he doesn't recognize any boundaries.
Trump thinks every aspect of the federal government is an extension of himself & therefore available for meddling if something threatens/displeases him because his psychological comfort is his only concern. He doesn't care about anything else. That careers are being destroyed doesn't bother him.
We hear repeatedly those who must account to Trump are always tiptoeing around him, hoping he won't notice them & unleash public wrath or humiliation on them. Comey, Sessions & Tillerson all experienced this.
Reflecting on Trump's repeated bankruptcies & legal settlements paid for discrimination & fraud, it's obvious his problems are almost always self-created because he's foolish, ignorant, stubborn & incompetent. He's never learned from a mistake in his life. This meant Trump's businesses were always embroiled in stupid risk, fraud & debt he couldn't repay.
I.e. - failure.
Now we're all hostages to this moron whose craziness leaves him unable to learn from or cope with constant problems arising from his personality disorder. He displays a constant need to create conflict & disruption around himself, keeping everyone around him apprehensive & off balance.
This is unhealthy.
We all suffer because he's crazy.
67
Really?
Didn't the FBI ever hear the limerick "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me?"
This story is just another biased partisan attack on the president.
4
What elements do you deem false?
2
"Biased partisan attack" -- as if the POTUS doesn't reveal himself EVERY SINGLE DAY on Twitter to be an infantile fool.
The man is a has-been reality T.V. star with no understanding of government, or, apparently, ethics. Trump can only spout nonsense in grandiose adjectives, and revels in the idea of making 'deals.' He has no vision, other than undermining anything his predecessor Obama did, and attacking anyone or anything that appears 'disloyal.' He expects people to toady up to him as if he is a boy-king.
A has-been reality T.V. star. Not a leader.
14
Louis Gohmert is CERTAIN that there are FIFTY SEVEN card-carrying anti-Trumpists embedded within the FBI! That's a number he can remember, because he loves Freedom Fries.
12
Whatever happened concerning the couple of agents in New York who were going to leak the information regarding Clinton emails? I read somewhere in the NYT during the summer of 2016 that there was a hotbed of anti-Clinton agents in a New York FBI office. The leak seemed to be what prompted Comey to come forward and try to get ahead of it.
17
The NYC FBI field office fed Guiliani a steady stream of leaks about Hillary, who passed that info on to the Trump campaign. The office was known as "Trumpland."
You get dirty when you sleep with dirt, Wray.
10
The whole idea that the POTUS demands fealty from our law enforcement agencies in order to protect his rump is completely outrageous and totally un-American. As the republican party cheats its way to a one party state, maligns Democrats and the independent press as "The Enemy" we slip further towards fascism and ruin. Witness our ambassador to the UN openly threatening those who would oppose us on anything the POTUS disagrees with, Fox News openly inciting the delusional base against our law enforcement and intelligence agencies, while the POTUS hosts right wing media moguls to dinner at the White House.......Folks, it's time to take to the streets!
35
Rotten Rudy Guiliani was getting info from James Kallstrom a former bigwig in the NYC fbi office who still had connections with people their that they were getting info on Hilary and her people. Not a word is written about this though ask yourself why is that.
15
Russia collaborator and quisling, Donald Trump, is obstructing justice as are a number of Repubican politicians.
28
The current state of American politics is a pornographic hologram writ large or a sub B grade movie.
18
Yep - and it's actors from both sides in the movie.
Hang on, help is on its way....2018 will either neuter or eradicate this Russian asset.
14
Religious or not, let us all pray that you are correct. Trump and the Republican Winnie's that toady to him are doing real harm to our country and to us.
4
Mike, I am trying to hold on. But will our fragile democracy last that long? We are in a Constitutional crisis of the severest magnitude.
Clinically, the degree to which normally functioning community is disrupted is pathognomonic of serious personality disorder. I’ve seen normally functioning inpatient hospital staff across three shifts a day suddenly turn on one another, all because we admitted a patient with severe character disorder. These individuals are hell on community. This is what we have in Trump. He is socially corrosive. Look at the dysfunction in his own White House. It’s one thing to disagree with a politician over policy, it’s quite another to have to worry about him undermining the institutions that are the very containers of our system. Trump is a very dangerous character who will leave career government service personnel demoralized and split against one another. To the good women and men of the FBI, stay the course, be encouraged! The vast majority of “we the people” support you and deeply appreciate what you do. This too shall pass!
19
He who laughs last, Mr President . . .
3
The fish rots from the head. Mr. Wray is in the way. Trump will make him pay, if he doesn't play.
3
A sad state of affairs when those with ties to the Clinton's are seen as traitors while those with ties to Russia are not.
36
Trump has done more damage to the image of the White race than any other White presidents of this country did.
His firing of Mr. Comey and his tongue lashing at the entire F.B.I. under the next Director Mr.Gray, shows to the non-Whites that the entire White race is made of fools like our current president, which is not true at all.
Even Richard Nixon who fell from the grace by resigning in 1974 after being forced by the Senior Republicans, looked a better White person.
But now with Trump sitting in the White House making totally silly comments verbally and through his Twitter accounts, the image that he's projecting to the Black and other minority folks of this country and also to the billions of people world wide, shows the image of a prominent White man who's nothing but a buffoon at times.
And a total criminal and also a traitor who sold this great and independent and sovereign country's integrity by accepting the help of the Russian embassy operatives starting with their ambassador to U.S. Mr. Kislyak who had a direct phone link to their president, Mr. Putin.
Trump to this day is denying the fact that he did a terrible thing called 'colluding' with the Russians to win his election.
Till this day he's not even realizing that his main 'go between' man Mike Flynn,whom he kept as the National Security Director for more than 18 days knowing fully well what he did,has flipped side because of a three year jail term the special counsel Mr. Mueller. has threatened him with.
11
This whole story is meaningless, unless understood as an attack on Comey and by extension, on Mueller. What a guileless little fool Haberman is, unless she is an agent of the President.
3
What? I think you need to read the article again. This article is clearly a defense of the FBI and former FBI personnel. It says Trump is hurting the FBI with his constant undermining of the agency. Of course, Republican politicians are helping Trump with that. They must be really worried about what Trump and his team were up to.
3
Where are the statesmen in Congress? Trump's actions are beginning to sound like sorcery of the darkest kind. He's a wrecking ball.
9
For the most part, the only congressional "statesmen" are either retired or buried.
A fact is fact. There is no getting around it. The FBI is in tatters or worse. At one time the FBI was the premier law Enforcement Agency. Now the FBI is nothing but a political hack - a politically driven agency under Comey. Whether your are Democrat or Republican one must see this f you are being true to yourself. Let Director Wray manage in a way where Dr Wray can allow the the public to have trust again in the FBI by allowing its agents to be fact driven, not politically driven. For now, and until the direction of the FBI thought process swings 180 degrees President Trump and you & I have every right if not a duty to be critical of the FBI. By doing so it will remind each agent where they are today and where they need to be tomorrow. Former Director Comey as it turns out in the end destroyed the pristine reputation the FBI once held and will likely hold again but it will take some doing. I for one hope they succeed in a shorter time span in lieu of a longer span.
2
Didn't the FBI just foil a terrorist plot to place explosives on pier 39 in the city of San Francisco? I'm glad we have an FBI that performs in situations like this. The FBI is not the only institution that is under attack by the Trumpers. You listen to one of Trump's speeches and it seems he hates the United States of America, except for Old Glory.
5
Where and what is your evidence that Comey politicized the FBI? Surely it can't just be that Comey, a republican, didn't allow the agents to investigate Hillary. What is your evidence?
3
This is all about the special investigation. Because Mueller is getting close, You Know Who opens his mouth to spew distractions, absurdities and lies. He knows a small chorus of singing toadies and Congressional nobodies will join in on cue while the cameras roll. It may all be staged histrionics to impress an ignorant, angry base, but the danger they pose is all too real. Like rats gnawing away at a building's foundations, they attack our public institutions, laws, and accepted practices, deny science, subvert justice, just to assert assert an irrational, bizarre cult of personality.
A message for them - my country is not Russia under Stalin, Romania under Ceausescu, China under Mao, or Cambodia under Pol Pot, never has been and never will be, no matter how much you try to make it so. If you touch Bob Mueller in any way, shape or form, this country will rise up like nothing you've ever seen.
I'd back down if I were you.
15
It's stunning. The administration's basic argument is: The FBI is supposed to be apolitical! But right now it needs to be more political in our favor!
This is literal Orwell. Apolitical means political. The "impartial pursuit of justice" means partial pursuit of justice against Trump's political enemies. Anything less represents a conspiracy, not the rule of law.
What's being demanded is exactly what Trump asked of Comey: loyalty, and its close cousin, fealty. And it's all happening right out in the open, yet no Republican seems to care or think it's amiss or, literally, un-American.
Want to know the best way to keep politics out of the FBI? Don't ask FBI agents for their personal political views. I'm looking at you, Rep. Gohmert.
6
Mr. Wray was the lawyer who helped Gov. Christie out of his Bridgegate mess. Trump probably thought he would do the same when he appointed him FBI Director. What a disappointment it was for our Dear Leader when he found out that being POTUS did NOT give him absolute power. Now with the FBI helping to bring to the light of day the actual Facts of the Russian hacking investigation, Trump is in a difficult spot. Firing Wray would look really bad.
So Trump does what he has always done, bully and threaten. With Ms. Pirro leading the cheers for total slander of the FBI and more, Fox news joins the Congressional GOP Toadies for Trump gang. It's sooo easy. Just maligne the FBI every day and every way.
Trump's desperation to avoid scrutiny sets records and begs the question of what he is afraid of them/us finding out? He is not content with his new personal tax code, he must ruin everything around him. Problem is, he is the POTUS. Trump and the other old white men he represents are determined to turn America into our own oligarchy with him as our own authoritarian leader.
9
"Representative Louie Gohmert, Republican of Texas, asked Mr. Wray about the political views of some of his top agents." McCarthyism and Roy Cohen redux and we all know Roy Cohen was Trump's mentor. As long as someone is loyal to this country, Ii's no one's business what kind of politics someone at the FBI has. but such is the sorry state of affairs with a POTUS who acts more like a gangster than a POTUS. All we can do is wait for Mueller to bring the hammer of indictment down on Trump or just wait until the next presidential election when he is swept from office by the electorate and relegated to the historical dung heap.
6
Having come of age during the '60s and witnessed the impact of the Cold War, Vietnam and Watergate upon the US, I never thought I'd see the day when the so-called patriotic GOP would be content with Russia meddling in our democracy (and tilting the outcome of the the presidential election) and a President wilfully undermining the military ("I know more than the Generals"), the FBI ("in Tatters") and the entire Intelligence Community.
I can't help but think what Fox News and its Kool-aid drinkers would say if Obama, either Clinton or any other Democratic leader ever denigrated in this way the good men and women that keep our country safe. It would be: "Off with their heads, the America-hating swine!!!"
We are truly though the looking glass.
10
Like a rabid dog, they've turned on their own. Comey and Mueller are both Republicans. They were both held in high esteem by the Republicans in the past . . . but that was then. Now, under the tutelage of the head, rabid dog, in the White House, they are now persona non grata to the Republican party. Make no mistake about it, we are under attack from within, and Putin is fiddling with glee as America burns.
8
How can the FBI be objective when they are allowed to give money to politicsl candidates? And like the media, the FBI overwhelmingly gives money to Clinton and Obama types. That is called collusion.
2
What's left ? A night of Long Knives ? At least we still have people who believe in the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Please Trump, play only to your base and I keep your twitter thumbs healthy. Your path can only lead straight from the White House back to your golden toilet seat.
6
Chris Wray is a solid and able guy. Unlike James Comey. Just because you have an FBI i.d. does not mean you are above reproach.
Wray wants to move forward? Good. Fire and prosecute the corrupt toadies installed by Obama.
1
It is still a question for me how the FBI and the Justice Department allowed a lifelong scofflaw like Trump to become President; a man with a criminal knack of manipulating the legal process for personal gain, learned at the knee of that paragon of virtue Roy Cohn, is now America's chief lawmaker and he's still at it. The FBI and DOJ were definitely asleep at the switch during the election and, unfortunately for America, that is the one thing on which I agree with the Liar in Chief.
2
He was elected.
They tried to stop him, which is called a coup, but failed.
2
Will we Americans be treated to a Christmas surprise from Mar-a-Lago this week? Who is taking wagers on a move against former F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller by our 45th president, too-often in residence at his palatial Palm Beach White House? Since November 2016, shoes have been falling one after another, creating fear and panic among Americans who just want to live a life without drama, theatrics and "fake news" . Alas, we are all cyber-bullied by Trump's demented tweets until we are frazzled beyond endurance and hope the next 3 years will see the end of Donald Trump's reign of Durance Vile. Happy New Year, Folks, we're all in the same fragile basket of life together. Time to raise a cup of cheer to days of auld lang syne.
8
The criticisms aren't directed at Robert Mueller, but at the conduct of senior FBI officials before Mueller was appointed special counsel.
2
Oh, and Trump has not taken issue with the Mueller investigation? That was so last week and next week.
1
All this time I thought “Horrible Bosses” was just a movie.
2
I am constantly mystified how this loathsome person (I can not write man) was elected President of the USA. I know about the electoral process and its technicalities, I know about the opposing political parties platforms and the degree to which extreme partisanship has ruled in America for the last thirty years or more, I know about those people who support Trump through thick and thin and their grievances, I know Washington DC is a mess, I know about gerrymandering, voter registration and voter suppression, I know a grat deal about the USA, yet I still can not fathom how this person fills the exalted office of the President of the United States of America. I suppose to restate Hamlet, something is rotten in the USA. Rotten and degenerate! Yes, this is perhaps the answer to my mystification. Rot and degeneracy.
14
You seem confused, yet you state the answer.
"...something is rotten in the USA. Rotten and degenerate!'
The American people took a hard look at Clinton and came to that exact conclusion.
Thus, Trump.
“Senior agents have expressed fear...” Is that what it’s come to now? Fear of one, small man? Hold firm and strong. Tell him to shove it. You’re a 50,000 strong, law-enforcement agency, that should be bolstered by your Oath, and know that you’re backed by the Constitution, the Courts and the People of this Country. He could be dead and gone tomorrow. But this Country must continue it’s mission. And you must insure that it does. Given what is happening, where we are, and worse, where we’re going, you should be inviting the inevitable confrontation. It’s time. It’s past time. Suit up.
11
Since when has Trump approved of anyone unless they grovel on bended knee before him, sing faux praises publicly, add money to his coffers, or do his bidding in destroying our democracy, our institutions, our rules of law, and our decency?
7
Maybe Trump is right. The FBI interjected itself into the last election with unprecedented and ill advised commentary that had absolutely no relevance--but nevertheless stank of sickening innuendo.
The FBI handed the election to its chief critic. They absolutely deserve to be discredited.
2
Badger, this was not an act of "they"; it was done by the director at the time, Comey, not the F.B.I.'s agents.
1
Trump degrades everything he touches, look at the Republican Party if you doubt that. The GOP has morphed into the Despicable Old Party in less than two years under the ignorant buffoon’s sway. He has similarly debauched the office of the Presidency in less than one year. He is a national disgrace whose polluting touch taints all.
11
POTUS is Trump the Destroyer. but there's no Superman in real life to take down the villain and restore democracy to the people.
2
Seem Director Wray is coming to realize that he is beholden to a Narccisist for his job. The real question here is will Wray choose to uphold his oath to the US Constitution or kiss the ring of a fool?
5
It almost makes one long for the good ol' days of J Edgar and his secret files. At least it would shut up Trump et al.
p.
3
The damage this President keeps inflicting on our governmental institutions is beyond belief. But if Justice were to investigate possible political influence by FBI agents it should begin by looking at Rudi Giuliani's connections last year, when he talked on Fox about upcoming bombshells pertaining to HRC. He got confidential information from some source, and it certainly appears to be FBI agents in NY--his cronies?
3
When is someone in the Republican party going to take Trump to task for his vicious personal attacks and bullying behavior? Obviously, not anytime soon. After watching and hearing that simpering adoration of their Fearless Leader on the White House lawn the other day, I must conclude that Republicans in Congress have lost their collective minds. The sheer fawning over Trump was positively nauseating. What the heck are these simpletons thinking? Trump will turn on them tomorrow if it suits him whim. Trump is psychotic, can there be any doubt left by now? And these dolts in the GOP are placating him for what reason? They should be gathering together to decide how to remove this unstable incompetent from office instead of heaping effusive praise upon him, if they had any decency and common sense among them. But then again, who among them has any of those traits? I have yet to see any evidence of such.
DD
Manhattan
5
Why a 71 year old man always talk like that? Makes me wonder all the time.
1
Watching the clip of Wray, wan and thin, stoically winding his way to the interrogation chamber, makes me think of North Korea.
Of course, there is no violence here - yet. But there's that nagging fear for the future.
This catastrophic presidency has to be stopped before God knows what starts happening.
3
The FBI's job is to identify, confront and apprehend criminals and foreign agents jeopardizing the safety and security of the American public.
Ultimately, the FBI's loyalty, from the director down, is to the constitution, not the administration. The oath of loyalty is to "preserve, protect and defend" the constitution, not the president.
The only way he can do his job is by assiduously investigate a president justifiably suspected of treason, and arrest him as soon as he can.
6
I wonder how Mr Wray answered the president's question "can I count you to be loyal to me"?
3
Please make America sane again Or at least make Trump, his cronies and republicans abide by the rule of law.
1
The Republican party has no interest in integrity or keeping politics out of law & order. Trumps demands all agencies and wings of government do not question him - if not they are fake news / falling apart. And the right-wing flunkies across the GOP enable this because otherwise their prize agenda of supporting the rich and white might be threatened
1
" Do you fear what I fear ". No, I don't think so. Merry Christmas.
Among the numerous problems with this administration is another suggested by this article: they really have no ability or desire to think long-term about the damage they are doing. The observation here that this is the logical result of a coordinated Republican attempt for decades to destroy the credibility of "government" is spot-on.
Although I am a Democrat, it is really quite sad to see that all of the sober and serious thinking seems to be coming from Democrats right now, as well as some "out of power" traditional Republicans. I always assumed that at a time of crisis like this, Republican officeholders would do the right thing. Are there no Republican Senators that can see the damage being inflicted here? Are none willing to risk sacrificing their Senate seat for the good of the country? Doing nothing as the White House and radical Republican congressmen tear down the FBI right in front of our eyes?
The response of the majority must come in 2018 - it is no longer hyperbole to say that 2020 may be too late.
9
I agree -- it is especially disappointing to see elder statesmen like Lamar Alexander, and Senators who won't seek another term, like McCain and Flake, kowtowing to the madness that is the Trump-led GOP.
3
Im sure they will be richly rewarded by private sector patrons in order to encourage future generations of treasonous politicians. Corruption does not end with exit from the legislature, its much easier to hide it that way.
3
From the conversation between the top FBI fellows, what starts to emerge as what they called the "insurance policy" if Trump were elected is the following.
The DNC bought a fake dossier from Russia. The only checked thing from the whole dossier is that Carter Page made a visit to Moscow. Nothing more about anything else or about that visit. Based on that dossier they appear to have gotten a surveillance tap on Trump.
So it's like Watergate, with Republican plumbers replaced by top FBI guys with Democratic leanings.
Mueller sure indicted for lying a few fellows fired by Trump for lying.
The idea that Russians would prefer among candidates Trump who had promised to hurt them economically by lowering oil prices never made any sense. Trump had been multiple times openly snubbed by Moscow before. That is why after a year there is not even a leak on a leak on Trump collusion from Mueller's team.
Mueller's investigation is a distraction for Democrats useful to Trump, who has enacted without much fuss more things in office than any president in his first year.
4
At this point the public doesn't know that the dossier is a phony. Trump could be up to his ears with money borrowed from Russians who are controlled by Putin. Trump doesn't have the power "to lower oil prices." His closeness with Putin has been very suspicious. Putin realized that with Trump in the American system would be destabilized. We have seen that already. With most law enforcement people being political conservatives if the liberal ones pushed an agenda they would be called out. If Comey had been liberal leaning he never would have reopened the email investigation of Hillary just before the election.
2
The fact that the only verified thing from the dossier is that Carter Page visited Moscow is what a senator, member of the intelligence committee, said this week.
Just this week, the opening of the Alaska reserve to drilling, and more generally the emergence of the US as a major oil and gas exporter sure does not help raise the price of Russia's major export, fossil fuels. The Russians and the Saudis tried to restrict production in order to raise prices like in the old days, but this time around it didn't work, mostly because of the US under Trump leadership. That helps bring some reform to Saudi Arabia too, an important US goal.
You can hardly call the US system destabilized as it just passed major legislation.
The FBI is indeed mostly conservative and great. A few top brass went rogue and, as the article states, are being replaced by Wray in an orderly, quiet fashion. The rogue fellows may or may not end up in jail, more likely not. Same for Hillary Clinton and the dossier creators.
1
" His closeness with Putin has been very suspicious."
The presidential decree authorizing sales of antitank missiles to Ukraine over strong objections from Russia does not indicate closeness to Putin at all.
The ideal president from the Russian point of view would have been Bernie Sanders, who had chosen to spend his honeymoon in Soviet Russia, and who had promised to ban fracking, the modern way of extracting oil and gas.
Fear and retaliation are the trademarks of a despot. We must carry the torch for the ideals that once made, America Great. If we fail, greatness will be a measure of supplication to a tyrant.
9
While I worry about the sheer power of the government we need a strong independent non-politicized FBI to do the work of protecting the American people. President Trump's undercutting of the agency, in my view, does not help. I wish he would stop.
8
TRUST is an absolute imperative between a POTUS and key people - of which FBI DIrector is one. Trust very clearly does not exist in this relationship so this FBI DIrector must be replaced as quickly as possible. As a matter of fact, that replacement is long over due.
Actually, faithfulness to the oath is imperative, not political opinion.
1
Who do you suggest he appoint? Ivanka? He trusts nobody. By the way the director swears an oath to the Constitution, not Trump.
Ron Kelley: Shouldn't facts, rule of law and the Constitution override "trust". Ron you just described the mafia or Putin's Russia.
This bizarre year can't end soon enough. Trump has tried to destroy too many American institutions, corrupted a political party beyond redemption and caused so many citizens nightmares and anxiety.
9
Slowly but surely, Trump fears the steady unraveling of true facts by the FBI, Special Counsel Mueller and the courts of law. If he fires Mueller, others will step up.
Trump is not above the law. He knows his day is coming. He tries to intimidate anyone who seeks TRUTH.
Without any humility or ability to admit any imperfections of himself, Trump will be humbled, soon.
He is a weak and immoral human being who cannot accept the TRUTH about how much he is disliked.
8
The FBI is compromised. The political agents have to go.
4
Well, I guess that would mean every agent who voted in the last election, right?
All of this griping about partisanship in government agencies really means only one thing: Trump and the Republicans want everyone, everywhere, in every single corner of government, to be Republican. Otherwise, they’re considered partisan. Does anyone else see the total irony in this? If you’re not Republican, you’re partisan. The congressional investigative committees want to single out Democrats as being corrupt and partisan. So, if there are no more Democrats, then who is left but a Republican partisan? It boggles the mind. Trump is so paranoid, his extreme views have trickled down to Congress. I wouldn’t be surprised if Putin had something on every single member of Congress...they are all acting like scared rabbits.
11
Trump is only behaving like the man who he is. An Autocrat, an actor for whom an script is written albeit a bad one.
He thinks he was elected to drain the swamp, he is using a bigger swamp (himself) to drain the swamp of Washington DC. The Republican leadership is complicit in what we see as the hijacking of our Republic by the Trumpian loyalist. It is being done in the same manner as Putin, Erdogan, MBS, or any other dictator does in their Kingdom- What a shame for our Republic - when would the Republicans look out for the Country instead of just their party
8
It's clear to me that Donald Trump has been and is a witting asset of Putin and his mafia buddies. So, I wouldn't be surprised if Putin is encouraging Trump attack the FBI in order to discredit the Trump-Russia investigation. Trump/Putin objective is to have Trump stay in power as long as possible so that they can continue to loot and destroy our country. The looting and destruction will continue unless the good and courageous people of this country and the free world rise up and work together to somehow put an end to the Trump/Putin tyranny.
7
When Hillary referred to basket of deplores, she really meant trump and his government. She used the perfect phrase to describe them, but I will add enemies of our constitution, bullies, severely disturbed, and immoral also.
7
This is a pretty good article. I have not read all the comments but I intend to read at least a 100 on the plane Sunday as I fly to SC (Trump country) indeed).
One job at the FBI is protecting us from: (1) another 9/11 attack which may be guns instead of planes (2) a weaponized germ attack (3) a dirty bomb (a nuke of some kind maybe supplied from some insidious way by the Arsenal’s in Packistan or India or North Korea our lightly guarded nuke waste).
I would ideally like the FBI morale to be as high as possible. As we know from The prez: morale is not high and never will be while he tweets on and on.
The next thing: during the election I read articles in POLITICO THAT many FBI agents (active and retired) were/are Trump supporters. Irony.
Pray for Mr. Wray. Lives depend on him.
19
"I would ideally like the FBI morale to be as high as possible"
What does this mean? They are professionals who will do their job regardless of any sociopath attacking them.
About now, Mr.Wray must be reviewing the wisdom of his latest career choice.
T, fraught with horrifyingly irrational bias, is openly contemptuous of fellow citizens, underlings or not, who hold any conflicting opinions. To mock is human, to smear, divine.
11
How long will it take before defense attorneys for clients investigated by the FBI start quoting the president's tweets. The damage that Trump is doing will take years to repair.
24
The Administration and elected sycophants are threatening democratic institutions and the rule of law. If democracy is no longer working for some in Congress, they should resign.
This is my country. It has committed many sins against humanity and has taken steps to correct some. Imperfect as it is, my country has moved toward the more perfect Union envisioned in founding documents in my lifetime. I will not stand by and allow it to be destroyed for the rule of white nationalist authoritarians, shameless liars, political sycophants, and armchair anarchists in Congress. The abuses of power being demonstrated at the highest levels of government must end.
I am all for holding those accountable under the law. If there is no blind justice, if partisan opinion, or messages received through tin foil hats of conservative media, is considered facts and evidence, this country is in trouble.
Congress is supposed to check the power of the Executive, not participate in permitting possible abuses of Executive power or distracting from possible criminal activity by attacking the very law enforcement agency investigating it. Congress is failing to do its job and this reflects on nonexistent leadership that should be dedicated to our democratic Republic.
37
The Obama administration has gone out of its way to corrupt every federal agency before he left. The Trump administration isn't the one being political here. The politics started when Hillary Clinton was exonerated before an investigation even began. But what can we expect when the majority of the bureaucrats don't just donate to the Democrat Party but advocate for them.
6
Clinton had zero role with agencies of the federal government. Clinton actions as reported in the media did not involve working in concert with or on the behalf of hostile foreign governments.
The Obama administration selected leadership in the various Federal agencies that were widely seen as experts in their fields including Nobel laureates such as Secretary of Energy. To choose people with distinguished records in the field is widely recognized as strengthening the institution as opposed to corrupting the institution by choosing people hostile to the mission of the agency as has taken place in several federal agencies under the current W.H. leadership.
6
HC is probably the most investigated person in history. And nothing thrown at her has stuck. Let’s move on.
1
FYI: Most FBI agents are Republican.
1
I'm surprised at myself for still being shocked every. single. day. at the disrespect and vitriol this president* displays for every. single. thing.
27
So when the SCP want's to "depoliticize" the FBI, he means that he wants to make it "Trumpian" instead. The lying and hypocrisy never ends.
The FBI has always been political. Hoover had dossiers on everyone and used them as blackmail to stay in office, to help various administrations deal with enemies, and to wield almost unlimited power.
This administration just wants to go back to the good old days - only this time with the SCP controlling the FBI instead of the other way around.
3
It is difficult to communicate with a population that does not understand that libertarian is the exact opposite of conservative. Today I listened on NPR someone claiming to be a student at Auburn talk about now that Roy Moore is no longer running for Senate her can go back to his Alabama values and again be a Republican voting Libertarian.
Roy Moore was the Libertarian candidate, he follows his rules, he obeys his Constitution. Roy Moore's Christianity is Roy Moore's religion not the religion of some strange deity or church.
America is going crazy because its ruling party is trying to hold two opposite points of view at the same time. What the liberal media is having difficulty trying to explain is how a party that controls the judiciary, the legislative, and executive at the same time can advocate for a government that is so small it can be drowned in the bathtub and so large it can oversee every aspect of human behaviour.
I had to be a libertarian for most my life in order to survive . I was not alone. We learned that the world is not ready for libertarianism. The world may be ready for libertarianism. Maybe when the Messiah returns or maybe visits for the first time we will be ready.
Trump and the GOP do not lie, they straddle two totally conflicting ideals. They are confused, they are befuddled, they are not lying. Their truth is found in a far off galaxy ruled by Humpty Dumpty on the other side of the looking glass.
2
The only thing in tatters is the integrity of the Trump administration.
19
Who is actually paying Mr. Wray's salary. I bet it is the taxpayers.
Oh, that's right, the taxpayers have actually NO say in how their money is spent. Some people object to having their money go to mandated health insurance, yet we have mandated auto insurance. Some people object to having their money go to pay for abortion. Some people actually object to having so much of their money go toward paying for war, especially since the United States spend more money on war than Russia, China, the Western European Countries combined.
And this is a democracy?
3
Give me a break, Comey threw the agency under the bus when he injected the Clinton Email issue into the Campaign by violating whole raft of Justice Department rules. Mueller didn't help when he failed to properly vet his team. Comey's top lieutenants should be re-assign to the Fairbanks Field office. That's how it works in chain of command organizations. Trump may be a hammer; but if you want to be Caesar's wife you have to behave like her.
3
Comey had no good choices. Unfortunately, for our country, he made the wrong one.
Attack of major democratic institutions, such as the FBI, is a serious step in the wrong direction. Legitimate media must expose the Trump tactics with vigor. Huxley warned in "Brave New World" and "Brave New World Revisited" that modern totalitarianism would retain an outward appearance of democracy (by keeping all the institutions of government) but would be controlled by the totalitarian in very subtle ways. Isn't this an example? Isn't the Trump team changing the FBI by intimidation and threats? Aren't other institutions (EPA, and the CDC for example) watching what they say, to not offend? Doesn't the current Republican administration use slanted media outlets like Fox News and Breitbart? Wasn't a major tax bill passed in secrecy? If McCabe can be questioned for having a spouse who is a Democrat, then why not also hold Justice Thomas up to the same questioning, and others, too? The apathy of the public is disturbing, but after all, Huxley predicted that, too. Are we living in the Brave New World already?
10
When I was a young man, the FBI did not have a good reputation. It was run by J. Edgar Hoover, for whom they still name buildings to this day. In the 1950s, the FBI played a big role in executing the Rosenbergs. In the 1960s, the FBI reportedly compiled a dossier on Martin Luther King and reportedly attempted to bribe him with it. In the 1970s, you had the Cointelpro scandal where FBI members reportedly paid FBI informants to commit crimes against FBI activists. So, when Comey acted to aid Trump in the election by reopening the investigation of Hillary Clinton just before the election, I yawned. More of the same I thought. FBI misbehavior is an old, old story and no big deal. I remember when I was active in the anti-Vietnam War movement many long years ago, some times I would meet someone who I suspected of being an FBI/red squad agent. I kept my mouth shut and just attempted to avoid that person. The FBI frequently used to try to destroy organizations they didn't like by starting a riot of finger pointing about who was an FBI agent. It was this that destroyed the Black Panther Party. But then I realized that since I was a young man, the FBI had developed a reputation for being squeaky clean since J. Edgar Hoover kicked the bucket. I thought that this was funny - but it really wasn't. Now it is the Far Right and not the Far Left that rants and rails against the FBI. My how times have changed I thought. But maybe it is not so strange after all.
3
Not a shed of real evidence about Russian collusion. But on the contrary real proof of bias at the FBI against President Trump has been proven, though this is marginalised in this article. Also Ms and Mr Clinton received millions of dollars personally or through their foundation from the Russian uranium lobby. That is real proof of collusion. The so called 'lying' by Mr Flyn and Papadopoulos, of which the left is making a big case, has nothing to do with collusion. Also the charges against Mr Manafort are about money laundering and not because of that so called 'Russian collusion'. The left is making a fool of itself because of that 'collusion'.
2
Hmmm... So why have so many members of Trump's circle lied about their contacts with Russians? And why has Trump never denounced Russia's invasion into our election? And why has Trump never, ever said a word against Putin for all of his other nefarious acts against the interests of the U.S. and it's allies? (Ukraine, Syria, etc.)
I guess somebody in Belgium has the straight scoop on the Mueller investigation. Who would have thought?
Republican politicians no longer have a trace of honor. They no longer believe that government is there to serve the people. Instead, they care only about pleasing their wealthy donors. They do everything they can to stop . They continue to work to destroy Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and any other program that betters the lives of working people. They try to suppress the right to vote for any group that think will not vote for them. They don't believe in democracy. They don't care if millions of Americans have no health insurance. The head of their party is a serial liar and flim flam man, who loves autocrats. The rest of them fawn over him. It's not just the really crazy Republicans like Gohmert and the guy who apparently can't afford a coat and doesn't know how to tie his tie. It's all of them. To them, government service means to serve their donors and gut the federal government so their donors, their rich friends and they themselves can increase their wealth and power. They do not care about other Americans. They don't care about the environment. They don't care about the infrastructure beyond wanting to privatize it all for their personal wealth. They truly believe that personal greed is not only good, it's everything. They will do whatever it takes to make it every man, woman and child for him/herself in the US.
8
Americans can not tolerate these inappropriate and illegal efforts by the President and the GOP.
2
When Christopher Wray --FBI --
Is being a regular guy,
He displeases Trump
And faces a slump
In funding to go out and spy.
1
Let me see if I have all of this right.
Comey is a Republican
Chris Wray is a Republican, and was Christie's personal lawyer for "Bridge gate", and also gave 34,000 dollars to Republicans.
Rosenstein is a Republican.
Mueller is also a Republican.
All law enforcement are usually seen as conservative, including police
How is the FBI and Justice dept seen as "liberal", or controlled by Democrats?
14
“Facts, the law and the impartial pursuit of justice — period” are incompatible with the current White House and Congress. They want a federal law agency that will help them quell their perceived enemies, just as they want control of the media to shore up their alternative facts based "... on science in consideration with community standards and wishes."
2
This is obstruction of justice. It is grounds for impeachment. As if Congress needed any more.
690
You studied medicine, not law. Public insults (free speech) in "tweets", do not obstruction make nor are they the "high crimes and misdemeanors" required for impeachment.
3
100 percent correct and this is not DT first obstruction of justice. The tough part is the GOP is/will do very little to combat fight Trump because in reality he is giving them everything they want and destroying our country at the same time
8
Richard Painter, the top ethics lawyer during former President George W. Bush’s administration, agrees that Trump “could be Tweeting himself into an obstruction of justice conviction.” So good post. I believe threats, can be seen as an obstruction of justice.
9
Mr. Trump has plenty to take issue with some higher ups at the FBI. The fake Hillary Clinton investigation where they never even searched her house to the fake dossier that was used to obtain a warrant to spy on Trump. The latest text messages showing how they intended to undermine and meddle in the 2016 election is overwhelming.
2
How did we allow someone like this to become the President of the United States if America?
At one point, this title meant something. The office of the President is being smeared and America along with all its valued character is being diminished by Trump. His quest to undue everything Obama along with avoiding prison is taking our country into the darkest places in all its history. Trump’s actions are worst than Benedict Arnold. I can not wait for treason charges because everything he is doing by defiling the FBI, dismantling of the EPA, cozying up with Russia and writing a blank check to his wealth friends proves he is an enemy of the State.
2
We've become so focused upon Trump's attacks on the FBI and Bob Mueller's investigation that we've lost sight, as Trump and the GOP intended, of the underlying allegations at issue.
When all the Trump-fueled smoke and mirrors clear there is a very strong possibility that the current POTUS actively conspired, via his proxies, to use illegally obtained information, from a foreign adversarial nation, to influence the outcome of a presidential election. Further, he then actively worked to cover that up and obstructed justice.
Trump knows this well but so do the majority of the American people. He can work hard to use the Russian playbook of lies and deceit but our nation is stronger than his prevarication. Yes, Mr. President, the truth will out despite your best efforts to smear it.
4
The risk of being fired in a fit of pique is just part of the job description. Mr. Wray would be wrong to take it personally. After all, he is not at risk of being locked up in the tower and beheaded at dawn. Relax. Things have improved.
The Trump GOP, or the GOP that spawned Trump, represents the US version of far-right wing groups elsewhere. Look at the anti-immigrant, neo-fascist fringe parties in Europe, and the same conspiratorial antipathy is directed towards their security services. They promote the same eat-the-poor tax policies, push the same trade agendas, promote similar amateurs.
The FBI is a decent organization, with a definite conservative streak in its DNA. For it to become the brunt of a right-wing attack shows how far from mainstream Republicans are. This is a party that rolled out a tax plan that punishes merely wealthy people in blue states, while lining the pockets of the richest. Republicans on the coasts are treated with the same disdain as Democrats, as the FBI is treated like the ACLU.
The FBI is feeling the pain the CIA and military intelligence agencies have. They all know Russia is America's great adversary, the only country that really threatens our existence. While some in the administration reassure them quietly, does this government have their back? Imagine if you're running double agents somewhere. Can you reasonably guarantee Trump protects them?
When a far-right fringe party gains control, the FBI, CIA, and the military struggle to preserve professionalism. The danger is great, since these situations can lead to security services reacting and voiding democratic systems. Why have Republicans allowed this to happen?
First, we had Moe, Larry, and Curley. Then we have Devin (Nunes). The question is, will Christopher become the fifth stooge. If so, that would be a deep disappointment.
All the FBI has to do to get in His Royal Majesties good graces is to stop investigating him, his business and his family. It would also be helpful if Mr. Wray were to make a public display of his loyalty and fealty to Trump, thanking him for “allowing us to have him as our President.” So simple and, to Trump, so necessary.
If Kim Jong-trump keeps this up he'll have mass resignations in every government agency he's trying to destroy. Then he'll have no government to rant against.
1
Such division, how far can we go before we break apart?
Trump attacking the FBI, hooray, hooray
Trump attacking the CIA, it is a wonderful day.
Who defends these corrupt agencies?
No matter what Trump does, the anti-minions say nay
Merry Christmas folks and a Happy Holiday
1
Can you imagine what the FBI has on Trump and members or Congress? Does anyone really think the legacy of J. Edgar Hoover died when he did?
Even though we are all Americans, the Trump led republicans treat everyone else as enemy that should be defeated by any means necessary. The solution to this problem is for more Americans to participate and vote these knuckleheads out of office until they learn to respect our democracy.
2
When I view broadcast news that has a story concerning a banana republic despot who takes the podium for hours lambasting his real or perceived enemies. The despot will attempt, or force, the dismantling, bit by bit, of institutions that were in place to protect the people.
Yes, this is a real country, a country with the largest crude reserves in the world. A country that had wealth, and pride, until a despotic fool took the reins, and a worse fool continued the downward spiral of the country and government.
Well fellow citizens, we may not have quite the despotic leaders that very real country has, but, we have an undisputed fool, a person that quite possibly has delusions of grandeur, and like the despot, he will do great harm, along with his cohorts in Congress, to this country and institutions.
Yet, a good percentage of citizens fail to see the harm Trump and the Greedy Old Party is visiting on this country.
But then, possibly the people who suffered under Hugo Chavez, and now Maduro, never saw the danger and the damage.
1
Christopher Wray must hold onto and protect himself and the integrity of the FBI.
The President is beyond inappropriate in his words and actions. Comey faced the bully amd was shocked at the Presidents lack of boundaries and inappropriate words. Trump wants to be a dictator real estate mogul bullying the FBI as he’d bully an employee. This is illegal.
1
During his presidency Obama always gave an end-of-year press briefing of typically 60-80 minutes which covered a wide range of topics.
Yesterday, before boarding his taxpayer-funded AF 1 flight to his holiday resort, Trump refused to even interact with the press.
That understandable I suppose. I mean, once he's described everything he's ever done as 'fantastic', 'beautiful', 'amazing' and 'big', a dozen or so times, he's really run out of things to say.
He certainly did me a favor.
2
' as he seeks to restore the public's confidence' in the FBI? ' The public has not lost confidence. POTUS is conducting a smear campaign against the FBI to taint the investigations into his and his campaign's dealings. Aided & abetted by his Congressional minions & the Murdoch media. We, the citizens of the United States, are watching & will not stand for interference in the FBI or any other intelligence agency or Mueller's investigation.
1
I saw Mr. Wray's first public questioning. He had the advantage b/c he was new. But he is stuck now with an agency that was seriously damaged at the very top ranks for crossing the line of fact finding under the law to the political coloring of their findings.
Mr. Comey started this when he assumed the duel role of investigator and juror in the case of Hillary Clinton. Veteran FBI agents, active and retired, winced. Mr. Comey clearly gave her a pass, based on a report by his biased rogue agent who changed the narrative. Mr. Comey also allowed Ms. Mills and Ms. Abudin to skate after they lied to the FBI. But Mr. Comey was happy to send Martha Stewart to jail for doing the same thing.
For the sake of brevity, the FBI had Hillary as their horse in the race.
As for Mr. Mueller, a man compared to Jesus, should never have been appointed by appearances alone b/c of his decades long relationship with Mr. Comey. Given all the above, the public will be skeptical of his findings if they involve the Trump family. By and large, the boys in the choir (FBI) were in the tank for Hillary.
1
This is really scary stuff. We now have a pseudo-imperial president and a compliant house of congress whose job was/should be putting a check on an executive run amok. DT is endangering the very foundation of a democratic system that for over two hundred years was reasonably retrained and promulgated the rule of law in terms of its internal affairs and those on the outside. If DT fires Mueller, and the republicans do not protest, we will be in huge trouble. There is no check on this president, and, unless the dems win hugely in 2018, we could see the last nail on the coffin of an already defunct republic. The days of empire have truly begun, and we have Nero in charge of the empire. Rome will burn soon.
496
Anyone who paid attention to this year's natural disasters knows it's already not only burning but flooding, while T-rump and his sycophants continue to deny climate change.
10
Yes, very scary... And that compliant Republican Congress with a very thin grasp on ethics will support anything Trumpian as long as they can stay in power.
6
The FBI and Justice Dept have lost the public's confidence through the actions and deeds of a few. Both FBI and DOJ are subject to oversight by the Congress. Both are granted enormous power by people and when the power seems to be abused, the people want answers. None of the FBI or DOJ are elected. When either or both hides or seems to hide facts and or documents from Congress their actions shake the public's trust.
No one needs to have their back if they have done nothing wrong. The FBI and DOJ need to come forward with all information, good or bad, to secure the public's trust. Our institutions are under fire. The institutions need to answer to Congress and the pubic.
While i didn't vote for Mr Trump, he had nothing to do with the FBI and DOJ at the time of the their alleged deeds and actions.
Stonewalling Congressional inquiry or "i can't remember" don't exactly breed public confidence.
1
“The FBI and Justice Department have lost the public’s confidence through the actions and deeds of a few.”
Yes. A few traitors who currently occupy the White House.
"During a congressional hearing this month, Representative Louie Gohmert, Republican of Texas, asked Mr. Wray about the political views of some of his top agents."
This is ridiculous – agents are citizens too, and vote, and thus have every right to hold a personal political view. So what. As long as their work is in the 'impartial pursuit of justice', this swelling attitude amongst the GOP is toxic.
7
Christopher Wray works for a schizophrenogenic boss and needs to proceed as though he is not being sabotaged at every turn. Republicans in Congress have quickly learned that pretending to bend to Trump's wishes lets them get away with anything and they are now behaving like children who control their parents, or dogs who control their owner. As long as they continue to flatter Trump in the most disgusting way, adults who are simply trying to do their jobs, like Christopher Wray, will need to refocus constantly to stay on course.
4
Of course the President is making it harder for him. The President tends to make it harder for everyone that works for him. Bigly sad.
Anyway, I'd bet there's a master plan (or subconscious trend?) to dismantle and de-claw the FBI at the moment, given their proximity to uncovering embarrassing things. It's not a coincidence that Fox is now actively attempting to de-legitimize active investigations too.
Once you de-legitimize/eliminate free press and higher level law enforcement... everything else settles into place nicely. Embarrass and alienate the UN and neighboring countries with verbal attacks, concrete walls, etc., issue some curfews and some State-sponsored prayer on the homefront and you've Made America Great Again.
Russia knows this recipe too.
5
Trump and his allies are actively subverting the Justice Department before our eyes.
They are demoting non-loyalists. There are statutes against that.
6
I am deeply sad and disheartened about the degradation of this beautiful great country.
i am angry and scared each morning Trump's remains in the WH. i lose sleep over his gradual dismantling of our governmental institutions.
i am deeply embarrassed of the enormous damage he has made on our global image. We are now irrelevant and laughingstock of the world.
i am broken about his vicious attacks on our democracy. His ongoing assault on the Media, court and FBI and private citizens, who oppose him.
I am dead worried about our country gradually turning into dictatorship. Not just our country alone, We have become dictator too in the United nations.
My heart skips seeing the middle-class and getting crushed while the corporate Americans and oligarchs are getting elevated by this administration.
The most important question of the day is- What kind of country are we going to leave for our children and grand children after Trump's 4 year tenure?
This Set of republican Congress should be carved in the stone of history as the immoral dubious men, who contributed to the downfall of America.
it'd take another century to fix all these mess.
5
As we shake the tree of the fruit produced from 200 years of hard work and participatory effort in lines of civility now blurred and smeared, that separated us from many parts of the world over those past years, it hurts, hurts real bad to see and feel on a daily basis what is happening. In the old days news traveled slow, not many people had had an education other than practicality in the agrarian marketplace. The flow was controlled by the privaleged. Words are small containers for what many of us reasoned socratic based, rational types,can see and feel around the world happening in and to America daily now, having connected to the greatest information machine about the history of the world in real time in the history of time available to review to see if some things work and some things don't. This aint going work and fruit is beginning to rot on the ground from that tree. Hope am wrong. Getting old now, maybe doesn't matter....
2
I hope that Mr. Mueller, Mr. Wray and Mr. Sessions will enforce the law and issue indictments against all of the individuals who have unlawfully taken actions as part of a collective conspiracy to attempt to impede the Mueller investigation, obstruct justice, and undermine the credibility and integrity of all three of these men for the purpose of preventing them from enforcing the laws of the United States.
Neither political party can be allowed to establish the precedent that it is acceptable for the political party that is currently in power to actively attempt to undermine law enforcement and the entire justice system. That is a crime and the criminals need to be indicted and tried.
If that does not happen, and the controlling party changes and then charges the previous party, it will establish a disastrous precedent of the law only being enforced on the party that is not in power. Failure to enforce the law on all political parties, whether in power or not, may bring about the end of our democracy.
Justice must be served to defend our system of government.
5
Could this article, and others like it, acknowledge that, if "Mr. Trump has groused that Mr. Wray has not swiftly removed people whom he perceives as loyal to Mr. Comey", it is not a normal "cleansing" of a dept. with a new chief- it is a deliberate attempt to obstruct, since Comey, and the people "loyal" to him, were investigating the president.
That these actions compound the unethical, legally questionable moves that the president has already made is a fact, which should be acknowledged every time this is covered.
These are not normal actions.
5
Trump is destroying our country from the inside out. What if no one of sound character and integrity wants to work for him? I know I wouldn't.
6
FBI agents are smart, and trained to use logic and see past deception. Can you wonder why there's not a great deal of Trump fans in the FBI? Still, they are doing their job without bias, from what I have seen. Trump can't take anyone not bowing to his whims, is all.
7
The criticism of the FBI is, in my opinion, part of a two-prong strategy: One, discredit the FBI and, by extension, whatever it discloses; and, second, have the Trump proxies on the House Intelligence Committee rush to "interview" key Trump associates -- essentially in private and out of reach.
To what end? Devin Nunes et. al (minus the Democrats) is collecting information in his capacity as a leader on the House Intelligence Committee to get to these key people before Mueller can so that he can pass information to Trump's team. Pardons, anyone?
Does anyone think this isn't incredibly serious??
7
It's making it so much harder by exposing the political bias in a supposedly apolitical agency. And since some of those people are publicly exposed, Wray has the pressure on him to do the right thing and remove them from any acdces and authority. He could have kept them on if they had been so clumsy and exposed themselves making Wray as complicit as they.
1
Journalists should NOT ask Sander's to clarify or explain Trump's remarks.
This only gives Trump the option to be both outrageous and get the attention he seeks, and then for his lackey's to spin it in more reasonable tones ... and get even more news cycles.
If the Press Secretary is unable to give honest answers, stop giving her a chance to back paddle on Trump's stupid and offensive twitterings and comments.
Let his statements stand as they are, and let him be judged by them.
Trump needs publicity more than anything.
Stop playing their game.
6
Trump is destroying every institution of government one by one by sowing fear, public humiliation, and impugning reputations of decent civil servants. A President is supposed to act to make institutions of government stronger. But look around--the FBI, the EPA, bureaus established to protect consumers and public safety, all have been diminished by his uncontrolled tongue and sharp practices. This has to end, or America will dissolve into nothingness, as the country goes broke trying to pay for rich people's increased tax refunds.
2
I'm sure he'd like to move ahead - but to move ahead properly, he needs to resolve the FBI's political issues and make it a truly independent organziation - at least from a politics standpoint.
Usual one-sided argument. We know how political the bureau was during the Obama admin. Of course Trump doesn't want people in there who are dedicated to his impeachment or to defending Obama or Clinton. And these "verbal assaults" seem to be nothing more than the occasional "tweets" (the story mentions one). No doubt, Trump, unable to have the media report fairly, goes directly to the people. Why would he depend on the media. He may be totally unqualified for his job, but I don't blame him for that.
We want the FBI, DOJ and courts - and the media - to be unbiased, but it is at best a relative thing. People have biases. But, we can try to have rules that require professionalism and I'm sure some people adhere to that to the best they can. Others not so much. And both sides will try to unbalance the scales in their favor and scream when the other side does so. Trump is just obvious where others are subtle.
In reality, by non-political or fairness, people really mean - their side favored.
Ds and Rs are no different. In fact, the current attempt to impeach is inspired by the Rs previous efforts to impeach Clinton and revenge for "lock her up." Partisans on both sides are much the same.
I admit that I have too much of a fondness for police procedurals on television and whether true or not, I'm aware that "the character who seems too interested in the process of an investigation" often proves to be the guilty party. Maybe President Trump, in the role of narcissist in chief can't help himself, but to me at least it doesn't do much for his credibility when he doth insinuate himself too much.
2
At some point not only does Trump become more entrenched in his obstruction of justice behaviour, but so do certain members of congress as they attempt to impede the Russian investigation. I could envision some of them finding themselves on the defensive side of an obstruction of justice charge! Our democracy would benefit from that!
2
Trump's opponents need to tirelessly point out the hypocricy of Trump's having a transcendent standard of neutrality for the FBI and his brazen willingness to use Julian Asange and the Russians as intelligence sources for dirt on Clinton. This investigation is not just about Trump--it is about the integrity of the American electoral process.
1
Nobody should be pushed out of the FBI merely because Trump or his House and Senate Republicans say so. There is no evidence at all that any of these folks behaved improperly. It does not violate FBI guidelines for employees to have or express political opinions. If even just one of these folks is pushed out based on this Trump Fox Republican propaganda and lies, it is a sign that Trump has gone too far in turning the FBI to his own political ends. The independence of the DOJ and the FBI are longstanding and vital American democratic institutions.
2
It must be extremely demoralizing to work anywhere in government that is touched by Trump or even the GOP. The FBI just uncovered a terror plot in S. F., but where is Trump supporting them for the fantastic work they do?
I traveled in Scotland months before our presidential election. We stayed in a nice hotel in Edinburgh. Understandably, Trump was the source of much conversation even then & there. In talking to one of the managers at the hotel, he told me he had actually worked at the Trump Resort but left because when Donald Trump would visit it became more & more demoralizing with his random firing of employees and generally explosive behavior. It was an interesting & much more detailed conversation than what I described here - but I have never forgotten the conversation - due to Donald Trump and his management style now being inflicted on us here in the U.S..
3
The political animals adept at extreme politics as a weapon are calling the F.B.I. political. That is remarkable, and a technique being used to neuter and marginalize the power that can serve justice as these political animals are deeply and widely involved in massive crime. They just paid off their donors and voters and bought more voters and donors by greasing their palms, as they say here in New York. It's all psychology, winning through intimidation. Trump and the Republican Congressmen are terrorizing the F.B.I. to instill fear of being fired and losing income. That is Trumps method. He gets what he wants using money as a tool, either to buy people, loyalty, favors, or to punish them. The F.B.I. expended valuable political capital wasting it on frivolous allegations against politicians for decades. Now that the biggest case is here, they are marginalized and forced to cower by the use of psychology. All people are political and that is a freedom we enjoy, everyone. To say the F.B.I. can't be political is irrational and impossible. I would rather side with the political law enforcement than the reckless criminal political people that think of themselves above the law. The F.B.I. should muster and see what I am telling them. Trump is a ruthless political man trying to terrorize you. Wear your politics on your lapel and know that I have seen the worst and you are not. Serve Justice.
1
And the purposes of the checks and balances built into the structure of the American government is, apparently, not meaningful in two situations 1) the Trump government and 2) every dictatorship. Those are the only two circumstances in which the system of checks an balances is ignored or not employed. Good luck America, though you'll need more than luck to remain a democracy.
1
President Trump believes he can create his own reality: The FBI is in "tatters" because he declares it so. He then displays his intent to actually make the FBI a politically biased operation---but one biased in his favor.
This is stunning behavior to anyone who resides in the real world, outside of the right-wing "news" bubble. Resistance is vital.
3
The top of the FBI DOJ and CIA all have become absolutely uncontrollable... they are executive agencies and if they will not come to heel under the president they should cease to exist. There is no agency who should be able to fail to produce documents required by legislation when it comes to the relevant oversight... OR LACK THERE OF. IF the agencies will not succumb to Congressional oversight, then create one's who will and defund the others.
1
How smart of me that I never stopped in South Carolina travelling to Florida.
How can Wray "serve his country as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity,” as the president said when he himself, as the leader of the administration, has no knowledge of the law or respect for it unless it can be used to hurt his enemies and for whom integrity and moral character are as flexible as water.
What Trump is saying is service and loyalty to me. Whatever I do or say. Me.
Trump must have skeletons in his closet and is nervous, as Robert Mueller's net is closing in on him. Trashing the FBI in general and discrediting the special counsel's investigations in particular are his survival tactics. The American public needs to know about his nefarious trick.
Recently the Deutsche Bank, Trump's biggest lender has complied with Mueller's request for bank records of people in Trump's inner circle, as part of the ongoing investigations. Trump said Mueller would cross the redline should the special counsel investigate his personal finances. It's just an indication that Trump's business dealings can't stand up to scrutiny. What is he hiding from the public?
51
I am just flabbergasted by the behavior of the president and they unwavering loyalty of his fans. I feel like they would be right at home at the Coliseum in Rome.
194
We are rapidly becoming 1930s-1940s Germany.
It is frightening watching history basically repeating itself.
The Electoral College out a dictator in office.
Now Congress must save the Republic.
3
I think a Nuremberg rally would be a more appropriate metaphor.
3
So much for the "law and order" Republican Party.
156
And so much for the deficit (tax cuts for the wealthy) and family values (DACA and CHIP). Let's hope the public finally sees them for what they truly are - embodied by Trump.
2
The Republican Party meant imposing "law and order" on people of color.
3
It is only a kiss up kick down pecking order.
3
" If Mr. Trump continues to go after the F.B.I., however, Mr. Wray might have to change course and risk a blowup. F.B.I. agents want to know that the director has their back."
To our esteemed members of the FBI, the vast majority of this country respects and honors your public service. Stay strong!
Just as critically, we citizens take comfort in knowing that the FBI will not lose hope and will always have our back!!
Clearly, this tinpot dictator-in-chief does not.
195
I admire and respect the FBI for continuing to do their job in protecting POTUS. They do this despite the constant tongue-lashing they receive from Trump. The FBI has class.
62
The Secret Service is responsible for Trump's personal safety, not the FBI.
1
Personally I wouldn't mind if they slacked off just a bit.
If this isn't obstructing justice, maligning the federal law enforcement agency, someone please set me straight.
138
Trump believes he is the law, so anyone who obstructs him obstructs justice.
4
We have a separation of powers. Hopefully, it will prove to be the Republic's salvation. The Electoral College put a dictator in office.
3
The "Electoral College" is nothing more than political hacks appointed to carry out a rote ritual without thinking at all.
1
Chris Wray is an infinitely better man than the President who hired him, thank goodness. He is an excellent lawyer with high integrity, and we are lucky he was willing to take on what must be a near-impossible job. He swore to uphold the Constitution and that is where his loyalty will lie. He will not let down his agents as long as they too uphold the Constitution and do their jobs. If Trump thinks the FBI and its agents will let him throw Wray under the bus, he is sadly mistaken. I cannot imagine anything more stupid than Trump antagonizing even more the American intelligence community, who surely know more about his misdeeds than we know, and more than they can -- yet -- tell.
93
I beg to differ with you about Wray, but yes he is somewhat better than the man who hired him.
1
What, exactly, does "uphold the constitution" mean to you?
What, exactly, does the Constitution define? And what does it leave out?
As long as they continue to perpetuate the myth that Mr. Comey was fired for valid reasons, republicans will have to face Trump's rath one-by-one. For now republicans are spineless in the face of campaign funding withdrawal threats. They will go to bat to defend the idea of Trumpism. As long as they continue to defend him without waver and not matter the cost, they are very safe.
However, do not be surprise if half of them decide not to run re-election anyway after all of the horrible damage. This is how they will get new spineless GOP sabotagers back inside to begin the cycle again. They will be looking for a fresh new start with a fresh new song of hate soon.
35
Isn't it obvious?
Trump fires the head of the FBI, picks his own head, and then disparages HIM too?
He's a CRIMINAL! And part of the criminal mentality is hating the law and anyone vaguely conscientious about enforcing the law and also doing everything possible to undercut both the law and the people enforcing the law.
156
This President attacks what he fears, like a caged animal. The sooner Mueller and the others investigating him can bring their cases to fruition, the better- before Trump wakes up in the middle of the night and fires them all in a fit of Twitter rage.
87
If I am not mistaken, did Trump buy a property in Florida for $50 millon and sell it for $100. That is precisely how laundering works. The sale price allows Trump to give a good portion of the money back after the sale and it is now "clean" money. I will venture a guess that a lot of dry cleaning has been going on for several years.
116
That's true, and I'm sure Mueller will be looking at the transaction, but I don't think it was so unusual as to cause Mueller to take the matter further.
The buyer, a Russian oligarch, demolished the mansion and cut the plot into three. He sold the northern most plot (which appears to have been the largest) for $34m so if he drops $10m - $20m on the deal he'll simply put it down to it being a poor investment. Besides, he was in divorce proceedings with his wife at the time and there was a suggestion he was attempting to shield assets from her.
Of far greater interest is the inordinate ('disproportionate' was the word the braggard Donny Jr used in 2008) amount of Russian and Ukraine money pouring into the Trump developments in NYC at about the same time. If the funds were being laundered, it will be interesting to see if the Trump family and their advisers can be shown to have been 'looking the other way'.
1
The FBI will be safeguarding America and standing up for decency and justice and integrity long after Donald Trump has been deposed and his presidency consigned to the dumpster of history.
812
Will Peter Strzok and Bill Priestap be standing up for decency ?
2
It is getting very hot in the kitchen, and the fringe drumbeat is quickening.
Disgraced Ken Starr is weighing in, and the definition of hypocrisy, the Newt, is on full blast.
We will survive this, keep paying attention, and do not forget that we are the majority, the evolutionary high ground of an advanced thought process.
40
Get yourself out in the streets, email and call your elected reps to let them know of your dissatisfaction, and make sure to vote! Spectating now is unacceptable, thoughts and prayers are useless. Action is what is needed, not hoping for the best.
There is a thin line between democracy and anything else. trump lied when he took the oath of office. He does not care about democracy. He wants to be king. The Republicans in Congress are vile hypocrites. trump is blatant in his calls to Putin. I know that Americans who think and read and discuss issues do not want this country to dissolve into some wretched space. All I want is a decent country, where its citizens can live and work.
61
The Founders called the common bond of all Americans "the pursuit of happiness". Don't follow Trump there.
I used to think that Susan Collins was an exception to the “vile Republican” rule of thumb. No more, she too is goose stepping right in place with the rest of the Republican enablers of Mad King Trump. MAGA.
2
The public's confidence in the FBI is not necessarily in tatters but if it is it is in part because of articles like this one that provide plausibility to the right wing echo chamber's spurious, self-serving denunciations of the FBI. Reportage that repeats patently false assertions as if they were likely to be true is shoddy journalism and a disservice to the public at large. In our troubled times with our democracy at risk, the press must steadfastly and without equivocation speak truth to power, depict reality, and make the clarion call necessary to help secure our hallowed institution, our traditional values and the realization of our country as the best possible version of itself.
16
It is not the press,it is is or was the people who voted for him!
Enjoyed reading. Like any worthy text, it required some digesting. For example I do not allow my information hungry brain absorb any thing that begins with 'Trump said'..and now 'Louie Gohmert asked'. That is like starting a sentence with 'the dog vomit offered'... except that insults dog vomit.
37
How does a ‘Louie Gohmert’ continue to get re-elected? He always strikes me as dumber than a box of rocks and pushing weird fringe ideas. Can you prove me wrong? Does he actually get things done? Is he ever a partner in constructive legislation?
1
Trump would be dictator; but the constitution prevents that. The GOP would co-opt the democratic electoral process through purchased Gerrymander. Nothing prevents that, at present, except a populist uprising.
The indications are that over 60% of the population opposes the rapacious path upon which we have embarked.
It's high time for a rebalancing of the scales.
50
Persons who feel that the FBI, CIA, NSA, and other quasi-law enforcement/quasi-intelligence gathering federal bureaucracies can continue to maintain the rigor of their work in the midst of the current president's attacks should read and reflect on this article.
With such high-level originated distractions, it's a matter of time before a crime or terror organization slip by our government's watchful eyes.
12
That organization you mention is currently in the White House.
Trump's loyalty begins and ends with his own ego and interests. If anyone hired or appointed by him is surprised by this, they are not savvy enough to hold he job in any other instance. Sorry, but it's way past time to find a way to stretch the truth and rationalize his actions into those of a successful leader. There is no aspect of democracy he is unwilling to subvert.
30
Please inform VP Pence that because Mike thinks Trump is the bestest.
In Foreign Affairs, "Deep State" article, Trump has put into place the making of administrative workers At Will employees. They can be fired if they voice disagreements with Trump. Trumps has also hired independent contractors to reduce costs but the new workers do not have the many responsibilities that government workers have. This is a dictatorship and paying homage to Putin and other dictators. This is an example of dismantling the administrative state.
And Wray thinks he has problems.
22
Trump is simply trying to overwrite reality, and in his version of reality his criminal liability will disappear. At this point he is like a religious cult leader and all those trying to cover for him are making the most horrible mistake. Trump is not worth losing our country for. Let him rot in jail where he belongs.
27
Cue Scene-Darth Vader choking latest in command: "You have failed me for the last time".................
8
Why doesn’t Trump and his party of thieves make sure that there isn’t a whiff of political scandal in their ranks because right now they reek of corruption. That not one but two heads of the FBI have to mollycoddle this monomaniacal moron is proof that he is unfit for office. His brain is in tatters, and whatever shriveled soul he has he sold to Vladimir Putin.
Leave the FBI unfettered to do their job, while the American public does its to see you out of the WH into the white van taking you to the funny farm where you can really be King of the Fools.
25
Just based on what trump has failed to do or not do as President i.e. Puerto Rico ,et al,he has met impeachment requirement along with Justice dept rollbacks today
11
RE "Thank God for Robert Mueller" With Wray as the new FBI director? This was a bad choice because Trump now has a back channel communication option with the FBI director through Chris Christie. On the surface, it may have seemed like a safe mainstream pick but it is far from it. The choice of Christie's friend and defense counsel in the Bridge-gate scandal shows that Trump can and surely will push the envelope to solidify his inner circle. His next move will be to disembowel the FBI itself, the same way the EPA is being gutted, removing all remnants of its investigation into his Russian connections. With new FBI director Wray expect funding cuts, resignations and dismissals. Doubtless this cleansing is already afoot with the deliberate surreptitious sabotaging of all related records throughout the entire administration. The system is rigged and the further we let this guy get away with this, the more damage he will do to our democracy. James Clapper is right, Watergate pales in comparison to the Russia probe.
11
The Right Wing echo chamber, Mr. Trump and his allies ought to be charged with treason.
How is this article complete without disclosing Mr. Wray's contributions of close to $40,000 to Republicans?
11
Clearly a cover up of immense proportions is being perpetrated by trump himself and his henchmen. It's obvious that Putin won trump the election and expects pay back. It's also obvious that trump isn't forthcoming on what he knows and when he knew it. Trump's next move will be to dissolve the Obama imposed sanctions and disembowel the FBI itself, the same way the EPA is being gutted, removing all remnants of its investigation into his Russian connections. Expect funding cuts, resignations and dismissals. Doubtless this cleansing is already afoot with the deliberate sabotaging of all related records throughout the entire administration. Of course this shouldn't come as a surprise ... it's right out of senior advisor Bannon's so-called de-institutionalization playbook. And as for the 2118 elections, the GOP is undoubtedly using its newly bestowed wide powers to shove their voter suppression and gerrymandering scheming into high gear to keep it that way in the 2018 mid terms and beyond. Deliberately demagoguing the supreme court will also entrench this
skulduggery for generations.
5
If Trump is found guilty of obstruction of justice, conspiring against democracy, and/or laundering of dirty Russian oligarch money then the GOP will be tied a calamity for decades. A treasonous calamity. The GOP is strategizing against this possibility and so far they look pathetic.
11
Let's not lose sight of the fact that the most politically overt act of any F.B.I. leader was when James Comey revealed, 2 weeks before the election, against Justice Dept. policy, that the F.B.I. had reopened the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails. That turned the election around and handed victory to Trump. He was rewarded with being fired since he wasn't obsequious enough for Trump. There is no person who can please Trump and be impartial.
Trump is is likely the most unlawful president we've had. He openly takes money from foreign states when their representatives stay at his hotels. He is alleged to have committed sexual assault by several women who told their family and friends about it at the time. He bragged on tape about committing sexual assaults. And he quite likely laundered money when Russians bought real estate from him at inflated prices at the same as he got loans from a bank who had previously had to sue him to get their money back.
13
Comey properly reopened the Clinton email investigation because her top aid, Huma, negligently stored confidential and classified emails on her perverted husband's laptop computer. Huma neglected to turn over the shared computer for examination previously along with her other subpoenaed electronic devices. Weiner, who was seducing teenage girls again, was entrusted with classified information by Huma the FBI could not ignore when they stumbled upon it during an unrelated child pornography investigation.
J. Edgar Hoover blackmailed most of the Presidents.
Comey tried to pull the same stunt with Trump and got canned.
Trump did not put up with what all the other Presidents did.
3
Facts please ?
1
It's all more obstruction of justice on Trump's part, and possibly on the part of those in Congress who are aiding him.
15
couldn't agree more! Isn't obstruction of justice illegal? Especially from a president? Sorry, maybe I missed the memo that declares it's just fine and perfectly acceptable behavior.
Trump is the one who was clamoring about a rigged system for an year and a half. Once he won. he dropped it. Then it was democrats turn. From the day of the election, they accused trump of collusion with Russia. In another words they took over Trump's biggest weapon. The system is rigged. The reality is that there was no rigging for either side. It is sour grapes
1
The GOP will ultimately pay a steep price for embracing Trump. The only question is what ring of Hell they will be consigned to once Putin's puppet destroys our institutions and cripples our country.
10
According to Jerry Nadler, newly elected House minority chairman of the Judiciary Committee, it is illegal for the FBI to ask it's own employees what their political affiliation is. Not that illegality bothers Trump any provided he's using it to gather opposition research.
Can you imagine during the Obama administration if the DOJ pressed to unveil FBI agents who were registered republicans or who spoke unkindly of Obama?
A politically unpressured and uninfected FBI and a Trump presidency is an oxymoron.
11
This is truly frightening and disturbing. Our justice system is crucial to protecting our democracy, and is especially essential when politicians and government leaders are a threat to it, as they are now. Mark Warner and Elijah Cummings today both warned that our democracy is very much in danger and, sadly, they are correct.
14
Contrary to what other commenters think the FBI is (and has been for decades) doing a horrible job at upholding the law. The "opioid epidemic" didn't start recently and isn't really what the media is pushing it to be and yet the FBI, DEA, and the DOJ as a whole are all asleep at the switch and people are dying because of it...
1
Opioid abuse is a medical and health care failure.
Keith, The opiod epidemic is being driven by Pure Corporate GREED !!Its the root of all Political Evil...... MONEY brother. Please don't try to blame law enforcement for hanging there bosses bought and paid for !!
Name an agency whose morale isn't in the toilet after his first biblically bad year running this country into the ground.
14
You are not helping.
Reporting on Mr. Trump's paranoid fear that the agency has been politicized or, more exactly, politicized against him, you legitimize the idea.
Then you report blandly that Congress has taken up the cudgel, openly demanding the political affiliations of individual agents, many of whom have seemingly figure in no way on issues of interest to Trump or the Republicans.
Finally, you provide a litany of actions and comments that make it very clear Trump and the Republicans have no objection at all to politicizing the agency; they just want to be sure it's on their side (which means, will do their bidding).
You view all this through the fun-house window of Trump's comments and promises regarding the FBI. You speak as if his words mean something, as if they provide a meaningful standard for evaluating his behavior.
You are dealing with a demagogue of historic proportions, a man who knows that when you faithfully report his words without critical analysis or comment he's already won the game.
Yet, after years of experience, you refuse to change your behavior. You continue to provide de facto support to this political evil and the rapid demise of America.
8
What is the alternative? Ignore him? I agree whole-heartedly with your observations but the NY Times is still operating on the idea that Words Matter and that the president, or in this case, current occupier of the White House be held accountable for what he says, even when 99.9% of it is hot air. Otherwise you have what? A bland acceptance that this is the New Normal? Resist.
Absolutely agree with you.
This article could have been dictated in part by the fake president himself.
Astonishing.
No. Bland acceptance is exactly wrong.
What you must have is aggressively reporting and critically analyzing the relationship between the words and reality as best we know it.
The Conway Precept holds: If Don is caught looking for treasure in his schnoz during a meeting at the UN that is, by definition, Presidential behavior. Whether you believe that is a meaningful statement is entirely up to you.
The same is true of his words; of course they matter, because he said them. But that has nothing at all to with their veracity, their import, or their meaning for the future of the citizens of the country.
Psychology is the universal language of the world, common throughout all cultures. Trump knows he can control people by controlling the purse strings. That's why Trump takes pride in firing people and has done so numerous times after taking office and his intimidation of top people brings them and their subordinates in line with his desires. It worked with Sessions, Mueller, Comey, McCabe and now as you write, Wray. Fear of job and income loss is the most effective way of focusing on your job and the pleasure of your boss. Trump is instilling fear in the F.B.I. to marginalize them as a threat to his position and power. The F.B.I. is the only organization that can bring him low after so much overwhelming evidence of Russian Collusion. Trump's use of the power of the paycheck has worked until now. The F.B.I. is shell shocked by a truly ruthless and sadistic leader. Publish or perish.
7
Everyone you mentioned will get a million dollar book deal and big offers from top Washington law firms if terminated. They have no fear of financial loss.
1
It has been awhile, yet many people have no recollection of Mueller's statement in regards to investigating a money laundering operation involving the trumps. He did say that would take a back seat until the Russian matters r finalized. Well,two Russian billionaires thru Kushner have poured lots of cash into American businesses including Silicon Valley. There is the trick of the tale. Kushner's best friend has cooperated with Mueller. The WH was so informed. Kushner is facing possible federal charges under the RICO act. While this ongoing,so too the Russian issue. Trump,Fox and a very select group of Republicans are attempting to thwart the investigation.Mainstream media has yet to publish some issues, such as the whisper of a secret police state-like apparatus to privately attack,to discredit any and all potential witnessess v trump. I have been very vocal in regards to Trumps desire to start a war,be it against NK or Iran. Iran is a gamble,most likely to fail, as much of the world's governments will side with Iran. A large military conflict would be used to shield trump from an avalanche of criticism as he will use that time to fire Mueller. Then it becomes his downfall as many borderline republicans will jump ship. The Saturday Night Massacre of Nixon started the ball rolling against him, and his party paid dearly.
4
Trump is obviously hiding something big. The more he and his state sponsored news channel demonize Mueller, the more guilty he appears.
10
FBI Directors have typically shown a penchant for truth-seeking, which is antithetical to the Trump pathology. In the hall of mirrors in which Trump admires his shiny, distorted reflections, the FBI director's role begins and ends with Trump, not truth. He asks for "allegiance" when what he really wants is pandering obeisance in the model of Pence.
8
This is the theatre of the absurd. Why on earth would the FBI Director have to worry about the political slants of his agents. Are we asking FBI agents to take a loyalty oath to our president and what he stand for? Are we not a free country? Do we not have the right to vote and believe in our own beliefs? Must we deal with a blowhard in the White House? How do we allow a Louie Gohmert to question a person's beliefs?
Enough is enough! Trump and his backward thinking sycophants need to step down and stop questioning those in the FBI. I want to hear our politicians say that we all have ar right to our own thoughts without the new "thought police" who believe that they are above the law.
17
Watch out America, the democracy you so cherish is under threat from within. Not from Russia, not from China, but from the unfortunate election of a very dangerous, narcissistic demagogue. The responsibility becomes ours to now defeat. Holding our breath waiting for the investigations to conclude and bring forth a guilty verdict will also require a show of demonstrable force against this tyrant. Watch out America, watch out.
13
Wray shouldn’t give Trump an inch. He’s allowing himself to get bullied.
6
Mr. Wray:. You are a general in charge of many soldiers whose responsibility is to maintain our democracy. Please stay the course and remember there are millions, I do mean millions of us who are moblizing to fight for our country at the ballot box. We are organizing our get out the vote, rallies, marches and protests. We have your back. You will see us and hear us the closer November 2018 comes. Rest assured.
888
We should employ the well-appointed militia - to get rid of this dark threat. There will be no end to this if we don't.
1
How much longer do we have to live with and listen to this corrupt and ignorant person who is disgracing our country and wrecking our lives. These comments are well written and correct. We need to get rid of him once and for all.
5
Ha - Trump - the most despised person on the planet. What a hard life he has...
3
Is Trump smart enough to think so far ahead? Sounds more like Miller and Bannon who obviously function as Trump’s brain.
10
trump is correct in his assessment of the corruption of the FBI. the hillary connection is just to blatant.
5
And the public is correct in its assessment of the corruption of the Trumps.
Based on what evidence? What are your sources?
Right, the "Hillary connection" was proven when, shortly before the election, Comey announced that her emails were found on Anthony Weiner's computer. That no doubt gave her a big boost with the voters. Some connection!
2
Trump is a troll hiding on Twitter in fear that either the press or law enforcement will dig up his dirty tricks and money laundering. We know your hands are dirty Boss Tweet. The truth will out.
18
Rudy Guiliani admitted in public that he was getting information from FBI sources. He did not even try to hide that.
-----
News Flash: Jim Kallstrom and Rush Limbaugh are buddies. (And they admit it.)
Link:
https://www.mc-lef.org/our-people/
MC-LEF is the Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation
Board of Directors
Chairman:
James K. Kallstrom
Directors
Rush LimbaughA
Here is what their web site says in part:
James Kallstrom
James Kallstrom is Chairman of the Board of MC-LEF.
Jim culminated his career in the FBI as the Assistant Director of the New York office before retiring. Because of his extraordinary background, Jim continues to appear on television and radio to discuss issues of national security.
Jim’s relationships with Rush Limbaugh, a strong supporter of our cause, and Fox News have given him the opportunity to show appreciation to MC-LEF’S supporters nationwide while also appealing for additional donations.
------
So the guy who was the Assistant Director of the FBI New York office is a Rush Limbaugh and Fox News homie.
(I bet Kallstrom does not have a single political opinion about ANYTHING, right? But anybody else in the FBI having an opinion is a SIN, RIGHT?)
16
So here we find #45 taking issue with the FBI.
He ousted Comey and then nominated Christopher Wray, who achieved broad bi-partisan support.
Does #45 remember that?
Or is it that his animus toward James Comey is ingrained in his unbroken animus toward the FBI?
More questions . . .
Is #45 capable by way of connecting the dots regarding the FBI and why it has a new director?
And does #45 recall his unrestrained praise for Christopher Wray, when he submitted his name for nomination as the Director?
Another question regarding #45: when he hears the three letters -- FBI -- do they serve as his cue to again and again trash the agency?
Final question: even though #45 fired James Comey, does the mere evocation of his name spur a salvo question the agency's personnel and their performance?
4
Michael, the answer to all of your questions is quite simple. trump knows that he's conspired with Putin & Russia, and also knows that the FBI & Mueller are closing in on him. Like every corned rat, he's lashing out in every direction against anyone & everyone. As the saying goes, "trump is trapped like the rat that he is."
The FBI is not independent and never has been. It is a political police designed to serve the interests, biases and priorities of the President . The Director is a Presidential appointee. He is no different than any other Trump appointee. The good thing about Trump’s termination of Comey is that it will pave the way for a Democrat to terminate Wray in 2020 and put his own Director inplace.
2
The days of the US as a civilized nation are counted. This country is on its way to become the largest and most corrupt oligarchy the World has ever seen. Why? Because that is what the American People want. Degenerating into a corrupt oligarchy is the way White Americans choose to deal the consequences of their ignorance and bigotry.
The election of the crass, immoral narcissist in the White House shows American Civilization is a veneer a lot thinner than anyone imagined - for what was hidden underneath didn`t suddenly grow in the last two years, it must have been there all along and is now, thanks to the Great Narcissist, out in the open for everyone to see.
30
The “American People” that you describe are a very small percentage of this country. Very small. And, yes, we will always have some ignorance in the masses. But the overwhelming populace sees this administration for what it is: a very dangerous fraud. Come to the meetings.
I think the country needs to read up about Narcissitic Personality Disorder. People with NPD will say absolutely anything to cover up their mistakes and weaknesses, and are extremely clever at it. The remedy is to cut them off and focus on realizing our own higher goals. As a country, we can shift our energy to mobilize the votes to support intelligent candidates in order to push him and his ship of self interested fools out the door. Obviously the FBI should not be run only by Trump supporters, and we should not collectively pretend anyone with other politsical views is not fit to serve. That is utterly ridiculous. Let us focus on supporting and voting in people who are more enlightened and motivated to do right by our precious country.
17
Trump clever?
Once again I'm dumbfounded by Trump's behavior. If Trump has done no wrong he has nothing to hide. And if he has nothing to hide, why doesn't he simply cooperate with the FBI, DOJ, and those he claims are trying to bring him down? That would make sense, no?
9
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, has sought to clarify Mr. Trump’s remarks. She said the president was “referring to the political leaders at the F.B.I., particularly those that were involved in the Hillary Clinton probe.”
Sanders calls the employees ‘political leaders’ - not a label they would use to describe themselves. That Sanders would use this phrase, shows the cards being played by the WH and the GOP.
The WH and the GOP are the ones politicizing the roles of government employees and then using projection to claim the staff are politicized.
This is the working definition and steps toward creating a fascist government. Delegitimization of authorities and the media, toward controlling what citizens can know in order to hide what our government is doing behind the curtains.
24
The FBI protects us from many terrorist attempts that we never even know about. The distracting attacks by Trump and his toadies in Congress sure look like treason to this American.
16
No one but an obsequious lackey will last under Trump. Good luck Mr. Wray.
9
The problem Director Wray faces is not of President Trump making. If morale is indeed low in the FBI it is low because of the transgressions of Clinton, Obama loyalist who pursued their own ideological agenda during and after the election. The stock Dem argument that everyone's entitled to their political opinion is too clever by half. The seminal issue is whether high ranking people in Justice and the FBI ACTED on their POLITICAL OPINION. Did they ACT in a manner calculated to thwart the will of the people and the Constitution. Why were people not dismissed in this affair, why were people moved down the hall to a new office. Curiously the same thing was done after Benghazi when people were merely moved into a new office down the hall or rehired after taking paid leave. The Dem chant, investigate the Trump Russia collusion, has been rendered moot if the allegation is based on doctored allegations and evidence. The question now is whether the "collusion" narrative is the result of a "brilliant, sudden, and highly successful stroke or act." If it is those words are the dictionary definition of a COUP.
5
Trump is such a selfish, narcissistic man. He’s willing to destroy anyone and anything for his own malicious reasons.
15
Law enforcement were besides themselves in their support of candidate Trump in 2016. Trump campaigned on the promise to support Law Enforcement like no other president,especially Obama , ever did. Now that president Trump is using his bully pulpit and attitude to beat up on his Centurions they are crying foul. Now to keep Trump happy the The Director is to make his second in command the sacrificial lamb to keep the Emperor happy? If Trump is tarnishing the image of the FBI what kind of image will the FBI have if they cower to Trump? The GOP lost all respect this week when it genuflected to Trump after they passed the tax bill. I hope the Director of the FBI has more steel in his spine than our congress does. It is truly amazing how much crawling some people will do to keep their jobs. We are truly in need of a Few Good Men and Women.
16
If the content of this article is correct then there is only one path for Director Wray to take. He should resign, with a public statement that the political attacks and meddling from POTUS make it impossible for him to do his job effectively and with integrity. Anything else would be an acceptance of tainted rules of engagement. It is now time to refuse to cooperate with the destruction of our institutional pillars.
10
"Mr. Wray has to decide on the future of Mr. McCabe, who has been singled out by Mr. Trump because of his wife’s political activities and because of his role as deputy director during the Clinton email investigation."
Yet Mr Trump appointed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's wife as a Cabinet Secretary.
There are no rules any more, just partisanship.
Trump has had Justice Department associate attorney general Bruce Ohr demoted, now he is going after McCabe, and he just demoted James Baker, the FBI's general counsel.
Trump is purging the Justice Department and FBI of non-loyalists, and this needs to stop.
15
Trump's MO is to keep his base on the boil. If he thought it would energise his half witted acolytes he would suggest burning down the White House. Trump reminds me of 20th century demagogues like Mussolini, Pol Pot, Mao, Stalin. They also constantly tried to reinvent the revolution to enthral and entertain the masses.
As far the functionaries and sundry apparatchiks who lead US government agencies, they are big girls and boys and can look after themselves. In fact, the more that Trump antagonises these folks the better, because the sooner it will end his reign of buffoonery.
13
He lies about and puts down our media.
He lies about and puts down our courts.
He lies about and puts down our law enforcement.
The wanna-be dictator Trump's attacks on our democracy need to stop!
20
First he mocked the IC over the incorrect Iraq WMD conclusion, that occurred years ago under different leadership. Now he publicly declares that the FBI’s reputation “is in tatters”. He fired the FBI head then bragged to Russian officials visiting the White House the firing took great pressure off the Russian investigation, while banning US journalists from that meeting. He callled on the IC to pursue a political opponent. And called on Russia to hack that same political opponents emails. Congress it’s time to do your job and put country over party.
7
President Trump is just completing his freshman year as President.
There isn't any schools to teach this position .
Lots of mucking up for sure. He is weathering the storm and done some good things.
Look how many more newspapers and apps the liberal media is selling, business has to be good, your so obsessed with this guy.
24/7 trump, trump , trump , trump, trump , trump , trump , trump
My disdain is for those "respectable" Republicans who keep feeding the ego of our demented president. Without them, he would not still be president.
21
As the Mueller team closes in on Trump, I'm deeply concerned that Trump will initiate his "Reichstag Fire" and use some induced calamity to effectively impose some sort of martial or dictatorial type law on our populace. I thought the sycophantic display of groveling at his June 2017 televised cabinet meeting was despicable and appalling. Then, just six months later, an even more disturbing set of obsequious displays were presented, again by his cabinet led by the groveling and toadish Mike Pence, then by McConnell, Hatch and Ryan. Those latter three were staunch critics of Trump during the primaries, yet they've caved to this craven and debased person showing no hint of a backbone. They are simply cowards, utterly controlled by their billionaire backers as they allow Trump and their party to loot America.
49
Oh please, what's coming out looks like Mueller, Comey, and Rosenstein have more to hide, especially in their allowing the Uranium One deal to go through despite all the criminality involved in getting the deal to go through.
1
Well said. The sycophantic grovelling has to be seen to be believed.
Imagine how insulting it must be for FBI agents, the top law enforcement officials entrusted with keeping our nation safe from so many threats, to have to answer to and tip-toe around this most mendacious joke of a so-called president.
It must be surreal.
30
Apparently, you seem to be making the same mistake the top bureaucrats at the FBI are making. The FBI is not an independent agency. They may think they are but that was never codified into law.
Didn't Comey basically hand Donald Trump the presidency on a silver platter by announcing Clinton was under criminal investigation a month before the election? This is the literal definition of witch hunt!
17
Gohmert, Jordan and friends are insane. Just do a you tube search of Gohmerts CNN interview with Anderson Cooper..
Anderson tries for ten minutes to get a question in, and Gohmert rambles on, obviously stonewalling him.
Now he and Jordan are eating into the core of our law enforcement ment and they could care less.
Just like Trump, they're carnival barkers, only about drawing attention to themselves.
17
Biff is pushing Mc Fly trying to pick a fight..who will be Marty?
This is the most pathetic and disgusting example of pulling rank I have ever seen. Every time it seems Trump can go no lower he seems to find a way.
There is nothing at the core of this psychopath but terror at being revealed as the epitome of TS Elliot’s the “Hollow Man”
19
Question for the Trump administration: can FBI agents be registered Democrats? Or must they all be Republican?
24
I believe 'James' can help out here: "... anyone who has ever disagreed with Trump is unfit to investigate him or act in any professional manner with regard to his administration -- only Trump supporters could ever put aside their opinions and do the right thing." --James NYC, a still very much apt comment from an earlier article.
The FBI is in "tatters" the same way America was in "carnage" when he took office. These descriptions exist in Trump's mind alone. He thinks it, he says it and FOX and unethical Republicans back him up. Putin must be as shocked as Osama bin Laden was by his success. Myself, I'm shocked at how easily America's foundations can be toppled by one man and his puppet.
31
i am shocked beyond words too. i can't recognize this country anymore.
1
The comments on here are as telling as the article. Shakespeare and the Greeks using mythology and The Hollingshead Chronicles wove masterpieces. We are left with Reality TV, erratic texts, Kardassians , National Enquirer & Fox News to morph any stage works for this malaise. Never has the Constitution or our nerves been so tested. Today our patience has stretch marks. Exhauster & pulverized we crawl to 2018. Alas, we are soldiers all. the even greater battles are just beginning. UFO s in the news!? Maybe the answers lie there! Beam us all up to Mother Ship.
5
Can't feel any pity whatsoever for Mr. Wray.
When you make a deal with the devil, you have relinquished all honor and dignity.
8
Apparently you can either keep your job working for trump or you can keep your integrity but you can't do both.
20
Democrats, take back congress and change the law concerning the President appointing...EVERYTHING! The Constitution did not foresee this madman in office.
People...GET OUT AND VOTE!
29
Honestly, I think most people are already sick and tired of this guy's penchant for 24/7/365 chaos, so hopefully soon the public will get behind an impeachment movement.
18
When the human body attacks itself it's recognized as a disease (autoimmune) - when the US Government attacks itself that too is surely a sign of illness. The difference is that the human body makes a mistake - but with the Trump administration it's anything but a mistake - it's a knowing, deliberate and highly targeted assault on the institutions designed to serve and protect the integrity of the Constitution - the body in question. President Trump is not only a divisive Commander in Chief he is also a destructive one. And now begins the Trump/GOP charm-offensive based loosely around the 1950's British political clanger 'You've Never Had It So Good'. Not much difference between that and his boast that he is “unleashing a new era of American prosperity perhaps like we’ve never seen before.” Oh really? Then how come 2 million American children might lose CHIP in this new era of prosperity? Or 13 million will be unable to afford Health cover? Or Tax Cut/Reform for individuals has a limited shelf life? Or the FBI is in 'tatters', the news is 'Fake', Russia is not 'the enemy', Judges with Hispanic names can't be trusted? And who knew 'there are fine and decent' neo-Nazis and white supremacists among us - and not everyone who dies in the cause of serving America is a 'hero'? Trump's right about one thing, we're about to see an America 'we’ve never seen before.”
1029
Well, perhaps you may have missed the Civil War period of our history; it looks to me like the ground work is being laid now for another one.
6
Trump is the fever; Republicanism (as a front for Libertarianism) is the disease. Unbridled capitalism and the inequality it breeds have combined to produce a rabid form of billionaire libertarianism. It is a parasitic infection that has spent decades building a deliberately staged silent coup. (Australia's Murdoch has had a heavy had in it.) There is no question as to from whence this sprung. The investigative reporting on that has been done.
The only question that remains is: Can we defeat the parasites before they kill our democracy, our country, the very world itself?
11
There's always that "perhaps" that signals it means nothing.
trump, "perhaps" we'll go into a recession. "Perhaps" the wealthy won't be happy until they have as much as 100% of the resources of America and we're all serfs.
4
Another incident of obstruction of justice by dictator Trump. He is obsessed with Hillary because she received about a million more votes than he did.
12
2,868,691 more, to be exact.
3 million.
I am not at all surprised at 45's denigrating of the FBI, CIA, and all the other intelligence agencies. However, I find the congressional barking dogs to be totally hypocritical and intellectually dishonest; this nation is SUPPOSED to be guided by the rule of law, not partisanship or loyalty. The republican party has been ALL ABOUT party loyalty over good of the country for at a decade, perhaps longer. Hopefully, the 2018 mid-terms will reshape the congress--house and senate--so the boob in the white house will be neutralized. At least until Mr. Mueller completes his investigation or he is impeached!
18
Mt. Wray cannnot be intimidated by this camel who will tear the whole tent apart. If Mr. Wray sacrifices McCabe the game is over. Trump wins.
By the way, if the political opinions of wives can disqualify their husbands from their jobs, how about Mrs Thomas and the supreme court justice?
21
Trump is divisive. All he wants to do is win; he's fine with whatever it costs. His base is almost as divisive as he is.
Founding Father John Dickenson is said to have said it -- "...divided we fall."
The very intensity of Trump's win-at-all-cost attitude is a measure of how far and and how fast we are falling. And boy oh boy, are we ever falling now!
The country is going down the toilet. Watch out.
9
I worked with FBI agents many times over an almost 30 years service as a federal security director and know how hard these men and women work without fear or favor to or for anyone. Personal feelings are cast aside when they do their job. Ask yourself, if the FBI is in tatters, as President Trump alleges, who would you call if your child was kidnapped, or you heard terrorists planning to plant a bomb? Stop criticizing the Bureau and let them get on with their job.
23
did Wray not get the memo that the USA is now a dictatorship?
10
Don't forget who you really serve, Mr. Wray. Not the President, but the citizens of this country. If Trump fires you, we will raise hell, and hold to account those who tried to impede your investigation.
17
Donald Trump is crazy. Would we expect anything else from him? Mr. Wray is just a pawn like anyone else Donald Trump uses as tools when he needs them.
15
He pledged to resist White House pressure. If he has a moral compass, he should tell Trump to take the job and shove it.
8
If President Trump wants Director Wray to cut him some slack for bail, he should be nicer to him.
5
What a joke! Louie Gohmert calling anyone on the carpet. I don't think there's a bigger fool in Congress than that one.
5
I think there’s a easy way to get the type of public servant Trump wants: First, demand they take a loyalty oath. Second, give them an IQ test and only hire those who score lower than he does. Third, take their families hostage and secure them in an undisclosed location.
5
Christopher Wray has "got to be the top cover for the agency.” So true. So poignant.
So sad that none of Trump's 15 cabinet heads understand this, let alone have the courage to protect their vulnerable staff from vindictive Little Boy Donnie.
6
Great empires aren’t conquered- they collapse from within. Democracy itself in the U.S. is being “fired” by Donald Trump, but will escape and find new roots in another “land of the free and home of the brave”.
3
What is in tatters is Trump grip on reality, his small to begin with grasp of facts and knowledge, and frankly his brain and what little intellect he may have possessed at one time, and it is all because of his insatiable ego.
8
Will Trump cutting down the FBI to protect himself, leave our nation less protected?
4
"facts, the law and the impartial pursuit of justice - period"...vs...my facts, my law and the impartial pursuit of my justice...period.
4
And what would happen if everyone just ignored this
loudmouth attention seeker of a potus? It's not
as if he says anything of any interest, value, or
substance...so why not just ignore it the way
parents ignore an eight year old at the dinner table
when he's being particularly obnoxious for the sake
of being obnoxious, and just wants attention so badly
he'll do or say anything to get the parents' attention...
Is what is being said in his carefully garbled, purposefully
ambiguous and probably well rehearsed style, all of which allows for maximum wiggle room when too much pushback manages to be detected within earshot of
the WH press or political bureau, of such importance that
it justifies the slightest of serious attention? Why wouldn't
a suitable biting retort simply suffice?
If more effort were made to bite back with surreal wit and pointed
sarcasm, than merely copy and repeat
what this manipulator of our attention insists upon saying,
I suspect a completely different tone would descend upon the country.
In other words, we should not leave all the creative
fun just for Colbert...we should all try and channel
our inner Colbert, including the WH press corps fated
to follow il duce in slavish copy mode. People
in the press corps you need to break your chains
and rise up. Liberate all of us from his attention seeking. We don't really need to
know what the next piece of gibberish is. Isn't it about
time, a whole horribly long year, that we stopped being
jerked around??
6
a passive-aggressive president hiring the same. good luck with that!
2
The FBI tried to throw the last election to Hillary.
The evidence is clear.
Just like the IRS, one election cycle ago.
It is critical to clean up these institutions, and drain the swamp.
7:40EST
3
indeed, when Comey said ms Clinton was under investigation, it was obviously to help her. Clear as clean water.
So what is the swamp exactly ? definition tends to vary from one person to another, or from one situation to another.
1
Tried to throw the last election to Hillary? By publicly announcing they are reopening the case because they "may have" found more emails 11 days before the election - an announcement which corresponded with an inflection point in the polling from which Hillary never recovered and may have resulted in her loss? Is that how they tried to help her win?
Steve, the FBI did not try to throw the election either way. Please get that conclusion out of your mind.
1
Mr. Trump and his apologists forget, or don't care, that F.B.I. employees, and all career federal employees serve the American public. They are not the minions of a man who believes that he was elected to be a dictator.
7
The FBI is totally right to be doing what it is doing. I note in my piece here that Trump's ties to Russia stink to high heaven, and the DoJ, FBI, and intelligence professionals are uncovering the truth, along with Mueller's team and U.S. Attorneys' offices: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/think-you-know-how-deep-trump-russia-goes...
4
The FBI Building in Las Vegas has Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity blazoned across the facade. It is obvious that trump has no idea of the meaning of these words. The current White House should have false, blustering ignoramus as the motto that describes it's inhabitant.
3
Why has the FBI not always been thought to have been politicized at the top but not in the rank and file? Remember COINTELPRO, bugging MLK, collaboration with the Mafia who blackmailed Hoover, JFK assassination, RFK assassination, the firing of John P. O’ Neil, and on and on. But that does not detract from the brave and honorable work performed by individual agents who do not have the “need to know” the rot at the top.
1
This is all so transparent. This is Trump working with Fox News, laying the groundwork to undermine Mueller as he closes in on Trump and all the President’s men.
6
Trump does not even want an FBI.
The FBI Is a brand to him, a brand he has done his best to neuter and destroy,
7
President Rant threatens our national security. My assumption that it would be bad for our USA to have an egomaniac "serving" as president turns out to have been a weak under-estimate. I'm sad to have played down the menace Trump poses and the havoc he wreaks.
5
Obviously, Comey and Clinton conspired together, for Trump to " win " the election. Then, Obama joined the two for fake Russian allegations, so that Trump would be impeached, with massive FBI false evidence. Then, Obama would be named president, and Clinton Vice President.
Understand, now???? And, YES, this IS extreme sarcasm.
2
And what about "Black Identity Terrorists?"
The FBI is and has always been political--far right political. And Trump may well owe his election to the (Republican) man he fired, Comey, who interfered with the election.
J. Edgar Hoover blackmailed presidents, and may have knowingly failed to prevent JFK's assassination. He wiretapped MLK.
He had info in advance about Pearl Harbor, and didn't share it with Roosevelt. And he denied the existence of the mafia while stirring up false fears of Communism.
Trump wants worship as if he were a God.
6
Just today, I read about Trump's new 'presidential' coin, where in typical Donald fashion, has his name Donald J. Trump is emblazoned twice on the front of the gilded coins, and once on the back, going again against a presidential tradition of modesty and humility. And in an added touch of irony surely lost on The Donald, it is much thicker than previous presidential coins.
What is happening with our nation, where crazy, unbalanced and narcissistic are somehow weirdly transforming into 'the new normal'. This man does not deserve the presidency, but a padded cell at some institution.
And Republicans are demonstrating again and again their unworthiness to represent us, as they like the dogs that they are, continue to salivate at whatever meat Don throws at them.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/its-very-gold-the-presidential-c...
18
I tired of Donald J. Trump bad-mouthing others without seeing some criticism of him and has actions. C'mon, where are those eyewitnesses that "can confirm" that he doesn't know any of the women who have accused him of sexual misbehavior? Where is his Trumpcare, that was going to be less expensive and better than Obamacare? Where are the saved jobs? Carrier? Rexnord? The steel industry in the USA? And Carrier? One thousand jobs saved turned out to be only eight hundred?
This year was bad, next year will be worse, I hope, for Republicans and better for the Constitution and the USA.
Trump has lied, misled, and undermined the political system with the help of the Republican party. I have lost all respect for Paul Ryan, Jeff Flake, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz. Trump insulted them, their families and loved ones, then they suck up to him. They are an embarrassment to American democracy.
Hillary was right when she called his supporters deplorables. What could be more deplorable than supporting a Roy Moore whose past speaks for itself instead of an upstanding Democrat? Trump and Party before the USA?
31
I'm not sure why anyone would be stunned by idiotic questions from Gohmert, well-known as the stupidest member of a legislative body where the bar is already quite low.
As far as the FBI rank and file are concerned, we ask them to stay strong and hope there are still enough sane, honest and informed people left in this country to take it back, beginning in 2018.
41
Good luck to Wray and everyone at the FBI- the closer they get to exposing the truth, the uglier the attacks from Trump, Fox and Breitbart will become.
36
Why is Trump doing this goofy thing. Is he insane?
20
Well ... close.
2
As a former Brit having lived more than half my years in the US, I have been able to compare and contrast US government under a written constitution with the UK's reliance on an unwritten constitution that is heavily dependent on precedent. It used to be obvious to me that the written constitution offered better protection against the whims of a would-be dictator, but the past year has changed my mind.
The British Prime Minister is first among equals, and could not embark on a wholesale demolition of governmental institutions and the rule of law without being stopped by the rest of the Cabinet. The US President's powers are supposedly limited by a system of checks and balances, but they are proving unequal to a man determined to undermine governmental institutions and the rule of law.
43
Checks and Balances only work when they are used!
Republican majorities in our present Congress and Cabinet members chosen by Trump go along with his rulings because they are in favor of them. As long as Congress members depend on money to get elected they will accede to Trumpian demands and to the wealthy donors who support many of them. They may dislike the President, but they have ignored their Constitutional responsibilities of Checks and Balances, in fact, due to the third member of our governmental checks and balances, the Supreme Court, who introduced Big Money into the political structure in their ruling regarding Corporations and their ability to finance their political preferences in election processes.
3
Why does the New York Times act as if the criticism of the FBI by President Trump and his Republican allies has any legitimacy? Surely it's obvious that it's an attempt to distract from the investigation into Russian influence.
20
"In private conversations, Mr. Trump has groused that Mr. Wray has not swiftly removed people whom he perceives as loyal to Mr. Comey."
Christopher Wray is between a rock and hard place. There is no way to please this president and uphold the independence and integrity of the FBI, because the president doesn't want it that way.
He wants loyalty and obedience, and will keep trying to get it anyway he can, from direct confrontations, to helping organize Congressional rumor-mongering, to trying to drive out good people.
In fact, Trump will even gut the entire department like he has at EPA and State, because the fewer people he has to deal with, the more he perceives he can control them.
For all our hand-wringing over Trump's appointments at the EPA and State, having him undermine the FBI is a whole new matter. If the president can intervene in criminal investigations (as he's trying to do with the Special Counsel) without being checked, he can pretty much get away with anything.
And the way this Congress is enabling and supporting him in this endeavor is nothing short of treasonous. By doing Mr. Trump's dirty work--that they are so loyal to a president who won't return the favor--is beyond baffling.
They got their desperately wanted tax cut. What more do they want? Why are they trying so hard to protect Donald Trump?
153
"They got their desperately wanted tax cut. What more do they want? Why are they trying so hard to protect Donald Trump? "
As you mentioned, concerning Trump being enabled by Congress, regarding the act of being treasonous, says it all. Trump and many Congressional Republicans have shown time and again they are anti-American traitors, period. What more do they want? They (the GOP Gangsters/Mafia) want it all, in same vein as any organized criminal enterprise.
10
What more do they want? Paul Ryan wants to get rid of Medicare and Social Security (and of course Medicaid). He calls that “entitlement reform” and that will be the big spring project. They protect Trump because he is letting them put through legislation they have been lusting after for years.
6
Why are they protecting Trump? Because he’ll sign their evil laws.
7
Trump is desperate to delegitimize the FBI before they produce evidence of crimes. Whether it is collusion with the Russians over emails stolen from the DNC, or money laundering. There is a good reason why he has said the Mueller should not look at the finances of his businesses.
454
As the late Mark Felt so wisely said, 'Follow the money'.
4
President Trump is the GOP's megaphone.
We must remember that the Republican Party has evolved into a government-hating venture whose mission is to destroy it from within. President Trump appears to be a one-man wrecking crew but his Party precedes him and now abets him in the damage he is wreaking upon the public sector.
Add to this the president's psychopathic tics steeped in dyspepsia, profound ignorance, bombast, narcissism and paranoia and we'll be lucky to have a functioning government at all come 2020.
348
If Wray turns into a sycophant like more and more Republicans appear to be doing, we'll know at that time that he's become compromised like the rest of them. Either getting a cut or being blackmailed. I hope he chooses to resign before that happens. If he does resign, we can celebrate that at least the FBI still adheres to the Rule of Law.
55
I hope Chris Wray's professional ethics will be becoming of his position and the respect of the FBI rank-and-file. As NJ Gov Christie's taxpayer-funded criminal attorney, Wray helped Christie avoid having to go to court to testify in the Bridgegate case. Christie gave Trump generous kickbacks--including reducing Trump's casino tax bill from $30Million to just .17 cents on the dollar, It begs the question, do Christie and Trump have more ties to Wray we don't know? Just too weird.
njspotlight.com/stories/17/07/24/christie-s-hiring-of-fbi-nominee-as-bri...
wnyc.org/story/trumps-fbi-pick-bills-taxpayers-21-million-including-airf...
nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/06/christies_2_bridgegate_lawyers_could_b...
2
This is how authoritarians divide and conquer. They make everything political, and then accuse any critic of being "against" the leader -- biased, prejudiced, an enemy -- and then the base follows that lead. There are then "fair" officials, institutions, and media, where fair has no been defined to be something supportive of the authoritarian leader, and then the "unfair" ones," which are those who criticize the leader.
Trump is a grade A authoritarian. He interprets criticism as biased and unfair, and only praise and support as fair. Nice, America, nice.
381
The ugly face of this nation is now being exposed on a daily basis.
And there's plenty of ugliness to go around.
5
Any impartial, professional director of the FBI is doomed under Donald Trump... Trump needs to have his own "loyal" guy in the job. When he inevitably tries to send Christopher Wray down the same road he sent Comey, there is going to be a conflict between Trump and the Senate, which isn't inclined to approve any old candidate that Trump demands. Of course, this assumes that Trump is able to get through the next bombshell(s) that are expected from the Mueller investigation in mid or late January, which i am guessing will be more serious that anything seen up to this point.
60
Most of all, the FBI needs to uphold the perception of itself as an independent, professional organization of people with integrity, who value decency and the law.
Refusing to be ensnared in Trump's bullying and circus is much needed at this dstabilizing era in our history and will stand in sharp contrast to President Trump's highly unprofessional, ignorant, politicized, and unethical approach to governing.
Much like standing up to a schoolyard bully or the dictator of an authoritarian country, ignoring Trump's antics and rising about the toxic GOP politicized fray are much needed and will be reassuring to a majority of Americans.
Trump unfavorable ratings are high and rising. And I sure hope the FBI is monitoring the white supremacist and militant alt-right groups--though I am pretty sure President Trump would prefer not.
The world is watching to see what the former most powerful country in the world is going to do to remain a democracy and a country that deserves respect.
The FBI needs to be part of the solution.
75
Care to see an 1869 version of trumpism? Pleases watch Bury my heart at wounded knee. Politics are ruining our country. Is it supposed to be land of the free and of the brave or land of the those who can make the most money. What have we become?
23
Wow. Trump wants thought police who will spy on citizens and enforce his brand of politics throughout the government, and the Republicans are are willing to go along.
Is this really the United States, where everyone is supposed to be free to think and say what they want to -- or some totalitarian regime that only tolerates the opinions it approves of?
123
This is beginning to feel very dangerous. In 50 years as a voter, I never recall a president, other than Nixon demanding loyalty from government employees. However, as a child, I do remember a loyalty oath that was required during the cold war. That was a fearful atmosphere and the media promoted anti-communist propaganda. Stand up people! This talk of loyalty should send shivers down your spine.
117
From strategic point, this is another critical point for president trump, some practicals are under surface. don't image from now images only. to see the future, may have some more different national benefit to get.
“Mr. Wray is trying to move past his predecessor’s era and make sure there is not a whiff of politics at the F.B.I.” — this presumes that Comey did politicize the FBI. What evidence is there for that? Comey was a Republican, appointed first by a Republican president. His election-eve letter to Congress dispels any notion of a pro-Clinton bias.
56
This is reminiscent of the treatment of the IRS. Republicans suppress the auditors so they can run rampant.
37
Hmmm. Alienate the workforce that you are to protect and defend and lead to placate the toddler and his courtiers, or, diss the toddler and his minions and protect and defend the organization and the employees, our organization and our employees, one that we desire be apolitical and perform in an ethical manner (as opposed to the "president".
Should the "president" continue, along with those who jump on the bandwagon of bashing the FBI, then perhaps Mr. Wray will need to "blow up" the relationship. His loyalty belongs to us, not the wishes and whims of a despot.
31
Wow,it is a sad day in these United States when this boy in a man's body is able to intimidate the professionals in the F.B.I to fire one of their own to appease this so-called president.What may be even worse is that so many in congress seem have drunk the kool-aid and are willing to justify these outrageous moves by this insidious threat called trump to our democracy.
61
We can take care of at least a big part of this problem in 2018. And we will.
2
I worry did you see the break down of Roy Jones votes in Alabama 72% white men and 63% white woman voted for him. What?
Mr. Trump's moral compass is broken, he has no understanding of our country or its laws, and he doesn't believe laws are important unless they serve his purpose. He believes he is above the law, or even keeping his word. Where are his back taxes that he promised?
40
Many billionaires have the view that country means nothing. Borders mean nothing. They do t need America’s middle class to buy their products, nor its workers to make its products. They have the near slave labor of developing countries for that.
Billionaires don’t want to let politicians spend their tax money on programs and infrastructure in the US. They’d rather keep it, hide it, and spend it how they see fit.
3
The closer Mueller gets to the bottom of Trump's snake pit, the louder and more hysterical the attacks will be. We will see that November voters are constantly reminded of their Republican representatives who supported Trump in the face of mounting evidence that he sold his country down the Moskva River, which flows past the Kremlin, where Putin smiles at his success in hijacking American foreign policy and leaving our democratic process "in tatters."
61
If the Republicans attack Mr. McCabe, because his wife is politically active as a Democrat,then shouldn't they also attack people in power whose spouses (or they, themselves) are politically active as Republicans? It's either that or hypocrisy? The Republicans invariably choose the latter.
And, if Trump is impeding the work of the FBI, is he not obstructing justice (once again)?
40
we can start with Mitch McConnell.
5
Yes, Trump is impeding the Vegas shooting investigation. It's obvious. He has the tapes of the guy with his guns and won't release the tapes.
The FBI could solve that crime, but Trump won't let them.
Funny how that is.
There is nothing at all inconsistent with believing that the vast majority of FBI agents are honest and hard working and believing that the top ranks of the FBI are corrupt and should be fired.
So Wray wants to move on without holding anyone accountable for their misdeeds. If he wants to move on, he should explain why the FBI covered up the actions of STRzok and Page for months, until the info was leaked, all the while stonewalling Congress. Perhaps he should fire MCCabe for lying this week under oath. Or maybe he should come clean about how the FBI funded the Steele dossier and spied on the Trump campaign. If he were to do those things, he might have a good case for moving on. But his actions so far suggest complicity in an attempted political coup.
A mass reduction in force at the top of the FBI is called for. DOJ as well.
6
There isn't a shred of proof that the "top ranks of the FBI are corrupt" so asking this question is loaded in a way to support attacking the FBI.
4
Since the top people in the FBI came from the rank and file, your defense of Trump is deceitful. trump is attacking the leadership for the FBI because they are loyal to the United States of America while Trump demands that they be loyal only to him.
5
The agents you reference were removed from the investigation immediately. There was nothing to cover up.
I have an idea that would allow Trump to avoid impeachment and possibly remain President.
We could call it a do-over of the 2016 election. Him against Hillary.
All he has to do is convince Congress to sneak in another Presidential election this coming November and make it a part of the upcoming Congressional and Senate elections.
This way, Mueller and the FBI and Hillary and the Russians and liberals would have a lot less time to plot against him.
He or Hillary would be elected to finish out his four year term, and everything would then be fine.
Unorthodox, yes. Crazy definitely, but so is he.
8
The communication between Trump and the FBI that is of a political nature or regarding any allegiance to the president or GOP should be made public. It is against the interests of the United States and its citizens.
23
The FBI, agents and staff, will continue to do its best to protect citizens from threats such as the one just thwarted in SF. I believe that most Americans agree, notwithstanding trump's shameless name calling. The organization is not yet in tatters but trump is doing his best to rip it apart; his smearing these honorable people is disgusting.
32
Hatred of Trump should not blind us to the problems at the FBI. James Comey was a disaster. Robert Mueller is the right man for the job, but he has selected some highly conflicted and partisan FBI agents and prosecutors. Critics will use that to undermine the credibility of the investigation.
3
They are not "highly conflicted and partisan". Those are GOP talking points, we should not fall for that propaganda. Think there were any agents with strong feelings about Obama during his presidency? Did Obama grill every FBI agent on his or her political views to discredit their work? yeah, no.
6
Wray's passivity is indefensible. He is the director of the FBI, given a 15 year term to provide independence, and has sworn an oath to protect the Constitution. There is no "neutral position" here, since his very silence implicitly suggests there is no defense to be made of the FBI and thus encourages further attacks. This is how authoritarians work their will.
18
Mr. Wray should never have been put in the position of sending FBI staff an encouraging note to combat the demoralization of Trump's disparaging remarks about the agency. A sitting president should be applauding the intelligence personnel who keep us safe, not neutering them because of the skeletons in his closet.
1101
Or his selling out to a hostile foreign power, together with the collaboration of the party which brought him to the electorate. We've seen this last in Vichy France (1940-44). I hope the reckoning here, by election or otherwise, is as swift and thorough.
11
Oh lordy, I hope there are tapes.
7
The intelligence personnel you speak of cost Hillary the election.
I thought we were supposed to hate James Comey?
remind me of what the story is this week.
4
As we learn that the FBI, tatters and all, just foiled a terrorist plot in SF. While 45 ranted to cover his rear and basked in his cabinet's praise, the FBI was actually saving American lives. Who deserves our respect?
100
The Trumpublicans — cult followers of Glorious Leader — are selling us out so they can get their temporary fixes: yet more money and the prestige and power that goes with it.
Trump enablers. Remember, there is no Trump without them.
25
Good topic but a rather thin article that fails to demonstrate why it was written at the present moment. Deeper please. More detail.
7
The article was written to keep this subject going, especially when the news coming out of other organs is starting to indicate there was and is an anti-Trump bias in the FBI leadership, and, increasingly the Obama Admin / DNC / Clinton’s are starting to undergo more serious scrutiny for corrupt and possibly illegal activities. I don’t think any of them knew this was where it would end up when they fabricated the Russian collusion story. Well, I guess they didn’t expect to lose which explains why they played so fast and loose. But nevermind all that; pretend for a moment that you are Trump and you know you did not collude with Russians in order to secure the presidency. And as POTUS your Admin is facing an FBI investigation and at least 3 congressional investigations and one special counsel investigation that a) are trying to prove you colluded, b) have produced over a period of 18 months no proof of collusion, c) are dubiously indicting members of your team for lying to the FBI while not indicting Clinton aides (Cheryl Mills) for lying to the FBI (which they did, you can look it up) and d) leaking information all over the place to a press that clearly shows anti-Trump bias, do you think you would sit quietly and take a political assassination? You wouldn’t. And now with the Mueller indication that they expect the investigation to last deep into 2018, you know, election midterms, you have to act to put a stop to this thing. Otherwise, politically you don’t survive. Get it?
1
It is obvious that Trump has been laundering Russian money for years and is completely compromised by Putin. Dual citizenship plus criminal organizations plus Citizens United have corrupted Congress. If we don't remove the GOP and in 2018 we will be in trouble.
2
tRump can not rid himself of hatred for Hillary. Anything to do with her he attacks. He wants her prosecuted for some imagined crime, and so do his followers.
From what I know if the FBI, he and his cronies will be on agents lists for years. They will be watched for the slightest violation of the law. These agents stick together and support each other. They have to be ale to trust their fellow agents in order to function. The same is true for the CIA and NSA. tRump will not always be in power, he will be a target for many years.
45
I think it's more of a distraction than hatred
Like everything else about him, I think his 'hatred' for Sec. Clinton is fake. It was just a vehicle to get him elected. He trots it out to energize his base and uses it as a diversionary tactic when he needs to distract them. He's sick. I'm assuming it has something to do with his childhood.
6
And that’s unbiased policing and justice? You just provided proof of everything the Trump Admin has been alleging.
What about those in the FBI, and/or their spouses or families, who have made contributions to the Republicans? Shouldn't they they be investigated and removed as well, because they may have an inappropriate bias in favor of the Trump administration which may have committed improprieties and/or crimes?
Further, should those in the FBI be dismissed every time their is a change of administrations? Didn't happen in the two Bush administrations, and the Clinton and Obama administrations. Nor any before then.
Shouldn't these people and their families have constitutional rights, too? Exercising their rights doesn't automatically invoke a bias, when they have a job to do. They do their jobs in a non-partisan manner.
The House and Senate, save impeachment, are not elected to be law enforcement officials. And everyone of them has some bias and prejudice. Not one who ran as a Republican or a Democrat ran as nonpartisans.
This is supposed to be a democracy. Not an authoritarian dictatorship run by a third world leader! Let the FBI do its job!
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Excellent point. What's good for the donkeys is good for the elephants.
15
Actually Bush instigated a general purge of Democrat leaning employees as far as he could during his Admin, remember the Attornies General fiasco?
4
We are not facing a constitutional crisis. But one might occur as the Muller investigation moves along--either because Mueller is fired and riots and rebellion break out or because Mueller charges Trump with criminal obstruction of justice and the President refuses to accept those charges. As in the case of President Nixon, the Supreme Court might issue a ruling. But if that should go against Trump,. he might ignore that, too.
22
Get a grip. Even Comey says there was no obstruction of justice. Go back to the Russian collusion thingy, and let us know how that’s going.
Comey testified that Trump asked him to drop the Flynn matter if he wanted to keep his job. That is obstruction of an investigation. It becomes a criminal obstruction if Trump knew that Flynn lied before he asked Comey to drop its investigation.
3
Trump is guilty. His actions show it. Kushner and Don Jr. are probably also guilty. That's why all the noise about the FBI and the special prosecutor. If Republicans shield Trump and family from the law, they will pay a steep price.
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Not to mention Pence, Ryan, McConnell, Hatch, Cotton, Gomert, three quarters of the cabinet, et al. The upside for these conspirators to commit treason is lifetime free room and board, perhaps with an exercise pen for an hour outside once a day.
7
Oh yes they will!
3
I blame James Comey.
He ruined it for Hillary.
2
In Animal Farm, the animals confess to crimes to appease Napoleon. The pig tyrant has his dogs slaughter them. The animals continue to step forward, hoping that their candor will save them. They continue to confess to more and more minor crimes, and even fabricate them, in the hope that Napoleon will grant them clemency. They are all slaughtered.
The lesson is that a tyrant doesn't reason, and that he sees clemency or reason as weakness. Napoleon continued to bend, break, and rewrite rules to suit him, eventually blurring the lines between animal and man.
Perhaps if the animals stopped trying to appease Napoleon, and used logic and unity to check his power they might have survived. Perhaps it's time for a few of our current sheep to reread- or read- this eerily contemporary classic. We know Napoleon won't.
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This post is eerily similar to the way I felt when AL Franken resigned.
Trump is a black hole that anyone who gets too close falls into.
9
I loved that book (Animal Farm) and I agree with you, it is time to re-read it. And 1984 also. We have turned into the orwellian monster we always feared but did not think was possible prior to this administration. Georgie, where are you?
5
You're comparing Trump to Napoleon?
"a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity,”............. If that is what Trump truly is looking for, he will put himself in the line of fire with his own sense of what ethical behaviour stands for.
14
For the love of Pete, I wish people would stop kow-towing to Trump. He might be the President, but when the President clearly is reckless and destructive, just ignore him. It’s bad enough that the Congressional Republicans have turned into sycophants, but do we need the rest of the government to also bend to his every insane whim? This is how democracies and the rule of law die. Grow a backbone, please, before it all falls apart.
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They're using him as a diversion while they commit grand larceny (in the event you've been on another planet recently)... in order to pay off their true employers ("donors")... larceny enabling bribery. Quid pro quo.
How foul.
7
Hope we we get to see the emails from the FBI NYC during the HRC investigations. No doubt we would see a number of leaks to Rudy G, as well as opinions on her campaign staff and their spouses.
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Trump is a breath of fresh air in the White House, while it is true the FBI is in a funny position it is one that was created by the upper echelon of the FBI .
Who could have ever imagined that the creeps running the service could be so blatant in their political positions as to actively work against the Presidency one step short of a coup.
The vast majority of commentors in the NYTimes will say this is a conspiracy theory, too bad this is the impression regular folks get when they see what is happening. President Trump is standing tall and allowing this farce of an investigation to move forward.
11
I wish Tom would clarify his second paragraph. Which "creeps running the service" are actively working against the Presidency, and what is the proof?
I'm not certain this is about some "conspiracy theory," although the "Deep State" business seems to be a conspiracy theory.
Many have belittled and dismissed the Mueller investigation. Tom calls it a "farce." Although we don't see much laughter being produced.
What I really don't understand is if the Mueller investigation is a "farce," if there is nothing to it, then why do people seem worried that it might turn up something? "Nothing comes from nothing."
We do know that there are many facts we do not know regarding the investigations, what they have, may or will uncover -- if more than nothing.
We are told Patience is a Virtue. Time will tell. What will be will be.
Surely the nation can wait until the results are in. Otherwise there will always be questions about what investigators might have discovered if the process were to have reached its conclusion.
For certain President Trump has vilified our various investigative services.
We can never know how many in those services who voted for Donald J. Trump have had second thoughts.
If unproven bias is enough to squelch the Mueller inquiry, it is enough to eliminate any and every other inquiry.
Because Power does Corrupt, all the more reason why serious, in depth investigations are necessary.
Wait 'til the sun shines, Nellie.
Doug Giebel, Big Sandy, Montana
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I'm one of those "regular folks," here in Colorado, and I have a completely different impression of Donald Trump, his attempts at obstruction of justice, and harassment of the FBI. If anyone's a farce, it's Donald Trump.
19
I mean have you not heard of J. Edgar Hoover?!
2
Whether or not you think the FBI is doing its best, how can you escape the idea that our President desires to be King? Isn't that the idea that America was founded upon to get away from, a monarchy? We have divisions and departments *because* we do not want an absolute ruler, something which Trump has forgotten, if he has ever known. Maybe we should have a new sayig, "divided we stand more equally." After all, if we just stand on one leg, it doesn't actually support the whole body. Not without a lot of exterior support, anyway.
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It's what strongmen and dictators do. Stop complaining, and be thankful that we still have the First Amendment - for now. (318 days until the 2018 election.)
15
None of the attacks mention the New York FBI agents feeding info to Trump's surrogates or the maneuvering that resulted in Comey reopening the investigation into Hillary's email that cost her the election do they? Pro Republican bias gets a pass but they extend their McCarthyism style attacks to include agents whose spouses have any connection to Democrats right? And worst of all is the conflation of personal opinions with actual bias. Bias would be where agents act to give preferential treatment not simply having personal opinions towards the right or left. Thus far the Republicans have shown little or none of that, meaning evidence of acts involving bias, have they? Reporters should concentrate on that as the real issue rather than helping Republicans to inflate this phony balloon riding on mere accusations of agents having personal opinions shouldn't they?
31
It's hard to have any sympathy for the likes of Christopher Wray. Unless you joined the Trump administration during the transition, anyone with a brain should have understood that working with Trump is a sure path to losing your moral values, personal dignity, professional reputation, and political future. Wray is getting exactly what he signed up for: unless you are a sycophant of the highest order, willing to do whatever it takes to stroke Trump's ego, and cheat and lie to the public and under oath, Trump will treat you like a plaything. The American public should reject the pious and self-serving excuse of serving the country within the Trump administration. When the president himself only serves himself at every opportunity, you are merely his enabler. How does Wray serve a man who disrespects, insults, and maligns the men and women of his own agency on a daily basis? The only honorable thing to do is quit in protest lead your deputies to do the same and show Trump, for perhaps first time in his odious life, that there are consequences to his words and actions.
47
And now Trump has Jeanine Pirro calling for Mueller to be fired? If Russia was such Fake News then why in the world does he need to get rid of the prosecution? Facts don't have a political bent. That the facts don't favor the Trump administration does not change the facts.
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If we truly want the FBI to be untainted by politics, maybe we should not have the president appoint the FBI director.
352
Well, in that case what would you recommend? An election? Should we ask Congress to appoint the FBI Director? The President of the United States appoints the FBI Director because the President of the United States is the leader of the Executive Branch of the government. You know, the branch that is tasked with enforcing the laws of the United States of America, and the branch in which the FBI resides. In the past we the people have taken it for granted that the president understood their solemn duty to appoint strong, qualified candidates. Perhaps something has changed...
9
Andy, I suggest you go back and read an old 4th grade civics book. We have this pesky thing called a separation of powers. The Justice Department is under Executive branch and reports to the President.
2
"If we truly want the FBI to be untainted by politics, maybe we should" get rid of the current President. The tainted-ness is all in his mind. Not to mention the legend-ness that he thinks he is.
6
Maybe it will all be a race to the finish similar to what happened to Emperor Nero. Similar because I'm not advocating violence, simply assisted political suicide.
33
God knows Trump is doing his part to facilitate such a scenario.
2
So glad my skilled labor husband, a union member journeyman lineman for an electrical utility, is not alive to see this horrible 'man' president.
I'm three years out from Social Security/Medicare. Can't help but thinking many of us would be better off dead. Maybe we soon will be.
124
Hey, hang in there. Stay Strong. Stay Sane. Together, the People can get through this.
19
'Better off Dead.'
By jove, I believe you've come up with the perfect name for Republican 'healthcare' -- perhaps they'll give you six free months of all-access medical/Rx. Score!
5
You've been through worse, MildEyes. This too shall pass - likely sooner than later. Hang in there.
6
I'm salivating at the prospect of Justice catching up with this despicable grifter. By all that is holy, I prayer for his conviction and incarceration. We need to take back our country before Trump destroys it.
1086
On "NewsHour" tonight, the question was posed about what you wished people for Christmas. To the Trump family, vanishing would be a good thing to wish.
48
You are praying for his conviction and incarceration - somehow I don't think God is listening, he's busy listening to sports teams praying for wins.
6
In this case, a perp walk out of the WH would be a beautiful thing.
6
The problem is not with this or any other FBI Director or Deputy Director or agents. The source of all of this chaos and drama is the crazy person occupying the oval office and his power-hungry enablers who pose as patriots while promoting an autocrat's dangerous attacks on the rule of law.
1031
Attacks on law and the environment and consumer protection and childrens health insurance while giving windfalss to corps and billionaires. They are a despicable lot, one and all.
13
I think it is called the rise of fascism and the dangerous propaganda that goes with it.
13
If an investigation is based on the “facts, the law and the impartial pursuit of justice" , I can certainly see why Trump and his minions would need to be worried .
Imagine how threatening the word "facts" must sound to an inveterate liar like Trump.
230
You seem more worried than Trump and his "minions."
If Trump says the FBI is in "tatters," who on earth would believe him? The man has the worst case of verbal diarrhea in history. Inanities roll off his tongue like water over Niagara Falls. We can't shut him up and he's too dangerous to ignore. But believe him? Really?
Someday we'll probably have a "little president that cried wolf" moment. Trump will say something true (Yikes!) and it will be important for people to believe him. However, having firmly established himself as the biggest liar in American political history, Trump will have no credibility. He's dangerous.
323
This seems like a “loyalty to Trump” divide. Being Republican is not enough, as we see them all, one by one, turning on Robert Mueller, a Republican himself and one who received their approval until they realized he was squeaky-clean and devoted to the rule of law rather than the disgusting slavish devotion to Trump that seems to have infected the brains of the Republican hierarchy.
181
If Wray does not clean house he should be replaced.
4
Clean which house?
49
And your belief the FBI needs a house cleaning is based on what empirical evidence? Because Trump and his propaganda arm on cable said it?
77
So does he fire all registered republicans and Democrats?!
47
Christopher Wray now must know how James Comey felt when he was the FBI director. He won’t allow Wray to do his job because the president micromanages everybody and when they can’t do their jobs he fires them for cause. It's the presidency that's in tatters, not the FBI.
169
It was widely reported in the run-up to last election day that the rank-and-file FBI employees were widely pro-Trump. A fair argument can also be made that it was Director Comey's improper release of his letter to Congress just 11 days before the election that put Trump in the White House.
Trump should be busy kissing up to the FBI to the same extent that he kisses up to the NRA. But no, he's calling its integrity into question on an almost daily basis.
Irony is not dead.
274
Guess their investigative techniques aren't so infallible, eh? Wonder if their having second thoughts?
2
I wonder how many employees of the FBI would vote for Trump today? I expect even the Republican ones wouldn't.
7
Madame Tussauds museum of wax figures should display Trump in a room with Westbrook Pegler, and Joseph McCarthy.
Trump is systematically dismantling each and every federal agency by insulting, and taunting dedicated career employees from both sides of the aisle.
39
Trump is conducting a sideshow to enable his handpicked agency directors to quietly dismantle the government, piece by piece, in the shadows. This is intentional and treasonous conduct.
15