Trump claims Comey's memos prove there was no collusion or obstruction. They don't but it is interesting that he doesn't deny Putin's comment about Russian hookers. There's no limit to his sleaze.
1
As the 2016 election approached and Comey again spotlighted Clinton's e-mails, I figured Comey was in Trump's pocket and his actions had caused voters to turn on Hillary. But I no longer blame Comey for Trump's election—too many other factors came into play.
I have watched Comey's interviews, focusing on his explanation about why he handled the e-mail fiasco as he did; l believe he did what was necessary. The work of the FBI requires constantly walking a tightrope—in a fishbowl, watched by a binoculared-audience, with sharks circling below. I don’t envy them a thankless job.
Through his words and actions Trump has proven himself to be incapable of telling the truth, devoid of integrity and honor—a thug surrounded by unethical henchmen he has placed in powerful positions. He never worked in a position of service to the country prior to running for office and never intended to work for the betterment of our country. He is offensive and corrupt and has sullied the position he holds and, consequently, our nation.
Comey has proven himself to be honest, loyal to our country and the Constitution, and to have a sense of ethics.
If I must choose who to believe, my money is on Comey.
I am saddened that our nation is so divided. I don’t know what it will take to reunite Americans, if, indeed, we can be reunited—but I do know that as long as Trump remains in office, tweeting his mean-spirited lies and sophomoric name-calling, and inciting his base, unity will not be possible.
18
By The Associated Press
April 20, 2018
WASHINGTON — "Andrew McCabe, the former FBI deputy director, is "very upset and disappointed" by comments made by his former boss James Comey that contradict his account of a disclosure to the news media, McCabe's lawyer said Friday...."
3
No, the Stormy Daniels saga is an intimate look at Trump as a pre-President philander. Comey is pathetic for not sticking up for his Deputy, coward.
The best part will be when Comey divulges everything about Hillary and Obama to avoid prosecution. This will ensure a second term for Trump.
4
The idea that Devin 'know nothing' Nunes and Try 'to tell truth' Gowdy (head of the over-slight) committee would weigh in against Comey is rich.
As major apologist enablers for the Party, they will say and do virtually anything to aid keeping Republican control of Congress.
Yea, Gowdy has criticized Trump; he even wrote a book about it; but he continues voting ALL the way down the Party line! Including to weaken ALL financial oversight legislation on the financial indu$try, consumer protection, and for (the bogus) tax cut program.
Who'd like to bet against my prognostication that Trey Gowdy will become either a highly overpaid lobbyist and/or join a conservative "think" tank in a prominent position. Most likely one funded by the usual Republican donor 'suspects'.
PS Though I'm NO Comey fan, the likelihood of his being (mainly) truthful if not 100% is WAY more likely than ANY Trump Team member (in good or poor standing). Just sayin...
5
Like the scorpion stings, Trump lies, because it is his nature.
9
I am truly unsettled reading Comey's memos. Trump's mob boss-like insinuations and pressure to exact Comey's loyalty and his attempts to "charm" or threaten Comey into dropping the Russia/Flynn probes are beyond unsettling. Where is Trey Gowdy's outrage?! Why is Nunes not being investigated? Why is Trump aided and abetted by so many Republicans? Is this White Privilege? If Obama so much as had a meal alone with Comey, Gowdy and his gang would have called for his hanging! Is Trump allowed to trample on our Constitution because of the color of his skin ? (albeit Orange skin) I am simply at loss for why the Republicans are not outraged by the information in these memos! Dotard Don is a criminal from his well coifed bouffant hairdo to his little orange toes!
5
This individual is diabolical narcissistic lunatic who may actually believe what he's saying. The stain he and his treasonous cohorts have left on the FBI will last for years. Don't matter, Trumps in control and the winning continues. MAGA!!!!
4
Mitch McConnell has served 23 years in the Senate, Paul Ryan has served 19 years in the House of Representatives. May I ask what did they learn, what values do they possess? It is clear to me, and the way I interpret values neither one would receive the Profiles in Courage award! Seriously, I would have bet, they by now, would have abandoned Trump and made life ridiculously hard for him in both houses. I am heart broken that the Republican Party is dishonorable, lost its TRUE NORTH... your leaders have failed...DISGRACEFUL
11
Proverb: When you dig a grave for someone dig two holes.
Comey made mistakes. He barely tries to deny he did. That said I have to say it's amusing that the memo's the GOP thought would ensnare Mr. Comey have instead exposed the malevolence of the occupant of the White House. I bet they wish they could, as Cher sang, "turn back time".
4
According to a report on NPR just now, the House (Un)Intelligence Committee Republicans wanted to leak the memos to the public as a way of trying to catch Comey in inconsistencies, or what they like to call lies.
They think the Comey memos establish a baseline that anything Comey says in public or in testimony might prove at odds with his memos. Then the GOP can play gotcha politics.
Comey is a lawman with years of experience, and lawmen know the value of taking accurate notes when they suspect they need to in order to be able to go back to the notes later.
When it comes to Comey vs. Trump, most Americans know one of these guys is a habitual liar, whose word cannot be trusted--and it isn't Comey.
5
Comey has always been consistent. Trump... never.
This must be killing Trump, although maybe what's killing him the most is that James Comey has stole his spotlight, he's much more handsome and he has class... What's left for Trump... tweet, tweet, tweet.....
5
The Trump, WH and GOP efforts to gain political advantage in all matters related by or to the memos are sickening. Trump seeks pledges of political loyalty from Comey; an end to a probe of Flynn because it may be politically damaging to himself; and a way to reopen the email investigation of his one-time political foe, Clinton. Priebus blatantly seeks to pry details from the then-FBI chief on the confidential Flynn investigation. Meanwhile, the president is insistent in his efforts to make sure he himself is not a target of the FBI's Russia inquiry. They seek to enlist both Comey and Jeff Sessions in Trump's campaign against both the press, whose members he talks of jailing, and leakers of unflattering information. The whole lot of Republicans, ever desirous of turning their wishes into truths, claim the records of all this prove all sorts of things that are neither relevant to nor even addressed by the documents.
Wow, all comes from the Times' story, and I haven't even started reading the memos yet. However, before I do, I'll need a stronger remedy for my indigestion.
1
Blinded by bias appears to fit Trump to a T.
3
Dear Nick Fandos,
Is the dossier “salacious” or does it contain a salacious account of Trump’s behaviour. On my reading of the dossier it contains only one memo that details behaviour that could be called salacious. The rest just detail meetings between Trump people and the Russian secret service.
Best
Simon
Congressmen Goodlatte, Nunes and Gowdy say that Mr. Comey "went to great lengths to set dining room scenes, discuss height requirements, describe the multiple times he felt complimented and myriad other extraneous facts, he never once mentioned the most relevant fact of all, which was whether he felt obstructed in his investigation."
Well, two points suggest themselves here:
(1) What other interpretation can one give to the fact that Mr. Comey felt the immediate need to memorialize in writing that President Trump had ask him to "see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go"?
(2) Had Mr. Comey the opportunity to memorialize what he thought about obstruction on the evening of May 9, last, he probably would have something to say about President Trump and obstruction of justice. And if not that not, surely the next day, when the president was regaling Russian Ambassador Kislyak and Foreign Minister Lavrov "about lifting the cloud" the "nut-job" former Director of the FBI had put over the president's head.
7
He wrote the first memo after his first meeting. In that meeting, he brought up the "pee-pee" story in the dossier but left out the parts about Russian collusion and the FBI getting a FISA warrant and investigating Trump and his associates based on the "salacious dossier." Then Comey walked out and wrote this memo.
The only thing corroborated in the dossier, after 18 months, is that Page went to Moscow, a fact he did not try to hide and which was covered at the time. That's it.
Comey's memo, coupled with his limited disclosure (a "limited hangout" in spy lingo), and his statement that, "I then executed the session exactly as I had planned," suggest he went into that meeting on January 7th with the intention of blackmailing Trump and then creating a self-serving series of memos. He also made sure CNN knew about the meeting so they'd feel free to begin covering the dossier.
I suspect this was all discussed, and planned, the day before, with the larger group in the Oval Office.
I don't like Trump, and I understand why people like Comey may have initially been motivated to try to prevent his election, but they went way, way too far. There is also a precedent here. If they are not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Trump may feel justified in copying this behavior himself, using the powers of government to stifle and malign his opponents.
Justice demands accountability, and that increasingly points towards Mr. Comey spending time in prison.
5
I've just started 'the book' and it stands out that instead of all the puerile talk on the media about the content, there could be more focus on the Authors Note which has much food for thought about the current sad state of affairs in the US and an insight into Comey's thinking which doesn't really come across clearly in the current media coverage.
11
These memos make Trump look good and Comey look like someone who wanted to keep his job.
Trump wants to get to the bottom of the made up Russia Conspiracy, and no where asks Comey to end it. Comey comes across as someone who thinks he's smarter than everyone he deals with. But thanks to these memos, it is Comey who is the target of a criminal investigation, not Mr. Trump.
6
Trump fires Comey for investigating something the president doesn't want him to, and then claims Comey is not credible because he was fired.
During his campaign Trump slams McCabe for imaginary sins, and then as president, he distrusts McCabe because he trumped-up criticism of him.
Trump claims that the Comey memos were confidential and that Comey illegally leaked them. Then the president trumpets the memos because they confirm he himself was not a target of the FBI Russia investigation (at the time of their writing). And Trump likes the records so much, he proclaims that they are proof that his campaign did not conspire with Russia, which of course they are not.
It would all be dizzying -- were the president's ethics not so flexible and his motives not so blatantly self-serving.
1
...We wouldn’t be reading all this if the GOP had properly vetted their own candidate. Which begs the question, WHY don’t political parties vet their candidates? So much of the party’s reputation and values are judged by the candidate
slated before the voters.
The GOP put up a bad candidate but the unintended consequence may be to clean up the sordid side
of the NYC real estate scene.
14
Overall, I believe James Comey is a smart, decent, and very honest individual.
However, the one significant criticism of his conduct relating to Trump is that he did not have the courage to say " Mr. President...what do you mean by 'honest loyalty'....What do you mean by 'let this thing go'? " It would have been better to hash that out immediately and suffer what consequences may have followed, than to do what he did to ostensibly not offend Trump and thereby keep his job.
Questioning Trump so, may have also produced clear cut evidence of Trump's intent to obstruct justice.
13
You’re correct but I cannot imagine what that conversation would have sounded like...
I have zero personal loyalty to you sir but 100% to the Constitution...
1
Yes but what did Mike Pence know and do? And when did he know and do it?
21
If Adolph Hitler had a Twitter account, we might all be speaking German today.
Hitler's lies and scapegoating of the Jews was only inflicted on the German people, who eventually began to believe him. Today Trump used the social media (Twitter) to constantly lie; the real media picked up his lies and magnified them by presenting them to the American public. I don't have a Twitter account, so I wouldn't have known of anything he said in that media, but the national media saw to it that I got the message of his unfiltered lies. The old adage is that if you repeat a lie enough, it seems like the truth. That's how he won.
25
Exactly, and well said. Trump uses Twitter to coalesce a mob that will spread his venomous far and wide via Twitter. He has no real political strategy because he intends to work by destroying the reputation of whoever stands in his way.
In the Feb 8 meeting with Comey and Priebus, Trump denied the "hookers thing" but went on to say that Putin had told him at some point that "We have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world." What!?! Why would Putin and POTUS be discussing hookers at all? Putin never would have brought up the subject of hookers with the President of the United States out of the blue. If they talked about hookers, then there was a reason: the pee pee story in the dossier is true.
29
A few things that one can interpret from it all:
1) It seems obvious Comey understood what was being "asked" of him.
2) Flynn did not have the common sense to call Putin right away, waiting instead six days; When Putin calls, you better return his call.
3) Comey was being told that his loyalty would ensure that he and McCabe would keep their jobs in exchange for Comey's loyalty and cooperation.
4) Comey was being squeezed by Preibus for information as evident in the exchange they had. Preibus soon realized Comey was not "in on it"
5) Comey did not have memos on Obama because the relationship did not call for him to do so.
6) Once Comey was not so pliable, it was time to fire him.
7) There was no merit to Comey's firing.
8) There's definitely coercion at play and Comey was being "sized-up."
9) Yes. The golden showers and hookers. Not staying overnight seems just an elaborate alibi.
10) makes one wonder who else is on it or what dirt each one around the circle has as to be enmeshed in such loyalty treaties.
17
Before election, Trump said of Putin, ‘I don’t know the guy, never spoken to him.’
Next. Trump tells Comey that Putin had told him “we have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world.’’
So, when exactly did Trump have that chummy conversation with Putin about prostitutes?
31
Jim Comey did exactly what he was supposed to do. All law enforcement officials are trained to take notes of what they see or learn, exactly as was done in these fascinating memos. I'm puzzled as to why the Republicans in Congress would want to make these memos public!
Karma is strong in this silly act of the GOP -- in trying to harm Jim Comey, they've only harmed themselves. And in the process of their stupid act, sold many more books for Mr. Comey.
21
Strange.......I expected, somehow, that Comey would demonstrate more intelligence than he did in those memos......
3
Since these memos were written by James Comey who told the President Trump that he never leaked or did things like that ...but he actually DID ( ! ) , they have no credibility . Who even knows when they were actually written . The entire Hillary Clinton email case was handled in such a biased manner that it still stinks to high heaven. So many government agencies , like Lois Lerner's IRS , lost credibility during the Obama Administration.
3
No matter how much most people hated some flawed punch-drunk fighter before a fight, after seeing them thrown into the same ring to get creamed by some cyborg mechanically precise robocop, would be even too much for many of them to bear and even they couldn't help feeling somewhat sorry for the poor mortal victim, assuming they had any hearts themselves.
Let me remind all those who are gushing with glee over his new book - he single handedly gave Trump the presidency ! Maybe the Russians spread rumors or planted fake news, but their efforts might have succeeded only with the gullible.
Comey, on the other hand, proclaimed to our nation about how reckless Mrs Clinton was, then announced days before the election that she was still under investigation. his effect on her polling numbers was immediate, significant, and measurable.
Whatever Russia may or may not have contributed to her defeat, Mr. Comey did more , exponentially more, than anyone else in helping Trump get elected. So, swoon as you will over the salacious statements in his book. When you buy it, remember that its author is now profiting from the defeat he helped bring about, and that with your purchase, you are rewarding him.
Personally, I think it is beyond disgrace for any Clinton supporter to give him the right time of day.
4
I think you give Comey too much credit. I think one of the main reasons that Hillary Clinton lost was it too many people took her victory for granted and didn't vote or were sulking because Bernie Sanders didn't get the Democratic nomination. I think the voter turnout percentage was simply higher among Trump supporters
3
Why on earth did Comey advise Preibus about a current FISA warrant on Flynn?That would be the most sensitive information in ongoing investigations.
Either there was a warrant and Comey tipped off Preibus and others to avoid saying incriminating things in communications with Flynn, or Comey said there was not a warrant and gave Flynn the go ahead to continue improper communications.
Of possibly, Preibus, and others at the whitehouse were completely innocent of any improper communications with Flynn or the Russians, but because they were tipped off, their ability to defend themselves was compromised
2
Since the answer is redacted, we don't know if there was a FISA warrant on Flynn. That was the question.
1
Funny thing, the "Read the memos here." thing takes me to a blank page. Nothing. I wonder why.
1
Perfect. A link experiences a Freudian slip....
1
In the memos, book, and interviews, Comey uses full sentences, always well organized and clear, sometimes elegant, to convey observations, ideas, rationales, relate-able feelings, and an admirable self awareness. In his tweets and speeches, Trump utters fragments, often ambiguous, to push buttons that stimulate in his audiences certain alarms and resentments. Reference librarians advise us to evaluate sources according the the CRAAP test (Credibility, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose). Judges's instructions to juries about evaluating testimony are usually simpler: “Decide who you believe.” Using both methods, I have no trouble choosing Comey as the witness that I believe.
28
Were Trump, his family and those in his orbit so truly naive to think that by entering the political field they would not fall under heightened scrutiny? Whether or not it's possible to prove any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia even after having to acknowlege 27 unreported meetings with Russians, it's certainly more probable that what the investigation is finding out is just how dirty with money launderingTrump and his associates like Manafort and Flynn are, and let's not forget our current Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, who runs his and Russia's money through Cyprus. Since Watergate we should all know to follow the money and that's exactly what Mueller is doing.
21
Nunes, Gowdy, Goodlatte: Traitors all.
26
Comey, in his memos, is functioning as an objective observer. Leave it to Republicans to read them as blinded by bias. The level of detail will be used one day as a reference for a staged or filmed reenactment of these awful times and history books will devote an entire chapter to these memos.
16
As much as I dislike Trump, and I think he is a con man who is ruining the office of the President, I am not sure that Comey's book and interviews are good for democracy. Give the materials to the special prosecutor and let him handle it from there, let the process play out.
7
Unfortunately there are those who are going to do anything and everything to derail the process you speak of. A multi-pronged attack, such as the lawsuit by the DNC and Comey’s book tour, are - in my opinion - the only way to make sure that all the information sees the light of day.
9
Congress got the memos from the Justice Department. Comey already testified to their contents in front of Congress, publicly. These are not deep, dark secrets.
7
Comey says Trump expressed doubts about Flynn on Jan 28, 2017, or two days after Sally Yates warned the White House about Flynn. Was Trump simply throwing Flynn under the bus to show Comey that Flynn's Russian problems were not his own?
6
To paraphrase Jaws, Trump is going to need a bigger bus.
8
Had Mr. Trump done the same with James Comey, in a private corporation,
he would have been hauled into a court room.
Instead, Mr. Trump has revealed how inefficient and archaic the legal system in America's capital has become.
8
Who knew that Donald Trump was a callous corrupt craven cowardly cynical liar?
The 63 million Americans who voted for him. And the 66 million Americans who voted for his opponent.
We did not need any Comey memo to enlighten us on the nature of Trump's character.
14
I have always viewed Trump. for decades, as a smarmy, sleazy con artist. I now have confirmation in distasteful detail. How could so many people could vote for him, and continue to support him? It is both astonishing and sad.
5
Comey's "rtevenge"- claims by a proven liar (subject to legal action)- with no proof & showing nothing wrong was done by the Pres. A sore loser.
1
What a piece of good fortune for Comey to get all those one on ones with the President without having to read him his rights or issue a subpoena. I would be interested in learning if any of the disjointed ramblings by the President resulted in Comey refocusing the investigation into different areas?
3
You should have said, "including the [FALSE] salacious dossier detailing Mr. Trump’s ties to Russia", but that won't fit your smear campaign of Trump. Giving credence to a false document is a lie.
2
Much of the "FALSE" dossier has been proven to be true. Some has not been proven yet, or may never be proven, but to call it a "[FALSE] salacious dossier" is incorrect. A better description might be "the partly proven true and partly as yet unproven salacious dossier."
6
Parts of the dossier have been confirmed. What part has been proven false?
10
Still being conned by Donald, eh?
6
What kind of conversation are you having where the words "We have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world" are spoken?
18
And, how can you tell the difference?
1
If there were recordings it would be different. The memos are here say in my opinion. I am not a "Trump supporter" but I do support the office of the President and do not want to see an impeachment over memos.
3
He's not going to be impeached solely over memos. You are correct about the memos not being admissible as evidence (that is what I assume you are going for when you call them hearsay). While they cannot be admitted as evidence, contemporaneous writing can be used to refresh the recollection of a witness. In this case, an attorney could allow Comey to look over them on the stand before he testified about his meetings with Trump in court if he were called as a witness in a criminal or civil trial.
9
Witness accounts are admitted in court all the time. Not every act is recorded on video the audio tape. If Comey's notes are generally confirmed by others, and the surrounding facts are consistent, a jury could use those things as reasonable evidence. Juries get to decide who is the most believable witness and they often convict on the basis of circumstantial evidence. The Judge instructs juries that they may use their best judgment in deciding the believability of circumstantial evidence and who or what to believe as most credible.
2
I honestly hope Trump fires Mueller, just as he did Comey.
Then maybe, the GOP can actually deal with this nightmare they started.
1
These memos speak to Trump's initial naivity, his Russia problem, and his belief at the time that as First Dude everyone was expected to bend to his wishes and urges. It is kind of humorous that after 11 months these memos that Congressional Republicans so dearly wanted reveal little or nothing that they can use for political purposes. It will have to be up to Rudy's Gang to get this Russia investigation behind them, even though all they can really do is rub Trump's feet and deflect and obstruct. If Trump would only come clean about the TO's financial dealings with Russians all this could be move forward quickly. Cohen coming clean may do the trick.
12
Amazing how fast the teaparty/GOP "leaked" the memos, isn't it? How can the Republicans continue to vilify Mr. Comey with a straight face when they leak faster and more fully than any other entity except maybe their "leader".
26
McCabe got fired for leaking. Ironic that Goodlatte, Goudy and Nunes have leaked Comey’s memos expressly to discredit Comey, thereby discrediting the investigation. They forced Rosenstein to release the memos so they could obstruct justice.
27
Goodlatte, Goudy and Nunes -- Russian assets, all.
11
haha. Except that the memos tend to bolster Comey's account and not Trump's. The GOP in Congress again shoot themselves in their metaphorical foot.
7
As retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern reports, we could be facing a consitutional crisis over all this --
https://consortiumnews.com/2018/04/19/on-the-criminal-referral-of-comey-...
4
Crisis in principle, not in reality. Who is going to stand up for the Constitution? Republicans? Doubtful.
4
As my father always told me, there is no reason to lie when you have nothing to hide.
It's starting to look like don's dad never told him that.
25
Hear, hear!
1
What? A special counsel was appointed based on these memos? Unbelievable. There's no evidence of a crime here.
I get that James Comey doesn't like Donald Trump, but because you think the president is "morally unfit" to do this unctuous act and put the country in turmoil for more than a year does us all a disservice. Thanks a lot, James Sancti Comey.
4
John Smithson, the memos were merely reviews of his conversations with Trump. They were not created to demonstrate that a crime was committed. Why would you think that was their purpose. The investigation had already started. These memos are just a small part of the evidence of the case. Where did you get the false idea they were intended to summarize crimes being committed?
20
John Smithson: There was much more involved than just these memos. Remember that there was the Steele information, Carter Page, multiple, denied meetings between Trump campaign staff and Russians, hundreds of lies on Jared Kushner's (and others) security clearance applications, multiple lies about meetings, attempts to set up secret back channels between Trump and Russians, Manifort money laundering, etc. etc. etc. These are only some of the things we have actually heard about. It is also suspicious that Trump has NEVER tried to stop future Russian interference or admit or investigate past interference, which has been verified by multiple people at CIA and the FBI. The point of investigations, obviously, is to learn the truth, not avoid looking for it.
6
Putin telling Trump: "We have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world" is a clear warning. Its a message that Putin will play the hooker card if Trump doesn't do what Putin wants.
18
This is not 'an intimate look.' It's more like opening the lid on a bin full of dirty diapers. The executive branch of our government has never, ever been brought so low.
Richard Nixon in the darkest hours of the Watergate mess was a veritable saint by comparison with the current occupant of the Oval Office. At least Nixon had the decency to step down rather than drag the entire country down into the snake pit with him. With Donald Trump, no such luck.
21
Dear NYT, Can you please make sure to say that Comey’s memos were not classified and therefor DJT’s assertion of a leak is - yet another - falsehood.
13
Better check the new story today about the fact two were classified and that Comey is now under a DOJ investigation over their release.
3
Tim I hear you are also under investigation for delusion.
5
It is frightening to think ethically challenged people like Comey and McCabe can reach the high levels of the Justice Department. They are both getting their comeuppance now. McCabe looks like he will get the Flynn treatment except with actual evidence against him and could be the first in this sordid hoax to go to jail. Comey has humiliated himself on his book tour almost as much as Hillary is doing on hers. What goes around, comes around. It is justice that these flawed humans will reap the whirlwind. Comey better save some of all that money he is trading his tattered reputation for in order to pay the Criminal Defense Lawyers he will be needing. This could go all the way up to Hilllary. Imagine if an honest prosecutor reviewed her obstruction and destruction of evidence. Priceless.
4
Wait. Vladimir Putin himself boasted about Russia’s prostitutes to Donald Trump? Why did that subject come up between them? And when?
18
Comey, in his memos, said that Trump said that Putin told him that Russia has the most beautiful prostitutes. Where, when, and why did Putin tell that to Trump? Is this what world leaders talk about? Does Theresa May or Angela Merkel or Justin Trudeau talk about the good looks of their country's prostitutes? If so, being a world leader is a different job than I thought. Or maybe it's Trump's puerile imagination where these conversations take place.
26
You would be surprised what banal things powerful people talk about.
I was a law clerk for a federal court judge and went to a few informal dinners with judges and clerks. We didn't talk about the law, that's for sure. Drinks were drunk, people loosened up, and stories were told. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but not quite why I expected.
Later in my career I attended several board meetings of a large public company. During down time the conversation often got downright silly. On one memorable occasion three directors were bragging about the length of their male members. Another director said, "Size doesn't matter," whereupon one of the female directors said, "You better believe size matters."
And of course Richard Nixon gave us the gift of recording his conversations in the White House. Very illuminating.
Powerful people are people too. Believe it or not, they eat, drink, sit on the toilet, and have sex just like the rest of us. They are not angels and they are not monsters.
Even given all that, I was surprised to read James Comey's memos. To me, Donald Trump comes across pretty well. Thoughtful. Perceptive (he obviously caught on that James Comey was documenting every conversation with him and so asked him about loyalty). Reasonable.
2
John, you are so hilarious! Trump is not very perceptive about others because he never stops thinking about himself: how he comes across, how everyone should admire him and kiss his ring. He is not organized enough to make notes about meetings. Nor does he have any linguistic sophistication. James Comey is a good writer. I can tell you have not read his book. That's fine. It probably wouldn't help.
5
Wow. Trump confuses Jordan with Egypt.
10
I still fail to understand why Trump claims there was no obstruction of justice when he asked Mr. Comey to "wrap up his inquiry", and drop the investigation of Flynn. That clearly was interference with an investigation that was ongoing. As for the importance of the Russian dossier, if what is alleged in the dossier is true, its salacious content and whatever else is revealed in the dossier,had the potential of being a tool a foreign power could wield to influence Mr. Turmp.
Someone should have informed Mr. Trump when he was elected that he serves at the will of the people. He is a public servant, and not a king with unlimited power. He should have been told that loyalty oaths taken by those in the government are made in allegiance to upholding the government, not an individual who happens to be occupying the White House. He also should have been told that the Justice Department isn't there to carry out personal vendettas against anyone the President deems disloyal.
Obviously the Republicans are closing ranks, and they want the investigation into interference by the Russians in the election, and any collusion by Trump or those in his organization had in that interference to be swept under the rug. If Mr. Mueller is fired along with Mr. Rosenstein, then it will all go away with a quick wrap up and exonerations for all involved.
15
Can't wait until Flynn hears that Trump said about him“The guy has serious judgment issues.” If there's anything he's holding back I hope this convinces him to sing like the proverbial canary. Trump is loyal to no one but Trump.
20
If Comey thought the President was obstructing justice why didn't he go directly to his boss at the DOJ? What if Trump has a tape?
1
John Woods MD, he had no reason to do so; an investigation was already open.
6
He pretended to have a tape for a while, then admitted he does not. Where have you been?
5
After commenting below, I read Trump's twitters about the same memos I had read. It came to me, that Trump, our "so-called" president is so corrupt that he cannot believe there is anyone out there who is not just like he and his "side kicks" (I call them that because he really does kick them to the curb when they oppose him.) He really thought that Comey reopened the investigation into Clinton's emails because he was partisan against Clinton and wanted Trump to win. He shook his hand and hugged and kissed him in the reception room, because he believed Comey did all that for him! The memos aren't just about Trump, our "so-called" president obstructing justice, they are also telling us the story of how Trump tried to woo Comey into his confidence to help him collude with obstructing justice. He's sharing intimate details because he wants to learn more about Comey the man to see what drives him. No wonder he was feeling so totally betrayed by Comey's testimony and fired him. He never saw it coming. He thought Comey was on his side.
19
It is a terrible insult to the DoJustice and the FBI that the memos were immediately given to the press. It seems to me that again, as with the hacked DNC material in 2018, the media has fallen for discussion of material without concern as to iys source. Moreover, the precedent set is also terrible: Republican congressmen have no concern for the correct enforcement of justice.
4
Just about everything going on in Washington is out there. The memos. Stormy Daniels story. Trump tweets whatever he thinks at any moment, some of which scares people around the world. Most of the stuff that is classified is really not important enough to be classified. People seem to be pretending there are actual secrets. It's a joke.
1
What exactly did Comey
leak? Reads to me that
he meticulously detailed
what was expressed, the
setting without passing
a judgement. Although
I was dismayed at his
reopening of the Clinton
email investigation and
believe that it increased
negativity towards Clinton
and tilted votes to favor Trump.
The result was the election
of a showman, show off
who is unfit for office.
Despite that, I understand
Comey's dilemma. He takes
responsibility as the director
of the FBI but let's remember
that other people were in
the decision-making process.
It was a fraught time with
a culture inside the FBI and
Justice Department against
the breach of email usage.
As an aside, I never understood
why Clinton's emails were on
Anthony Weiner's computer.
There was carelessness,
not criminal, but a rather
cavalier attitude towards
information sharing. We,
the American people, are
paying a heavy price.
80
What an embarrassing circus our government has become. If this were a fictional plot, it would be so implausible it would be laughed off. The POTUS, who can hire/fire the top leadership of the Justice Department, is being investigated by said Justice Department while constantly smearing them. And Congress is now issuing subpoenas to the Justice Department? It should be a separate branch from the Executive branch; instead it is acting like a lapdog to the most corrupt president in U.S. history and unwilling to do its job. Devin Nunes, really? How is this clown still in the House of Representatives? And Trey Gowdy - your credibility is fast approaching zero. Then of course we have thuggish characters like Michael Cohen and Sean Hannity. I fervently hope they get their comeuppance soon.
The grifter-in-chief cannot do his job under these circumstances (one could say he can't do the job under any circumstances). This should be reason enough for him to be forced to resign (never mind the thousands of other reasons).
26
"The Times reported at the time that Mr. Trump was irritated at Mr. Flynn for delaying such a call with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
Annnnd scene.
14
And the Christian pastors keep praising God for Donald Trump.....
18
Sad and scary.................
2
"We have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world..."
Now exactly how did that become part of a conversation between two world leaders?
23
Make America Honest Again.
Please NYT go on and reveal the whole Trump swamp!
9
I will take a very long time for me to forgive Comey for his role in getting Trump elected but I will support any legal resource and recourse that will take the Trump presidency down--including, most importantly, anything that Comey has to say that will bring the independent voters he pushed to the right of center back to the left of center.
Despite who or how he is off-camera, on-camera he appears composed, credible and forthright. The way the memos are written, in combination with his interviews makes a compelling statement that the smartest independent voters will support and use as a catalyst for their next vote. If the entire Comey media package enrages the right-wing media, with and emphasis on the rank and file Trumpers, all the better.
19
When will you guys finally get over it? Hillary lost. Trump won.
7
Even if Trump had won the popular vote, and even if he had won by a respectable margin, illegal activities would still be illegal.
29
These memos are at least in part about Trump attempting to obstruct justice as the elected President of the United States. That is, crimes committed as President. This isn't about being in a snit because Trump won the election. You are aware that Presidents are not above the law, are you not?
4
when you stop traveling. LOL. Everyone knows Hillary lost and Trump won. That's not what is at stake, here--PROFESSOR.
4
Congratulations Representatives Devin Nunes and Jim Jordan.
You are the true Republican Guard. And your incredibly stupid move to have Comey's memos released has only made Comey look better and Trump look much worse than he already does. You guys are brilliant. With friends like you,
who needs enemies? Just keep on doing what you do.
32
they are just obeying orders. or, they are desperate
REALITY: comey not telling trump that the dossier was funded by dems is the big story being ignored by the liberal media outlets
8
It doesn't matter who funded the dossier. The point was to tell the President that the Russians had, or thought they had, dirt on him that they might use for blackmail. Forewarned is forearmed.
12
Keep telling yourselves that. You’ll need to mumble something to yourselves while sitting alone and abandoned in a nursing home far away. This generation has had it with you and they’re not even college age yet.
2
Do you think Trump doesn't understand opposition research? When defending his son's meeting with the Russians, he said it was opposition research and commonly done, which implies he understands the concept. The dossier was originally funded by republicans, but I think most people could assume if it is funded after the primaries it was dem funded. But still, the reason for Comey to tell Trump about it at all was to give him a heads up that it was already out there so he could prepare for both possible Russia blackmail attempts or the media getting ahold of it. Seems like, at that point, Trump should be more worried that the Russians were trying to compromise him. He already knew that democrats opposed him, right? That his political opponents (both republican and democrat) did opposition research is hardly the "big story" here.
13
Is there a reason why Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump were discussing Russian prostitutes?
18
Mr. Putin likely did his homework on Trump, and knowing his sexual history and general lack of morals or honor, assumed he would be interested in something tawdry. And he was, just not as a sexual adventure. He had them defile the bed where the Obamas had slept when they visited Moscow. He may have engaged prostitutes in addition to those with on-demand bladders, but we'll probably never know.
1
Interesting that he says one of his accusers is a stripper. When did that become public?
5
i just watched the new IFC comedy "the death of stalin" this must be what its like to work in this whitehouse.
5
Look, those Tea Party 3 will always find something to squawk about. It's what they do.
8
Democrats, republicans, Comey, Mcabe, Mueller. Unfortunately all of these groups have lost credibility with large swaths of the American Public. As of now, the only report I will believe and give any credibility to is the IG, Michael Horowitz.
4
The first tweet of the President of the most powerful nation in the world is not about world peace, about children dying in chemical warfare but it is about private citizens who do not agree with him. PRIORITIES.. and there are elected officials in Washington who are hell bent on defending their leader no matter how detrimental this is in the long run.
15
The more we gain factual reports about Trump, the worst fears about his personality are becoming a reality. Clearly he really does nothing in his elected position but fret about his insecurities and engage in cover up and fantasy with Fox news. And we thought the late night comedians were exaggerating. The magnitude of this historic American screw up (him in the White House at all) is staggering.
8
News Quote of the Day Quiz
Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey that: “The guy has serious judgment issues.”
Who was the President referring to?
A Jeff Sessions
B. Gary Busey
C. Neil Gorsuch
D. Scott Pruitt
E. None of the above.
1
Himself.
5
He was referring to Michael Flynn. The blacked out words are obviously, Putin, Russian. You call Putin right away and not wait six days.
1
Southern Boy wrote (below):
"Interesting but uninformative. Time to get back to reality. I support the President. I support Trump. Thank you."
Actually, they are very informative, because they:
- corroborate what Comey has been saying all along (and testified before Congress).
- demonstrate the consistency of Comey's recollections (which you Trumpkins are trying to twist to undermine his credibility).
- demonstrate that Trump was most concerned about the pee tapes, which means that they probably do exist.
- corroborate that Trump can't hold an intelligent conversation without rambling; that he forgets things and contradicts himself within a single conversation; etc.
It's not "time to get back to reality"; these memos corroborate the true reality that runs counter to the fake narrative and consipracy claptrap that you rabidly partisan Trumpkins are trying to deflect to.
When the time comes for legal proceedings, these memos will prove to be very important.
17
As consistent Comey has been with upholding the law, Trump has been equally consistent in bending it to his will by means of continuous and endless lies which are echoed and supported by the GOP and Fox talking heads.
What did the GOP/Trump win by "leaking" the memos ? ? ?
Well, they certainly built a new stage for the twisted version of truth and reality to have the latest drama play out.
Nothing new in the memos regarding Comey's professional life-long behavior - but now, as the circle tightens, the Trump Crime Family must fight Truth in order to preserve their Tyranny.
The GOP troops will march forward to try and maintain their gerrymandered territory as they fight for the "man" they all hated a little over a year ago.
Leading the new Brigade; Giuliani - - with his manic ranting - producing fodder for Hannity and Ingram.
Making every possible effort to use Comey's memos as a deep-state ploy to discredit the president which they pretend to love.
There will be no victory for Trump or the GOP, however, the Trumpians will be even more deeply dug in - in devout loyalty to the man who is robbing them blind and destroying their country.
It will get darker before the light is shed on reality, and the most powerful tool we now have is in the hands of the prosecuters holding Cohen's damning evidence.
10
Grassley swings and misses.
3
Michael Flynn was ruined financially and professionally because he "lied" to the FBI. Will the same type of justice prevail with Andrew McCabe? I believe he lied on 3 separate occasions. Kind of disgusting...
5
Trump is tweeting, basically, that these Memos prove " No collusion " etc..
In other words, HE is innocent and this is all fake news. Sure, Donald.
And congratulations on your newest Lawyer, Rudy Ghouliani.
Excellent Choice. Very impressive. Winning !!!!!
12
Comey is in it for Comey. He's the source of the Donny presidency. His statements are not facts but memoirs that help sell books. He wanted to be the puppet master of the US. Leaking info is a crime. Imagine if Hillary did that?
As far as the current dumpster fire presidency. I've heard the far left preach all sorts of crimes, but where are the charges? To me, it's political theater until there's an formal charge...
1
Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey that he had reservations about Mr. Flynn: “The guy has serious judgment issues.”
wow, I almost spit up my coffee on that line...
As I've said on a comment to a previous article, the grade school taunt of "it takes one to know one" is frighteningly apt.
15
Trump on Flynn: “The guy has serious judgment issues.”
What is that old adage again, the one about the pot and the kettle...?
10
Essentially, the three Republican chairs are upset that Mr. Comey did not editorialize about being obstructed. Of course, he didn’t. A professional law enforcement officer, he let the facts speak for themselves. Of all of them, Goudy should know better.
14
"The three Republican chairmen — Representative Robert W. Goodlatte of the Judiciary Committee, Representative Devin Nunes of the Intelligence Committee and Representative Trey Gowdy of the Oversight Committee — issued a joint statement Thursday night taking direct aim at Mr. Comey’s character and the import of the memos. The documents, they said, show Mr. Comey was “blind with biases” and demonstrated bad judgment."
And as soon as the documents were received, they were leaked. The DoJ probably complied with the subpoenas to avoid future contempt of Congress charges. Well, if anything, the actions on the part of these three Chairmen have only increased my contempt for them, the party they belong to. and the Administration that they have decided that they serve.
23
Given Trump's tweet this morning, it appears Rudy G. did not explain the legal ramifications of these memos (obstruction and collusion) and why it would have been inappropriate for Mr. Comey to express his opinion on collusion and obstruction. And yes, the investigation will continue.
PS to the WH Tweet Dude - thanks for the LOL moments every time I "Witch Hunt."
12
This is all too rich: Comey writes he told the President, "I was eager to find the leakers and nail one to the door" all the while writing memos he intended to leak. Most commenters seem to miss this is a blatant lie. One must wonder, too, why such detailed memos were not written about former President Clinton's meeting with the Attorney General on a plane. And, yet, we are asked to believe these memos add "credibility" to the former Director's story. Such nonsense. I don't have to be a Trump supporter (and I'm not) to see that Comey is anything but credible.
5
Driving while black used to be the phrase pointing out uneven application of the law. Perhaps today it could be: Exercising effective power of government while Republican.
8
What I found shocking, and massively ironic, is that Mr. Comey presents himself as being extremely worthy of being president. He is a clear thinker, rational, thoughtful, tough, a very charismatic leader, et cetera. Whereas Trump is an off the wall, always on tilt and, by its dictionary definition, a terrorist. He seems so often to strike fear in the people of this country. Why is he still there?
9
Thes GOP Congressman agreed to do Trump's bidding, and it backfired. It raises a pressing question: how could they so completely misread the blowback from the press and the public? Stunning.
12
Trump has his back to the wall now, and must find the attorney for Spiro Agnew, if he is still alive.
Whatever happened to Bruce Cutler?
3
As I was reading the memos, it was fairly easy to fill in the redacted portions. If I could figure them out, one would hope that government insiders like the three Republican chairmen, Goodlatte, Nunes, and Gowdy could parse their way to understanding, too. But it's clear that they didn't find what they were looking for (something to use in their quest to impugn Comey and/or the FBI), so they're desperately searching for something - anything - to fit their narrative.
Comey's memos support his testimony, and prove him to be honest about his interactions with Trump. The bit about Comey being "blind with biases" is based on their own biases, not on anything the former Director recorded in his memos.
Once again, Trump crows that he has been vindicated. Not quite, Mr. Trump.
14
What I find disturbing in these memos, and which seems to be unreported in the press, is the number of times the President brings up Andrew McCabe and his wife and is concerned about what he thinks of him. It is obvious to me from Trump's repeated return to this subject is that he had some kind of paranoid distrust of McCabe from the very beginning. One can only speculate on the basis for Trump's paranoia, but could it be he was uncomfortable with the possibility that someone in the FBI might not be a fan of his, or in other words might be motivated to scrutinize his past and present behavior?
13
The thing about this story is that if (or perhaps when) a movie is made about this fiasco, there will be no hero. Nobody will be cheering for Trump or Comey.
The president's part in all of this is not worth reviewing in my little blurb, but safe to say his role as a hero in this future movie will not be under consideration in the time it takes to read one of his tweets.
Comey clearly overstepped his bounds in proclaiming issues that were not his to announce. He usurped the role of the Attorney General of the United States, so his role as a hero cannot be considered for him either. People won't be condemning his part in the movie as virulently as Trump's, but they'll surely be shaking their heads in disbelief.
Hopefully, Mueller will be the one to make us stand and cheer at the movies in the year 2020, which is when this movie will probably appear.
6
I’m constantly reminded of Trump’s ignorance. For many years I served on the personal staff of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is inconceivable to me that it was Flynn’s job as the NSA to make the president aware of his incoming calls. He took an undeserved hit when Trump only realized a week later that Putin had called and then blamed Flynn. Even in that still gestating White House staff the notifications of such communications to the president could not have been the NSA’s personal job. He would have gotten very little else done.
6
I will always remember Nixon saying "I am not a crook" on his way out of office. I thought that would not happen again in my lifetime. I am sure trump will send a tweet on his way out explaining how it was not his fault. They set him up. The best thing that could happen is that it happen sooner than later.
16
These memos remind a reader how overwhelmingly tedious and boring is government work. Endless intrigue, worry -- but very little work.
4
Imagine the tedium of poring over the millions of pages of Trump et al records. .... its the Augean stables, circa 2017
3
When will the Comey memos on Hillary Clinton be released? Ohhh right, Trump is a threat to Democracy and the American way of life so he only wrote memos about Trump. Double standard?
4
I also want his memos on Obama’s and Loretta Lynch.
3
No. Just suiting the action to the character of the person he was talking to. When you are faced with someone attempting to obstruct justice and you are an agent of justice you take note.
8
The Hillary Clinton investigation is closed, why would we want to see any memos on an investigation that went nowhere? And we know since end of October 2016 it went nowhere...Hillary is not our president, get over it.
6
Here we have Comey`s filthy eyes looking intimately at Trump`s filth. Comey`s concern was about the impact Trump would have on himself, not on the country. Comey was worried Trump would lie about his interaction with Comey, not about the fact that Trump was a mafioso in the White House, a mafioso Comey had helped win the national election.
Had Trump managed to assuage Comey`s concerns about the confidentiality of their meetings, Comey would have fallen for Trump, just like all other Republican lackeys have.
2
I think James Comey’s characterization of Trump as similar to a mob boss is right on the nose. I do love that he caught Trump early on in the obfuscation that he hadn’t paid for the hookers at the Ritz Carlton in Moscow. We now know from Stormy Daniels (Ms. Clifford) and Karen McDougal that his normal modus operandi was to offer money. When the lady did not accept (for one reason or another) he was smitten.
17
News Quote of the Day Quiz
Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey that: “The guy has serious judgment issues.”
Who was the guy the President was referring to?
A Jeff Sessions
B. Neil Gorsuch
C. Scott Pruit
D. Michael Flynn
4
e. All of the above
5
The 3 repub chairmen's deliberate misinterpretation of the Comey memos demonstrates exactly why Congress needs to pass a law protecting the Mueller investigation: they will stop at nothing to serve as sycophantic lapdogs, defending the indefensible in blind pursuit of party power. Disgusting.
19
I don't need Comey's notes to tell me all I need to know about Donald Trump.
12
Reads like an accident investigation. As it should.
18
It is so funny to watch a crook that thinks he can outsmart the cops. Failing 45 knows he's a criminal, love watching Don the Con try to manipulate the entire FBI.
9
The Comey memos illustrate the rank corruption of this man and the Deep State. CNN is once exposed as a totally bias and corrupt organization. They look so bad in all of this...worse than sharing debate questions with the DNC. Of course I'll never understood why they felt the need to share questions with the DNC. They constantly reported how brilliant HRC is and stupid Trump is. If that's true why did they feel they needed to give her the questions? Why would someone as brilliant as HRC need the questions in advance?
6
The debate questions where for the primary debates between Clinton and Sanders not the presidential debates between Trump and Clinton, but then I doubt the facts actually matter to people like you anyway.
2
As anyone familiar with the history of the US government since the 30's knows, top government officials routinely write memos to self when they are involved in important or uncomfortable situations but these have to be some of the most astounding ever written. Hard to know why pillars of integrity and judgment like Nunes were so anxious to see them published in full since they are immensely detailed and obviously 100% accurate and confirm the vague popular impressions of the actors. Comey (precise straight arrow boy scout) and Trump (res ipsa loquitur).
25
Nunes objection was that Comey furnished memos about a open FBI investigation to a person outside government.
I am no Donald Trump supporter; but I am no James Comey fan either. This man’s actions, 10 days before the 2016 General Election are probably the most consequential why Trump remains part of America’s living nightmare.
This talk about the memos providing an intimate look into the Trump presidency is nothing but fodder. There are no memos if Comey had not disrupted the 2016 election with his October surprise. Now he gets to profit from a book deal for what he did while we suffer the consequences. Glory hallelujah.
12
Patrick – surely you're not suggesting this was all a ploy concocted by Comey to make money. Seems anyone has the right to tell his own story, especially after being publicly maligned by the prez.
As Comey has said, many times over, he expected HRC to win, and felt it would look worse if he'd kept the new info a secret. Whereas, the investigation into DT's shenanigans was not yet publicly known, so he could not reveal it. He made a bad choice – but the other choices were also bad.
5
Sally B – no, I am not suggesting Comey’s intentions were to make money; however, his choice to release a statement about the emails before Election Day was a bad one, circumspect with a decision to do so after or if Clinton won the election.
Nothing Comey says can be taken as the truth. He has proven himself to be a liar who floats with the political wind to advance his own career. Mueller's team has now told sources at the Wall Street Journal that Trump is no longer a subject of investigation for collusion with Russia. Where is that news on the front page of The Times? I don't seem to be able to find it. No surprise.
8
Correction - as per the WSJ, Trump is presently not a "target" of the special counsel investigation. He remains a "subject". There is a distinct difference in these two words within an investigation.
4
Perhaps you are unaware of how the Grand Jury works. Being a subject or a target are almost the same thing.
Trump is being investigated.
2
I hope you realize that WSJ is owned by Rupert Murdoch who also owns Fox News. We all know how truthfully they report the news. This “news” empire reports conspiracy theories and squarely fall into the ultra right category.
6
For some reason, I do not think that this memo release is in Trump's or republican's favor. This must not be what they expected.
Comey comes across as fair, open, and very organized. On the other hand, these memos unwittingly portray a disorganized administration that is less based on expertise than it is on loyalty. Trump's promise to get rid of The Swamp" directly conflicts with his loyalty pledges. In addition Trump comes across as a slimy narcissist that is very self-interested and self-oriented. His coziness with Putin also looks bad. WOW!
20
The release of the memos has done nothing but ratchet up the credibility of Comey's story. It sometimes borders the comical to see Nunes doing his darnedest to obstruct the investigation, and shooting himself in the foot. That he got Gowdy et al. to go along with him in demanding the release of the documents (and apparently leaking them) is unfathomable. But most pathetic of all are their efforts to spin the notes as if they reflected poorly on Comey. They remind me of the old joke about the man whose wife caught him in bed with another woman: "Honey, are you going to believe me or your own eyes?" In this case, regarding the nature of Comey's notes, I'm going to believe my own eyes.
26
Nunes, that intellectual giant of the House, and his buddies were expecting Rosenstein to resist handing over the memos, this giving them reason to have him fired. Well guess what? May they yet be hoisted by their own petard.
13
Never thought of that, Sally — it explains all.
1
Legal issues aside--and there are plenty--these memos reinforce the reality that Trump is unbalanced and likely a deviate. Ability and legal matters notwithstanding, anyone who continues to support this man in light of the many things we know to be true is either utterly dishonest or--to be blunt--a traitor to the well being of this country. This is just not a question of personal "proclivities" coming to light--these are actions and choices made by Trump that have compromised him irrevocably.
15
Let's keep in mind why this was demanded by (specific Republican members of) Congress and why it was leaked at this juncture- because the GOP wants to find ways to delegitimize the Mueller investigation.
If Rosenstein and the DOJ had refused to hand them over, they would have used that as grounds to impeach him and attempt his ouster. But now that they've handed them over, they'll just use what was handed over in bad faith.
In the near future, look for:
1. Out of context quotes
2. Hyberbolic inflation of meaningless commentary
Conspiracy theories
3. Many "breaking news" headlines on your favorite alt-right propaganda platforms
4. Fox News talking heads bloviating endlessly about specific elements of the memos, while ignoring their larger context.
5. Attempts to springboard from the memos and what they may say to impugning Comey, Rosenstein and Mueller.
6. Coordinated attempts via Russian Twitter and reddit bots to foment a specific narrative based on out of context readings of the memos.
We must be ready to respond intelligently to the lies and obfuscations that are coming from the party of Trump.
30
Trump’s demand that the FBI “nail” some journalist for reporting a leak so as to intimidate the media is his thuggish pattern and previously his Attorney Michael Cohen was his enforcer.
Trump’s unhinged animosity and vindictive actions against the former Deputy FBI Director are in reality also messages to FBI and DOJ personnel investigating the President and his Family that they put themselves at risk for enforcing the rule of law.
The failure of the House and Senate Republicans to stand up to such behavior and their failure to protect the Special Counsel and his work about Russian involvement with the Trump Presidential campaign are stains on those individuals, the Republican Party and the Congress. American voters who are displeased by such failures need to make a special effort to vote and encourage others to do so this fall.
13
So the repubs say the memos show no collusion or obstruction. How could they that wasn't being investigated yet. Obstruction didn't come into play until 45 fired Mr. Coney and then went on national TV and admitted to Lester Holt he fired Coney because of the fake Russia thing.
17
The memos are a fascinating read
3
One suspects that it was "White Male Privilege" thinking that was operating in Comey and the F.B.I. that led them to show such partiality to Trump during the 2016 campaign. They could not believe that American white males of privilege would betray their country by colluding with Russia, in spite of all of the evidence they were seeing.
The reason for the obvious Trump campaign collusion is easy to see; they were wheeling and dealing for business access to Russia. They weren't thinking about the country at all. This might excuse them from intentional treason. But it shows how amoral and unpatriotic they are. They should not be rewarded or ever trusted again with political power.
7
Again...and it cannot be repeated often enough: The hallmark of a habitual liar is eventually getting caught in clear self-contradiction (i.e., without any independent evidence calling for a change). Trump has obviously been exposed as a habitual liar, generously helping by exposing himself (so-to-speak). This obvious notoriety is about the most bizarre aspect of this whole Twilight Zone episode of our history. There is no comparison between Trump and Comey in character at all, only total contrast.
12
If Comey is representative of top Federal officials in this country we are not as great as I always thought.
2
But I bet you support the Donald and think he is great, no?
5
Trump does not seem to believe he is guilty of committing a crime. Rather, he seems to view the Russia investigation as a politically motivated effort to delegitimize his presidency. He also seems to believe that criminal prosecutions should be based on whom he personally likes or dislikes. He seems to believe that his failure to get a healthcare bill passed was that, due to the Russia investigation, Congress and the public do not believe he is legitimately the president. It seems more about his ego, and also his lack of understanding of our criminal justice system, than anything else. He would benefit himself and the country if he would instruct his Fox buddies to stop harping about the Russia investigation, and just let it quietly proceed to its conclusion.
157
Focusing on your comment that "he seems to believe that criminal investigations should be based on whom he personally likes or dislikes," I think he believes that absolutely everyone else in his world operates that way - including sessions, the FBI, Congress, all of the civil service employees working for the federal government.
He's not capable of imagining that anyone could do their work in a fair, disinterested manner. Or that anyone could resist being bribed or threatened because of that alien concept, ethics. It makes him dangerous to our political system
19
No he would not benefit himself! Because he is going to be nailed by Mueller for obstruction of justice. And perhaps more after the police are finished with Cohn and his Russian accomplices.
6
Trump is acting normally for a wannabe fascist dictator.
1
One thing for certain you can say about this president is that he never ceases to be a source of entertainment. Reagan gave up (more or less) his acting career when he decided to become a politician but Trump will remain a "reality-TV" star til he finally goes belly up, or belly down.
24
That's exactly the problem: Americans expect and have come to accept that the office of President of our country has become another source of entertainment, and a whole multitude of serious problems are treated as jokes.
5
Will media see all that is revealed?
Trump the criminal blatantly engaging in obstruction & self serving gossip.
Comey, with too willing viciousness and pandering to the criminal.
Comey the ultimate sexist. Did you expect him to have a respectable word about Loretta Lynch, the qualified Black woman who was his superior?
Comey, the sanctamonious ego. Why was he appointed FBI director with such glaring flaws in character-ego, sanctimony, hatred of women.
3
@Jean Nebraska
I think you need a value judgment check Jean.
8
From the Donald;
"James Comey Memos just out and show clearly that there was NO COLLUSION and NO OBSTRUCTION. Also, he leaked classified information. WOW! Will the Witch Hunt continue?"
What is he talking about?
26
Don't feel bad, he doesn't know either.
8
Donald Trump ACTS like he is guilty.
32
On trip with Boy Scouts this weekend to Valley Forge PA to learn more about American history and enjoy the sun. We will be learning about the Revolutionary War, George Washington, and the troops. George Washington, as our first president, earned respect for his leadership and integrity. Fast forward to today and imagine how Trump will be remembered in the future...by Stormy Daniels' new spread in Penthouse, Trump's money laundering pals and likely collusion with Russia, attacking law enforcement, and spreading hate/discord. Pathetic.
34
If you get a chance, go to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, which opened a year ago today.
9
It is refreshing to find a person who is idealistic and conscientious become a “Front Page News” item as our country is changing from a Democracy to an Oligarchy.
I wish you well Mr. Comey, you are badly outnumbered.
15
Thank you, NYT, for these reports, including the timeline.
Now, can we get a timeline on the Steele Dossier and what damning aspects have already been or are suspected to have been corroborated by our intelligence agencies, as the Comey memos clarify?
Because Trump has called it "fake news" and Simple Sarah has referred to it as "the fake Russian Dossier," and the GOP has since used these now-established lies as a base for many arguments.
If the Dossier is even partially accurate, then there should be a whole house of lies ready to crumble.
22
Is there any way to gauge the temperature of the FBI "rank and file" that Trump claims supports him?
Can we hear from current or retired intelligence agency professionals on how they view Comey and what they think of this so-called president trying to smear him?
12
Don't blame on Trump. He is a symptom.
Root cause is GOP policies since Reagan and GOP itself.
Let's put blame where it belongs: GOP (& their base).
24
Comey loves the spotlight and the attention. He is so un FBI. When he concluded the Clinton server investigation instead of saying its over and no charges are being sought he had to add his personal opinions. That isn’t what the FBI does. Then he opens the investigation again right before the election. I think just to get more attention. Now he is writing books and going on talk shows. What’s next? A reality tv show? It’s clear Comey should never should have had the job of running the FBI.
8
A reality tv show? Comey? Nahhhhhh....you must be thinking of the President.
2
If it is true that Putin told Trump that they (meaning the Russians) have "the most beautiful hookers in the world" then Putin is aware of Trump's proclivities and can potentially control Trump to his benefit. And maybe he already has. That is not a comforting thought to have about the president. Apart from similarities in uttering cliched tropes, the bad thing is what Trump and some (but not all) of the Republicans share with respect to a lack of critical skills. They are intellectually lazy, morally bankrupt and willing to be self-contradictory without any ability to self-question their behavoir. These suggest that good governance is not what they are capable of. Trump admires Putin because Putin governs without having any critical good governance skills and Trump is the same. Putin knows that and can manipulate Trump.
16
In testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8, 2017, about his conversation with President Trump on January 6, 2017, James Comey described the Steele Dossier as “salacious and unverified.” He said, “I was briefing him about salacious and unverified material. It was in a context of that that he had a strong and defensive reaction about that not being true. My reading of it was it was important for me to assure him we were not person investigating him. So the context then was actually narrower, focused on what I just talked to him about. It was very important because it was, first, true, and second, I was worried very much about being in kind of a J. Edgar Hoover-type situation. I didn't want him thinking I was briefing him on this to sort of hang it over him in some way. I was briefing him on it because, because we had been told by the media it was about to launch. We didn't want to be keeping that from him. He needed to know this was being said. I was very keen not to leave him with an impression that the bureau was trying to do something to him. So that's the context in which I said, sir, we're not personally investigating you.” It is unclear whether Comey was referring to the dossier as a whole or just the portion regarding Russian prostitutes.
2
These memos totally vindicate Trump. As we know already, there is no evidence of collusion.
So the dems then made it about "obstruction of justice". In the memos, Comey admits that Trump wanted the Russia investigation to continue for any of his "satellites" if people in his campaign colluded, Trump wanted to know.
The only possible obstruction was regarding Michael Flynn, a former general who has had his life ruined, has had to sell his house to pay legal fees, and who served our country. Maybe he told a lie and it illegally leaked and he was unmasked. We will find out.
But part of the President's oath of office, requires that he take care that the laws be "faithfully" executed. His duty to oversee prosecutions, combined with the power of the pardon, there can be no obstruction of justice for what Trump did.
3
My interest in what is revealed isn't about "collusion with the Russians." but about how this President operates, constantly violating boundaries, exploiting any areas where restraints on his power are not explicitly legal or illegal. We'll eventually learn is he made mistakes in his calculation of what he could get away with.
DJT's constant direct haranguing of the FBI director about the investigations that threatened him directly is unethical, and comprises what I think a reasonable person in that position would interpret as being a threat to their ability to execute their mission, and to their continued employment, especially when it is followed by the actual firing. What was expected was clear. Obstruction?
4
Please learn that Collusion is a legal conclusion and Comey’s menos were contemporaneous recitations if facts and observations, so it would not be appropriate to include legal conclusions. That is what a legal brief would be about.
1
This is gaslighting.
You are blanket stating that all of the influences and motivations, the news stories, the pictures evidencing relationships, the business deals... all of it is just us, the reader of your comment, misunderstanding what is clearly right in front of our faces. Please.
1
bone spurs has stayed out of jail for the past 40 years because he always has a roomful of lawyers employed for that sole reason.
couple that with the fact he actually believes that all the lawyers in the executive branch work for him - and you can see for yourself how and why he treats ALL LAWYERS and law enforcement personnel like his personal servants.
he is completely DELUSIONAL.
10
How long did it take for Republicans in Congress to release Comey memos to news organizations. Approximately 1 nanosecond. VOTE THEM OUT
8
Exactly! They also released the letter from Comey advising of the re opening of the investigation into Clinton's emails in October 2016, immediately after Comey sent it. The Republican leadership politicized the email investigation, not Comey.
There is no integrity in their leadership.
4
Trump's actions are clearly indicative of intent to deceive and obstruct. Trump is not a note keeper. He says whatever he wants whenever he wants, truth or fiction. Maybe that worked for him in the business world where he wasn't so closely watched. Now he is under a microscope and what documents that do exist, (Cohen's) are in investigators hands and the investigators are required to follow the law of the land. I see no other scenario but the downing of King Trump. Can't happen soon enough.
4
To me this backfired like all of Nunes’ other stunts.
11
I was a police officer for over 25 years and a police detective for a part of my career as I moved up my department's food chain.
I was trained in the habit of taking contemporaneous notes during an investigation and of being as detailed as I could be because the notes would serve as a memory refresher for me if and when the case would develop to an actual arrest and eventually, to court.
James Comey was a superlatively trained lawyer, prosecutor and investigator and also had a gift for detail. After reading his memos as posted in the Times, he is, in my opinion, 100% believable, both in his testimony before Congress and in his recount of the memos with various journalists, and in his memory of his interactions with Donald Trump.
The walls are closing in on President Trump, and while the end result may not lead to his eventual impeachment or even his resignation, his presidency will be crippled and his already shady business reputation further tarnished. There is justice in this world.
38
Mr. Comey provides detailed documentation of conversations which support his previous testimony and assertions. Mr. Trump relies on his past behaviors of bullying, denigrating and defaming others to make them go away. Mr. Trump is learning his long-learned tactic do not work with professionals in law enforcement or in the courts. Mr. Trump's tactics only work with his supporters and Republicans in congress to fearful to act in good faith for our nation.
In the end, professionals like Comey, Mueller and federal prosecutors will win out, leaving Mr. Trump, his supporters and Republicans in congress all in a world of hurt politically and possibly legally. This is exactly how our nation-of-laws is supposed to work. Trump's way cannot ever be allowed to work; as it is a violation of our nation's values and system of laws.
273
Comey's notes are more articulate than Trump's tweets. I did not count how many times Comey mentioned problems about the Russians but it seems as if every time he mentioned it Trump would go on auto pilot and deny all knowledge. Seems like he was almost reading from a script.
5
I'm about 80% through Comey's book. At this point in the narrative, he is finally talking about his interactions with Trump. What is clear, so far, is that James Comey is something of a Boy Scout - idealistic and completely committed to doing things by the book.
I supported HRC in the last election, and I was angry with the disclosure, right before the election, that the investigation of her e-mail server had been re-opened. Comey makes a compelling case for what he did, and I can accept it fully. I suspected at the time that he was between a rock and a hard place; he was.
Comey writes that he was warned about Trump before he ever met the man. He writes about an awkward one-on-one dinner invitation during which Trump made clear that he wanted loyalty about all else. Comey compares this to the induction rites of La Cosa Nostra, an organization he prosecuted successfully. He also talks about Trump's requests to look the other way on Flynn. In the end, Comey pledges honesty, something that unnerved Trump.
When Comey made it clear that blind loyalty was not in the cards, Trump fired him, This firing was done through the media while Comey was in LA promoting the hiring of minority Special Agents. Trump was furious that Andrew McCabe, now the acting Director of the FBI, authorized Comey to fly back to DC on the FBI plane he took to LA. How petty!
There is no doubt in my mind that Comey is far more honest and forthright than Trump. The mid-term elections can't come soon enough.
19
The dossier was not merely "produced by a former British spy." It was funded by Hillary's campaign and produced using Russian sources (collusion?) - a key fact that was not disclosed to Mr. Trump according to Mr. Comey's recent interviews.
5
It originally was funded by a Republican opponent, before Hillary. Of course Russian sources would be contacted by Steele to find out information about Russian dealings- who else would have had the info??? Rudy???
8
Except that it was originally funded by Republicans looking to get Rubio the nomination...
3
And that the dossier was based primarily on oppo research funded by the GOP well before HRC's campaign continued it seems to be a key fact you are failing to disclose in your comment.
3
Turnabout will be fair play when some of the members of Congress who demanded Comey's memos are asked to turn over their memos, notes, recordings, and the hard drives to their computers. The day will come when they, too, will be investigated for their handling of all matters related to Trump, obstruction of justice, and maybe even treason. That day can't come soon enough for me.
10
I have not heard about this. When Comey gives one copy of his memo to the FBI, is it placed, sealed and unopened, in a secured location to be opened if necessary at a later date? I am curious, as I wonder, if unsealed and read memos could have an impact and an influence on others who read or knew of the memos (at that time).
"[H]e never once mentioned the most relevant fact of all, which was whether he felt obstructed in his investigation."
Better than that, he painted a very clear and obvious picture of the obstruction, and has left it to Mueller to arrive at his own legal conclusions based on the evidence.
15
Note to Sixofone: the investigation does not actually need to *be* obstructed for obstruction of justice to have taken place. The attempt is a crime itself.
2
We can measure the importance of these memos by how much the GOP attacks them and Comey. What reasonable person wouldn't write notes down after a meeting with someone like the President? If one is as busy as Comey was or any other top ranking official, notes are an aid to recalling what was discussed, who said what, how it was said, and the conclusions. Would the GOP have preferred that Comey tape the encounters so they could charge him with wiretapping?
Throughout this entire process the GOP has protected its own, not America, not its constituents. They have stood up for the rich, for the huge corporations, for the liars and cheats, not for the hard working little people who pay their taxes and support the GOPs salaries as elected officials meant to serve us.
Instead of being objective the GOP has attacked every person who has questioned Trump, Pence, or the current administration. I would argue that they are co-conspirators in this mess who should be judged accordingly: as potential obstructionists too.
38
Why does Trump, the President of the United States, not have his own set of notes from his meetings with Comey? Or meetings with others? Serious, conscientious professionals keep notes meetings. They assist with follow-up, next steps, reminders and corroboration as Trump is finding out, to his detriment.
18
I never kept notes of meetings nor have I even heard of people who did this.
It's standard in the legal profession. Every executive I've worked with kept notes. I've observed it in many business settings (human resources, management, IT). Politicians keep diaries and notes. Boards and clubs keep minutes of meetings.
If one wants to keep track of what was said (and use it for follow-up, reminders, legal use, clarification) one must keep notes.
6
He doesn't need notes because so much of what he says is impulsively made up in spur of the moment style. And notes might hinder Trump's ability to deny he just said whatever he said. He needs to feel free to improvise. Accuracy, facts, etc are for the little people, as far as Trump is concerned..
4
The Comey memos although in itself not incriminating, certainly leaves one with the feeling that Trump was neck deep in Russians, & fearful of Mueller, but we all knew that before the memos came out. Cohen is a weasel , although a lap dog of Trump, will break under Pressure & will be Trumps downfall.
24
What do we know about interactions among other Presidents and their FBI Director's?! Without memos and the like, absolutely nothing! Trump's base and supporters will be further energized on his behalf!
4
J Edgar Hoover was careful to compile useful information on every important politician, and it is said that he was willing to use it to influence them.
It's pretty clear that Donald expected James Comey and the entire Justice Department to be the kind of "fixers" he's used to surrounding himself with.
56
I mean, every former FBI director publicly releases memos about private conversations with a sitting president, right?
6
This is stunning in it's misrepresentation of facts. Mr. Comey did not release the memos. The Justice Department released them to Congress. You'll find the correct information at the top of the article, in the first paragraph.
No conversation with a sitting president is private. The Director was not his golf buddy, and he was there in a professional context.
2
If it is appropriate for later records in a criminal case, yes.
Poor Goodlatte, Nunes, and Gowdy--three simple Republican committee chairmen just trying to do their job an obstruct an investigation like any loyal lacky putting party over country, and what do they find?
Someone in Washington who has told the same story for months without misstatement or inconsistancies. How could there not be anything in the memos they could use to discredit him? Comey's flaws are numerous, but he is honest.
For three politicians who lie so often they can't keep from contradicting themselves, Comey must seem like some sort of alien with superpowers. What is this strange magic he calls "truth"?
89
Soon they will link Comey to Benghazi and open another investigation
2
Amazing how these pop-up at exactly the same time of a book release. Who's looking to make money? I would investigate these "publishers".
2
what would you investigate them for?
1
Why are they being released now? Because the REPUBLICAN congressmen subpoenaed the DOJ to release them.
But of course, that fact doesn't fit into your blindly partisan conspiracy theory, does it?
3
What would you investigate them for exactly? Publishing? Meanwhile Trump, his family, and his associates are leveraging government jobs for profit. Are you OK with the $31,000 table and the $42,000 phone booth and all the other little perks that Cabinet members are helping themselves to, at taxpayer expense?
4
I find it interesting that Trump supporters find nothing untoward (or sordid) about Mr. Trump’s actions or behavior.
39
It boggles the mind how obtuse they can be. They know the truth, they see the truth, but they still believe the lies. (Not sure who said that). They believe all the lies they tell themselves.
4
Some people in Iraq wanted Saddam back, despite his tendency to kill his own relatives. Some people like the idea of an all-powerful supreme leader. It has no place in a democracy, but Trump supporters are able to overlook that as wall as the accumulating evidence that Trump is mentally disturbed.
3
After Gowdy announced his retirement from Congress, he went on national TV to say, "“My wife hates it when I say this, but I was a pretty good prosecutor, I think. But I've been a pretty lousy politician.” I agree; he came as close to the definition of "political hack" as I can imagine.
On CBS's Face the Nation, Gowdy came across as a reasonable guy who did not enjoy DC politics. Perhaps he had an ulterior motive in supporting the release of the Comey memos, knowing they would cast Comey in a better light. Rather than buying in to the GOP attempts to discredit Comey, Gowdy may have been taking a parting shot at Trump. Recall that Gowdy supported Marco Rubio over Trump in early 2016 and only grudgingly endorsed Trump after the party nomination.
4
Trey Gowdy was the chief inquisitor in the spectacle of Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi!
It was a nauseating display of party cronies trying to discredit Hillary Clinton.
4
The President claims that Comey's notes are fake, but then turns around and claims that they show there was no collusion or obstruction. How could fake memos prove such a thing? Can't have it both ways Mr. President.
96
Trump takes everything anyway he can get it.
3
He seems to do that a lot.
It would appear that Trump's interest and concern about Flynn, as revealed in the memos, was about further collaboration with Putin and the Russians. This has always been in plain sight.
28
But not every American has a brain behind his two eyes that sees what is in plain sight. Otherwise there would be no Trump collusion story to start with.
1
That Mr. Comey, an attorney, would ask the President to request that the Justice Department revise and lower its necessarily conservative standards to allow the extraordinary arrest of reporters to get at their sources tells me he is just as authoritarian as Mr. Trump, if not more so, and certainly more contemptuous of civil rights, which he should understand better than Mr. Trump.
That Mr. Comey would project on all FBI agents his own, allegedly minor but self-confessed, contempt for all elected officials tells me that either he was either unfit for office because he lacked respect for the Constitution and simply could not fathom others respecting it, or that the FBI should be closed down and replaced with an entity whose agents respect the Constitution and the elections it mandates. This is why he intervened against Mrs. Clinton, he hold electoral processes in contempt.
If you hold civil rights and elections in contempt, you do not have “a higher calling” to the country, what you have is a calling to transform us into fascism.
1
You need to read the memos again. He did not say that.
6
Sorry to say that you misread these memos. It was Trump who wished for the arrest of reporters. Comey only shared Trump's contempt for leakers from within government organizations.
4
Trump is way ahead of Comey on seeking fascism.
The Comey memos reenforce the belief that Trump was experiencing "a moment of confusion" every time he sat down to Twitter.
11
While I am impressed by Comey's punctilious method of making voluminous notes, he would have done himself better by sticking to substance and not delving into superficialities regarding Trump's appearance and narcissism. It is sad that the former FBI director has stooped to the abysmal ad-hominem level of his ex-boss.
3
Is THAT the criticism, . . . of a book of historical importance?
There seems to be a problem of proportion here.
3
I have not read the book, but my understanding is that he described many of the people he encountered over the course of his life with the same meticulous detail. Trump was not alone in getting that treatment.
2
Why did Republicans in Congress think the Comey's memos would help the Republicans, or Trump? The memos are consistent with everything Comey has ever said and therefore support his credibility. Trump comes off as being clueless on policy and procedure, and obsessed and paranoid about the Russians and the night in Moscow. It's a Comey win-Trump lose scenario, completely created by Trump himself and no one else.
44
Comey documented the conversations with great detail. Reading through his notes, the impression is that he was extremely concerned, at first about protecting he Office of the President (sadly, it's been so damaged that it will take a Truly great man or woman to repair) and then about what the 'snake oil salesman' was trying to do -- maneuver and manipulate. That's what bullies do at first. Then, if they don't get their way, they rant and rage.
Contrary to the 'dissing of details' this reads like testimony -- which it is. Details matter. It's always the details that trip up the criminals.
310
Important to note - these memos were given to House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes with the EXPLICIT understanding they were to ONLY be seen by the committee. It was in writing in the request and the letter accompanying them.
We know this because the documents and accompanying letters leaked faster than a Russian escort once they got to the committee.
Nunes and Republicans AGAIN are trying to derail the investigation of trump crime syndicate activity and end up shooting themselves in the foot. The memos corroborate what is in the Comey book and interviews, but also include conversations on topics like trump musing about how gorgeous Russian prostitutes were when he was in Russia in 2013, the time of the PeeTapes described in the Steele Dossier.
Will Nunes be charged with leaking? His behavior strongly suggests he is also either being blackmailed by Putin or was an insider on the trump Russia conspiracy. Hope that the voters in his district are paying close attention and make sure this festering carbuncle is not sent back to congress next year.
107
Primary leakers seem to be Republicans in Congress (Rep Nunes, looking at YOU), Trump’s White House and the newest member of Trump’s legal team, Giuliani who kept saying ‘something BIG coming in the Hillary email investigation’ in the final das before the election and before Comey’s last declaration about the reopening (short-lived) of the investigation because of something found on Anthony Weiner laptop (which turned out to be, in Don Jr’s words, a ‘nothing burger’).
3
Lately I learned that both Bill Clinton and George Bush were convicted on criminal charges on more than one cases and they faced absolutely no consequence, not a single day in jail. We all know what happened to Nixon.
Our law makers, who who have the highest possibility (and not just theoretical but there are so many instances of many of them doing just that) to benefit from insider information on upcoming laws and policies were not under any legal purview of 'insider trading' law applicable to rest of us for long. Obama era 2013 law banning insider trading for law makers are filled with loopholes and those are deliberate, and routinely exploited by many politicians and law makers engaging in insider trading after 2013.
It's very frustrating to see how American democracy and rule of law is routinely breached by the rich and powerful people. In that sense, it does not seem to matter if Trump colluded with Russia, handed over any sensitive classified information to Russia or China or any other country or overseas private investors. There is high chance that he will have no consequence at the end of the day. Many/most fellow law makers would protect him for obvious reasons.
Rule of law, democracy type big catchy talks are for little folks and helpless immigrants- not much for the rich and powerful who should be more under the ambit of law enforcement as they makes rules, they enforce laws for rest of us.
14
Can you provide a citation to your representation that Clinton and Bush were convicted of Criminal charges while in office? Or are you referring g to the perjury charge for which Clinton was Impeached?
11
They weren't convicted of crimes. Find news sites with more than twelve followers and turn off Alex Jones.
5
Neither Bill Clinton or George Bush were convicted of criminal charges. Bush was tried in absentia in Kuala Lumpur for the invasion of Iraq and Bil Cl.inton has his law license suspended for lying about Monica Lewinsky.
2
The proof of this rhetorical pudding is in James Comey’s consistency. From his Congressional testimony and book to his interviews and memos, his narrative and its details have never wavered or changed. Moreover, they corroborate others’ testimony and evidence and reaffirm the erratic, inconsistent and contradictory behavior and “character” of Trump on fullsome and frightening display everywhere.
Whether NBC’s Holt or Russian operatives Lavrov and Kislyak, Trump has openly bragged to them, on the record, that he fired Director Comey to relieve the pressure of the “Rusher thing”. Now he maintains precisely the opposite. In the end, Trump’s tweeting and making it up as he goes along will succumb to the integrity, truth-telling and honor of, among others, Comey and Mueller. More importantly, in the end, this is a question of what kind of country are we, and what kind of country do we want to be?
46
"While Mr. Comey “went to great lengths to set dining room scenes, discuss height requirements, describe the multiple times he felt complimented and myriad other extraneous facts, he never once mentioned the most relevant fact of all, which was whether he felt obstructed in his investigation,” they wrote."
He was being very factual. Describing the setting, who was there, and the events is documentation. Not forming an immediate opinion or drawing an immediate conclusion that Trump was obstructing justice, is appropriate for this. But seizing on the idea that because Comey didn't express the "feeling" that he was being obstructed, the three Republicans who issued that statement are showing they have nothing of substance, and in fact are reaching in order to come up with something. Nunes and Gowdy have been shown to be loyal to Trump, and based on their other actions and statements, I WOULD draw the conclusion that they are looking for a way to obstruct the investigation by discrediting Mr. Comey's notes, descrediting the FBI, and looking for a way to halt Mueller's investigation.
41
Obstruction is s legal conclusion and Comey judt reported facts and observations. He didn’t engage in making legal conclusions as he was not writing a legal brief, just a contemporaneous memo.
11
Nunes, Jordan, and Gowdy need to go back to elementary school and work on their critical reading skills.
1
These memo’s are one person’s thoughts...James comey’s. There was no person there to validate hus conversations with trump. His interviews promoting his book and giving fodder to the late night trump hater buffoons, do nothing but tarnish himself and bring shame to the FBI and DOJ top honchos, who should all be locked up.
12
Notes made immediately after the event (as these were) are admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 803(1).
15
The memos are contemporaneous memorialization. Lawyers do this all of the time. They are admissible in court. They carry great weight.
Non-lawyers don't understand the law, for obvious reasons.
32
So what you are saying is that James Comey, while Director of the FBI completely made up these memos depicting Trump in real time? Furthermore, most if not all, high-ranking DOJ and FBI agents are in some grand conspiracy against Trump? Just making sure that's the assertion you are making, and I am not mistaking your words.
8
The memos were written in Jan and Feb 2017. The investigation was in it's infancy. Can you imagine the howls if there was any mention of collusion or obstruction at that time? And I have to believe Comey couldn't believe his good luck in getting face time with the new President. Didn't have to read him his rights. Just sit there and let Trump ramble on.
15
What the memos show is that trump is a lying, cheating, vain, petty, vindictive creep. His attacks on Andrew McCabe apparently started quite early. His lying about how much money McCabe’s wife received as a campaign contribution, ( a million! Please) and his obsession with him and his wife show just how mean and petty he really is. Not that we didn’t already know.
80
Comey cannot unring the bell on his exceptionally politically timed release of HRC. Between that and Putin's help Trump has become the biggest blight on the US of any president ever. No amount of showing just how despicable Trump is will change anything because, with few exceptions, there are no responsible people left in government. Thank you to those few who are actively fighting against the fraud of cadet bone-spurs.
34
Trump, from Comey's memos, seems to be a lonely, insecure individual. He needed a buddy but there really is none in his position. Trump looked to his children instead, but their character was not sufficient to be a "buddy".
5
Unfortunately the people you are thanking are clearly part of a deep state plot to overthrow this POTUS. The FBI and DOJ have been shown to be deeply politized to the extent that they can not accept DJT as president and will create investigations of of thin air, (collusion). I suppose 240 or so years as the worlds first democratic republic does beat all records for longevity.
1
"A deep state plot to overthrow this POTUS"?
How about they were sworn to uphold the Constitution and were doing their jobs, i.e. enforcing our nation's laws?
6
That this country actually elected someone so unfit for the Oval Office speaks volumes. Sad and Pathetic. One can only imagine the true level of corruption and obstruction going on behind closed doors.
65
If we were a democracy, instead of a Republic, this country would have elected Hilary Clinton by 3,000,000 votes.
1
Once again the republicans are misrepresenting and lying about a document. It doesn't really matter what the actual content of the documents are. They will simply state what they wished the documents said and have their right wing noiws machine blast the party line message out. Everybody in the alt right universe will be convinced even as the truth, belatedly, will be published somewhere else. The Russians used to be the masters of creating alternative realities for the masses. I guess Putin must have transferred those capabilities to someone here in the states.
33
There is not a single man in my family, social, or professional circles who has ever talked about prostitutes. Not a single one...ever. Ever...over my six decades on this planet, and I have lived anything but a sheltered life.
But the president of the United States can rank their beauty by nationality. And finds it appropriate to share this insight with the Director of the FBI.
Quite the pattern of vulgar behavior that his evangelical supporters can conveniently overlook.
67
I am heartened and encouraged that the former FBI director, James Comey, fights back against this bad joker and pretender, whose main prior accomplishment embody making a segment of population believe in his big lie that the former President Barack Obama was born in Kenya.
34
Boy! Talk about a good title-page image for a Comey article..."I said I was eager to find leakers and would like to nail one to the door as a message,” Mr. Comey wrote.
1
So, Putin proudly informed Trump about the world class pulchritude of Russia's "ladies of the night". To which the Fake President undoubtedly responded with a broad, leering grin on his face: "Believe me Vladimir, I know, I know! Want to see my tape.". Then their important bilateral discussion got into the particulars...
Just some more "locker room talk" from our distinguished 45th.
15
Lost in all this is fact that Trump admitted meeting and discussing Russian hookers with Putin. Same Mr. Trump said previously he never met Putin. A rookie FBI agent would have found that admission by Trump alarming and immediately written it down. Comey further documented Trump's obsession with the Steele dossier which was a flashing red light that Trump was concerned that the FBI would prove its veracity.
Nice job special agent Comey in doing what you were trained to do so that you could protect our country from criminals and traitors like the guy in the white House..
52
James Comey was wise to cover his back trail with a man he knew couldn't be trusted. It's these very notes that drew the president's ire. Comey had no such compunction to take notes of any meeting with President Obama, which speaks volumes about the issue of trust.
The president's obsession with the Russian hookers is also telling. "The guilty flee when no man pursueth". If nothing happened, why obsess about it?
26
Funny, about the hookers etc, the despised Trump might actually be being TRUTHFUL about this one thing. He is so obsessive about control of his image ( but so bizarrely out of touch with what others see) that I can see him becoming fixated on eliminating this one actually false thing as if it were the worst thing anyone had ever said about him. He has done so much worse -- which doesn't bother him at all. He doesn't have any sense of proportion - and no idea of when to stop whipping all of the dead horses in his stable . . .
There isn’t going to be any obstruction of justice charges related to President Trump’s firing of James Comey. Trump fired Comey because Comey refused to say publically what he was telling Trump privately—that the president wasn’t under investigation. Trump acted once Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein recommended that Comey should be fired because of his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. That is not obstruction of justice.
There weren’t be any charges related to the Russian election meddling either. According to CNN, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team told White House lawyers last week that Trump is not a target of the Muller investigation. CNN is also reporting that Rosenstein told Trump that he's not a target in the investigation of his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/politics/rosenstein-trump-cohen-investiga...
4
I believe you got your information mixed up. There is nothing on CNN.com about Trump not being a target of the Mueller investigation. There are reports along those lines on the Cohen investigation (as you summarized). Too early to say if Trump will or will not be subject to obstruction charges, whether related to Comey firing or not.
You fail to mention the 17 or 18 other incidents where Trump may have obstructed justice.
Not a target now does not mean you're not a target later.
We'll see what comes out in the laundry.
Other than the money Don washed, of course.
That's already safely back in Iran.
In reading the CNN link, there is no mention of Mueller's team telling Trump he was not a target of investigation "last week." The word "previously" was used, significant considering how facts are changing on the ground. Even what Rosenstein "told" Trump regarding the Michael Cohen case was described as "recently." Despite the muddy water in which you've drenched your claims, you might refrain from telling us how things are going to be just yet.
2
This boils down to the veracity of two men...one who spent decades in law enforcement and was director of the FBI, the other is a habitual liar and was before being elected President the head of a criminal enterprise (yes i am projecting but it will come out sooner or later).
Who would you believe...
18
It certainly looks like Comey has been planning all along to frame Trump. Comey asked the President to speak alone with him for a moment and then Comey writes a memo of a meeting where we have to take his word? I never wrote memos to myself about my meetings and interactions I had with my high-level bosses. Comey is utterly creepy and dangerous under his sanctimonious persona.
4
It's pretty common at those high levels for people to keep journals of their conversations. Nothing "creepy" or unusual about it. Also, it helps to wright things down so you remember to address action items, etc. These folks talk to lots of people all day long and are tracking hundreds of action items - they need to have written and/or electronic records of these interactions.
6
As a lawyer I routinely wrote contemporaneous memos of meetings and conversations to have a fresh record of facts discussed. This is routine not a deep state conspiracy tactic .
11
"Frame Trump?" Taking notes after meetings is a standard method to remember what happened at a meeting. Dana Boente, Andrew McCabe all did the same. Maybe they all recognized the same thing about Trump, that he is a lier and would throw them under the bus in a heartbeat.
And Michael Cohen taped the calls he had with Trump.
6
What DO the Russians have on that ridiculous Nunes character?!
29
Yeah, these make Trump look SO much of a better slimeball. The Republicans who forced this out just aren't careful of what they wish for.
17
So, under threat of impeachment .. Rosenstein hands over the Comey memos to Congressional Republicans. These are evidentiary documents in an ongoing investigation. It took less than an hour before they released these same documents to the media. Apparently, the GOP's vision for due process in America .. as outlined in the 14th amendment … no longer means protecting investigatory findings from public view. The good news is that these same Republicans are dumb as a post, since the memos merely show how obsessed Trump was with Russia and hookers, renewing questions over Trump's behavior.
18
Justice apparently did not believe there was much evidence in memos, and besides, Comey leaked them to press via his friend. One good leak deserves another!
So, you think this is a good precedent for due process and jurisprudence?
This should not have happened. Each time a bit of anything is released they are letting their authority be taken away. Nunes and the rest won't stop until they have each page of Mueller's investigation on fox news of course edited and excised for their own purposes. Until Americans believe this nonsense that there is no investigation. What I'd like to know is when is someone going to release what people like Nunes have to hide which is making them do this.
8
Donald Trump's only perceivable problem with Michael Flynn was not anything to do with the Russian contacts or his illegal activities with Turkey, it was that Flynn neglected to tell him that Putting called him, and Trump was worried that he would anger his mentor Vladimir Putin.
It seems the memos vindicate everything James Comey said in his testimony and in his book, and it shows Trump not raising any concerns about the Russian's infiltrating our election process.
It seemed like everything Trump was concerned with was personal business about himself, not a good look for a new President coming into office after the well known attempts of the Russian intrusion in our elections.
What is the most bizarre take on this memo release is that in Trump's convoluted mind, he thinks they vindicate him and in reality it's corroborates everything James Comey says in his book, and makes Trump look like a liar, and narcissistic numbskull.
The other weird aspect is that the Republican's that pushed to have these memos release, probably have the done the President more harm than any good.
16
Releasing these memos was supposed to help Trump?
Comey looks like a Boy Scout today.
And already Trump knows the release has backfired. He’s attacking Comey again on Twitter while whining about poor Mike Flynn in a tweet that reads like the words of a 7th grader.
13
Love him or hate him, Comey is rock solid on nuance. He's a heck of a witness and, no about, the star of President Trump's nightmare.
16
"Mr. Flynn was eventually fired for misleading Vice President Mike Pence and others about the details of a conversation with a Russian ambassador."
this sentence should read that the White House CLAIMS that Mr. Flynn was eventually fired for misleading Vice President Mike Pence and others about the details of a conversation with a Russian ambassador.
An alternative explanation is that after Yates informed the White House that the FBI knew of the conversation, Flynn had to be sacrificed to protect Pence who had gone on TV and denied such a conversation, but knew very well that it had taken place. Pence was the head of the transition team.
21
Dirty laundry should be washed in private. We all have it. However, here the President (PE before) should have left it to the professionals to wash it for him and in PRIVATE.
It is very regrettable this all is coming out like this. I don't want to read the private conversations between the President and the FBI director. This is stuff that shouldn't be circulating around everywhere. We as a nation need to put a lid on this. Mr Comey is, in my belief, an honorable man. One doesn't get to be director of FBI without being that. Whatever differences existed between him and the President should have been dealt with in PRIVATE.
President Trump needs to SHUT up his twitter account. I would like to see this farce and distraction end.
15
Should crimes be committed in private? That's what is at issue here; did Trump attempt to derail investigations into his aides and himself?
Whether it is dirty laundry or not is immaterial.
1
Nope, sorry, there is nothing private about it. Comey and Trump are both public officials, acting official capacity on public property, salaries paid by the taxpayer. Everything they do of say in the Oval Office is the public's business.
I don't like Comey. He comes off as sanctimonious. His decision to notify congress he was reopening the Clinton investigation was wrong. He was advised against, and it was contrary to FBI policy. His every justification oozes self-importance and self-righteousness.
That said, he didn't deserve to be fired for doing his job. He doesn't deserve to be maligned by the president. Even slandered? Did he in fact leak classified information, or is that just one more of Trump's lies?
Everything Trump says or does regarding the Russia investigation is relevant and newsworthy. We certainly need to know if we have the Manchurian candidate as a president.
3
So Trump sees these memos as proof that there was “no collusion” at the same time as they are all lies at the same time as they are part of a political ‘witch hunt’.
It would take nothing less than a “stable genius”to hold such contrary ideas in one’s head at the same time.
24
If we are to believe Trump, it has been proven on several occasions that he did not collude with the Russians. And yet the FBI continues to investigate, Trump continues to insist he is innocent and the earth still spins on its axis. Trump may not have personally colluded with the Russians, but that depends on what the definition of “collude” is. No doubt he borrowed millions of dollars from them. And I distinctly remember a photo of him alone with the Russian ambassador in the Oval Office grinning like the cat that ate the canary. Trump is a guilty man. He talks like it, he acts like it and I can’t wait for the FBI to slap a pair of handcuffs on him.
73
trump is doing his best to redefine collusion. No matter what one calls it, he knowingly embraced Putin's support to gain the Oval Office. Just like he knowingly accepted Russian mob money to stay in business when U.S. banks learned the hard way that they should no longer do business with him.
2
I don't know why this whole "collusion" word is being tossed about. "Conspired" may be more appropriate. Of course, conspiracy is a crime and one is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Maybe that is the more bland word "collusion" is being bandied about in public discourse. We will all probably start talking about "alleged conspiracy" very soon. Of course, I think entering into a conspiracy against the United States with a known belligerent (undeclared as of yet) is probably tantamount to treason. Providing aid or comfort to the enemies of the United States. I'm no legal scholar, but the persons involved would have to realize that throwing an election to get a win at any cost individual elected (Don Trumpovna) would be acting with intent to harm the United States. Of course, they (Trumpovna enablers) could also play the card they've been playing this whole election cycle and administration and feign ignorance that teaming up /conspirig with the Russians would be harmful. These are not the brightest bulbs in the box.
1
Lock up journalists. Laughing about information leakers with heads on a stake. There's a bit of pandering from Comey during his conversations with Trump that are disconcerting. Come is is right in one regard, Trump lacks any regard for the truth or rule of law and would destroy the very elements of Government institutions that a balance power. Trump will test the resilience of our constitution in ways never done before. I have faith ... but even faith has weakness.
11
The enormities being committed daily . . .
The enormities being allowed to be committed daily . . .
My boss tells me to leave off investigating somebody I'm convinced is worth investigating, that's what? not obstructing? Impeding? Discouraging?
If you thing US institutions are passing this stress text you lack either focus or stamina or both.
8
The Rancid Republican on the House Intelligence Committee just shot themselves in the head by threatening the Justice Department if it didn't release the Comey memos because the memos show repeatedly what a lowclass, mug occupies the Oval Office. Comey had made no secret of his memos. He testified about their contents to Congress, he wrote about them in his book, he's spoken about them publicly. All that the release of them does is confirm everything he's said and written and they show Trump to be obsessed the dossier and he wanted the investigation of Michael Flynn to disappear and that Trump was trying to persuade Comey to bow to Trump's underhanded and illegal tactics in getting the investigation to Flynn shut down.
The Rancid Republicans -- when Mueller proves the collusion -- need to be rounded up and prosecuted for their treasonous, illegal behavior in trying to kill the investigation into the Russian interference in the election and the prosecution of a person (Flynn) who was at the heart of it. I never thought I'd live to see the day when members of Congress had become so criminal that they'd attack members of the FBI in an attempt to defend a colluding and criminal president and his cronies.
35
So the reason the Republicans wanted the memos released (launching a precedent that Rosenstein was right in wanting to protect) becomes clear. These guys actually expected Comey to make a real-time conclusions and express such an opinion in what was meant to be a “just the facts, ma’am” “‘memorialization” of conversations.
They also seem to forget that though the pressure concerning Flynn is not negligible, it was the firing of Comey and Trump’s own stated reason (twice) that built a stronger case. You don’t look in the written records of Comey’s conversations for that.
9
I encourage anyone who thinks what Trump said to James Comey isn't suspicious to go back and watch the movie "The Pelican Brief." In it, the fictitious president says almost the same thing, and ends up resigning for it. That movie was made 25 years ago, and 25 years ago there would have been no debate.
27
Seriously? That is your claim to authority -- The Pelican Brief?
Sad but coming true that dt can get away with just about anything. This says our system of government has devolved into who can play dirty the best, with the best lawyers, politicians in prominent positions, judgeships in their pockets, and the most effective media/internet blitz machine, with all its incumbent abilities to make people believe false narratives. It is still a tug of war between the sides, but it will not end as long as they fight or supremacy over each other. A sane compromise would be government by working together despite differences. But dt has made it his right to govern by deceit, disrespect, and downright anti democratic, anti humanistic, values. Who says out loud to his base the word Hispanics to a booing crowd in FL last week, a hateful trump thats who.
9
Democracies generally descend into faction before becoming full fledged tyrannies. What you are describing above is this rampant factionalism. Trump is doing his best to politicize the DOJ and judiciary. McCabe's criminal probe is step one of political purges of the DOJ. Still, I doubt Trump will get away with it. He is increasingly acting like a terribly desperate man. His entire life is in free fall. The stress must be unbearable, even for a pathological liar like him. His house of illusions (which he has maintained his entire life) is crumbling.
1
thanks for your input. I agree with all you say, especially the stress he's under. But he's been under it his whole life, so to speak, just more intense now. Its a habitual pattern and a mind-set that, I think, allows despots to thrive. Many live a very long time. He's got money behind him, more than ever now with the windfall for wealthy tax cuts. I admit I imagine he will crumble under the stress but then I think, he's more likely to crumble if they take away his gold courses.
The responsible Republicans, who really had no legitimate oversight reason to delve into the evidence, or to make demands to see it now, managed to set new speed records for leaking. All they succeeded in doing was further damaging their own credibility and the credibility of President Trump. Will they learn anything from this? Not likely.
18
So in Comey's 1/28/17 note to the file, who is the redacted world leader who called to congratulate DT after the inauguration before Theresa May did? Judging from the length of the redaction, there would seem to be room for five letters, P,u,t,i,n would be my guess.
14
Trump comes across as a person so accustomed to having sycophants stroke his ego for him that he is not quite sure what to do now that he must do it for himself. Comey, on the other hand, thinks these memos can get him off the hook for influencing the election in a way the Russians can only wish they had done. He tried to play the puppet master but only succeeded in tangling himself up in the strings he was trying to pull.
1
Republican leaders are clearly colluding with Trump to undermine the investigation of whether he colluded with Russia to win the presidency.
Forcing DOJ to release evidence of conversations will help Trump's attorney frame explanations for Trump's statements.
Undermining of the investigation was made even more clear by the fact that the memos were leaked immediately and three top Republican committee heads put out a statement that the memos show Comey's biases.
That is about as true as Trump's tweet "James Comey Memos just out and show clearly that there was NO COLLUSION" when Comey's record of a conversation report Trump saying “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,”
There is no reason to believe that our Republican controlled Congress will hold Trump accountable. If Trump fires Rosenstein to neuter Mueller's investigation, we will need to take to the streets and send an overwhelming message to our congressional representatives that we will hold them accountable.
30
Interesting thought that what the three were "thinking" (what were they thinking?
everyone asks) was to help Trump's defense attorneys prepare for structures around the conversations; brilliant possibility; thank you.
1
It is all really quite simple for most Americans. Donald J. Trump is exactly who and what he appears to be. Republican leaders have spend the past eighteen months proactively molding themselves into his mirror image. This slow motion Greek tragedy has devolved into a bizarre death spiral for these politicians, their political party and its remaining diehard supporters.
28
I read comments about PDF export dates and "not a normal memo." Comey is telling his Trump FACTS. He is a law enforcement professional.
4
"John" wrote (below):
"These don't appear to be normal "memos" of a meeting that anyone would take but a well scripted document designed to give artificial credence to the anti Trump storyline Comey was/is promting."
Or, here's a more probable interpretation:
Comey understood the complexity and the sensitivity of the matter. He knew that no matter what ensued, the discussions during the meetings would become part of the investigations, and probably would be discussed in the public sphere. He knew that every word he would utter in the future would be parsed, with partisans looking for any possible inconsistency; and similarly, he knew that his credibility would be qestioned. So, he felt compelled to take detailed contemporaneous notes, to ensure that what was said during the meeting would be accurately preserved.
Anyone who works in law and law enforcement would know to do this in this kind of situation.
Sadly for you rabidly partisan Trumpkins, Comey's foresight, attention to detail, and consistency since then is much more credible than your far-fetched conspiracy theories.
This will matter a lot when the time comes for legal proceedings.
28
And, his testimony is already memorialized, so I have no idea what Nunes and the rest of the Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight think they will accomplish by attacking the memos.
3
If Trump weren't a witch, he wouldn't be worried about a witch hunt.
14
True! Isn't this funny and comical that Trump is subservient to Putin and in return house GOP and senate member are subservient to trump. They bend forward and backward to do his bidding.
Reading the Times’ summation, and good job, btw, refreshing to see a Trump article without a whiff of bias, these memos seem to reflect a viable working relationship handling difficult situations. I don’t see obstruction, no more and probably less than President Obama’s public proclamation that Clinton shouldn’t be charged in her email “matters”.
Think it’s time to wrap up this Special Counsel investigation and move on. The world could use a breather and Trump’s involved in some pretty significant iniatives that can affect a lot of the world. Don’t need this mostly useless distraction.
Maybe Giuliani can get things straightened out so the POTUS can stay on track.
5
This is only one of many threads that led to the Mueller investigation. The investigation should end when Mueller and his team have exhausted all of their leads, connected the dots, and made their report.
A desire to end the investigation prematurely should be viewed with suspicion.
2
But probably not. You should definitely share your input with Mr. Mueller, though, since you've given this so much thought.
1
Trump's comment about jailing journalists -- "They spend a couple days in jail, make a new friend, and they are ready to talk" -- is particularly disturbing. He is saying that journalists should be jailed and raped, and then they will reveal their sources. How remarkably disgusting. And from the President of the US.
39
"Mission Accomplished!"
Another tweet from Trump about the strikes on Syria?
No, it's what Putin and his team have been saying since early January 2017.
They wanted to influence our elections as a means to undermine our political systems, just as they've tried to do in other western democracies.
They are raising a toast in the Kremlin every week and shouting "Mission Accomplished"!
20
The Republicans' approach since Obama took office has been to take no prisoners, lie early and often, and do whatever they have to do to win, such as voter suppression, gerrymandering, whitewashing horrific WH failures (like the September 11 attacks, which GW Bush failed to stop). This is why they currently control Congress and the White House.
No more fainting couches, Democrats. Sadly, it is now too late to take the high ground in any matter involving House and Senate Republicans. If the Democrats retake the House in 2018, then they need to fight like the Republicans, or they will lose that majority in two years. Taking the House is the key to stopping much of the Trump insanity, including his obvious attempt to obstruct justice.
36
Presidents before Bush could have stopped the 9/11 attacks - it was an obvious and huge vulnerability in our system just waiting to be exploited. We were under no obligation to wait for a disaster before addressing it. The younger President Bush made many ghastly and unforced errors, but gets to share the "discredit" on that one with many people.
And that means no voting left wing purity over the Democratic party for Stein voters.
I hold every one of them, especially in the key swing states where her vote tally puts Trump's tally over the top, responsible. You are all responsible for the destruction of this country, my life, and the future of my family. You owe us all Democratic votes in 2018 and 2020.
3
Nonsense. The problem with Democrats is not that they don't cheat enough. The problem with Democrats is that they don't strongly advocate for the policies that the American People need and want.
There seem to be no words from the famously humble and self-effacing Mr. Trump that ever alluded to or admitted to his misperception about President Obama's birth certificate. I'm shocked--shocked!--to hear that he had several meetings with the then director of the FBI--a man and an agency that surely possessed the truth about the birth status of Mr. Obama--and still persevered with claims that he commanded legal and moral authority. He did, after all, spend years and a lot of (free) media time wittingly and publicly flogging that falsehood. If my memory serves, no Republican't ever (at least publicly) suggested that Trump should refrain from that crass and cynical circus act. Now Trump and his grifting, apoplectic enablers turn around and with poker faces demand rectitude and clarity from Mr. Comey.
Many are the fine or compelling novel or movie in which at the climax the villains are hoisted by their own petard. Done in by their own compulsions and ignorance, their breathtaking hypocrisy. I hope the Republican'ts are taking note that the voting American public has taken note. The lessons may serve many of them well when by this November a dozen or fifty will have lost their ability to serve the constituents they chose to deceive.
18
How do we feel about these memos being leaked almost as soon as they were released to the House Intelligence Committee?
I think we all expected that to happen, but the speed with which it happened is just unseemly and peels away any veneer of good faith that may still have existed.
21
The behavior of the Republican politicians here is deeply disturbing. The whole party seems bent on obstructing justice.
50
Exhibit A proving that the deep state exists and that those out to get Trump are working with the media (Comey writes book sharing classified conversations with president then goes on Rachel Maddow to sell it) to try to delegitimize his presidency.
The Dems and media don’t pick the president, the people do.
4
More than half of the people did not choose Trump.
And if Trumps has not done anything wrong, why does he tries to hide on procedureral grounds like some maffia capos?
10
How does this prove the Deep State? You know Comey's book, by protocol, was scoured by the FBI to make sure there wasn't anything confidential in it. Which conversations were improperly divulged on Maddow's show?
9
Exhibit A proving our president is uniquely unqualified for the office.
6
Apparently the POTUS has serious boundary issues. He doesn’t seem to know or care the roles of branches of government. It’s extremely worrisome to see how the current Congress sits idle while our democracy is in serious jeopardy.
55
Jared got an email from a source claiming members of the Russian government would like to meet with the Trump campaign about some dirt they had on Hillary.
Jared agreed to it with ardor and met with the woman, who talked mostly about adoptions.
The fact that Jared knew it was a Russian government source and still met with her is collusion.
Why is there still so much "there's no collusion" going around?
Isn't colluding with a foreign government to influence our elections treasonous?
45
Yes Mattng, except it was Donald Jr. who received the emails and set the meetings in motion.
1
Apparently there is a tweet from the president this morning suggesting that Mr. Comey's book "should never have been written". The president probably could have prevented this book from appearing in 2018 by simply not firing Director Comey.
A fired Mr. Comey is a private citizen with a desire to serve the public, no other income, and a story to tell - enough of a story to force an investigation even if current investigations were somehow halted. Director Comey would have only minimal spare time to write a book in the unlikely event he chose to do so while in office. Even if he started on one, it might not be published until after his term ended years from now.
I wonder if this oh-so-complex analysis was somewhere in Mr. Comey's subconscious and contributed to his surprise at being fired. I have been surprised a few times by amoral people demonstrating a shocking lack of foresight (hopefully I will be not be surprised by this in the future), and this episode is one of those times.
8
" "...[COMEY] never once mentioned the most relevant fact of all, which was whether he felt obstructed in his investigation,” they wrote."
The pertinent fact is that Comey has testified under oath. To this date, Trump has not testified about these matters under oath. Let's wait for that possibility before making any conclusions.
14
Obviously, the portions of the memo pertaining to the Russian investigation are the most important but there is another brief mention I find mind-boggling. At the end of the documents, the "president" brings up Egypt and a situation where a soldier has killed US citizens. Mr. Comey has to correct him that this happened in Jordan. I am truly aghast. We are hanging by the slenderest of threads, folks.
37
I read Comey’s memos. He wrote on February 8, 2017 that he had a meeting with Trump at the Oval Office, and that Trump spoke again of the “Golden Showers thing” which obviously “bothered” him, because he mentioned the issue several times in his meeting with Comey.
Trump called the allegation that he watched Russian prostitutes urinate on each other in a Moscow hotel room in 2013 “nonsense.” He then alleged that Putin told him this: “We have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world.” Comey added that Trump didn’t tell him, “when Putin had told him this” and he didn’t “recall....”
Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri Peskov has today denied that Putin had spoken to Trump about Russian prostitutes. Yet days before Trump’s inauguration, during the joint news conference with the Moldovan president, Putin joked about the salacious allegations, defending Trump and attacking those who cited the Steele dossier:
"Did Trump really come and meet with Moscow prostitutes? Firstly he is an adult, and secondly he is a person who for many years has organized a beauty pageant, socialized with the most beautiful women in the world. It is hard to believe that he ran to a hotel to meet with our girls of a low social class, although they are the best in the world," Putin said, while deriding women who sell their bodies.
Trump seems a bad liar, and perhaps the incident wasn't ficticious.
16
On Thursday a presidential motorcade raced to the Capitol. I'm guessing it was Trump headed for Mitch McConnell's office to see the memos and instruct Mitch on damage control.
And if you think I think Mitch McConnell already is fully aware of facts indicating unambiguous obstruction of justice, you're right.
12
The Republican response is noteworthy. Goodlatte, Nunes, and Gowdy are demanding a conclusion from Comey while Comey is providing a description. I'll point out the obvious: Comey is a law enforcement official; he doesn't have the authority to pass judgement. We should also note bias is intrinsic to any human observation. You can only see the world through your own two eyes. The Democratic response would have been defensive regardless but the Republican attack is nonsensical. Talk about bias. Please.
17
So following that thread, Comey's views on whether he felt pressured or obstructed are not valid since he doesn't have the authority to pass judgement
In the context of writing memos, no. He was still the FBI director at the time. He was attempting to be an impartial observer collecting evidence. He also had no way of knowing the information that has come to light since these conversations occurred. A document or conversation suggesting a conclusion would be inappropriate.
There's a better argument in wondering why Comey didn't express his interpretation of events during Senate testimony AFTER he was fired. However, seeing as his investigation was still ongoing even without his presence, I don't see why he would willingly divulge that information on national television. The memos were only released under threat.
By the way, I don't remember Gowdy digging too deep during the Comey testimony either. I won't even mention Sessions. These guys are partisan yes-men. You don't have to like Comey to disrespect them.
The lowest point in American media in my lifetime came when most publications and networks let themselves become a propaganda tool for the W Bush administration's disastrous invasion of Iraq which was based on misleading evidence, to put it mildly. Much of the media supported the bullying tactics of the administration which were meant to intimidate those opposed to the war.
The second lowest point for me has been the all-out propaganda war on DJT, a POTUS I don't even like. For the past two years much ink and airtime has been devoted to misleading and inaccurate headlines based largely on rumor, leaks and innuendo designed to destroy a presidency and shame his supporters. The main stream media has become ten times bigger, more biased and dangerous than Fox News ever was.
The New York Times, WAPO, CNN and MSNBC all promised a story of DJT collusion and corruption of earth-shaking importance that stole the election from HRC. What we are now discovering is that those who have been accusing and condemning -- including the "objective" media -- are far more corrupt and dangerous than DJT.
Oh, and in regard to these Comey memos, where's the beef? Seems to corroborate DJT's view of things.
5
I do respect your viewpoint. But all of the evidence that DJT's campaign (most likely not in his recollection, because Comey's notes show what an apparent dotard DJT is!) communicating directly with Russians about dirt on HRC don't worry you at all?
Remember that best estimates the day of the election held DJT had a 1-in-4 chance of him winning. A lot of people in battleground states simply stayed home instead of voting b/c they believed HRC was going to win, while Russian bots + sock puppets on Facebook swayed enough people in battleground states to show up and vote. And that's how we got here.
But going forward, all that we need to do for evil to win is for a now-awakened electorate to do nothing. That's what many of us are pursuing, with the help of courageous reporting (remember Trump's threats to throw reporters in jail and "meet a new friend"?) by the same media you've lambasted.
1
How do you know the media is far more corrupt than DJT (which mind you is a hard thing to do), when Mueller's investigation has not been finalized? And have you forgotten about the current indictments to date around Manafort and his sphere of cronies? I suggest you read up on some of that before you point fingers around who is more corrupt in this whole mess that we call the DJT presidency...
1
The propaganda being peddled to dilute facts are coming from Fox News. You’ve been watching WAY TOO MUCH.
2
Funny, the memos don't change anyone's minds. The right sees them as vindication, and the left sees them as evidence of obstruction. What I see as an American is that this President is different, rising out of a substantial frustration with the status quo in the body politic. Incredibly, he won the election, but has been under sustained attack since then. His personality is not overly refined and he has a large ego. He is clearly bothered by the constant criticism and it is distracting many of his efforts, thus the chaos. Which leads the left to double down, sensing blood in the water. We are so polarized now I do fear a civil war. Our system does not work anymore because huge swaths of people do not accept the outcome and actively obstruct it. Neither party can accomplish anything other than gaining and holding power for a short time. Any gains are reversed when the opposing party gets in. Woe to America.
6
Because of the polarisation of our society, the political polarization, people don't see the truth in what you've posted. The left is looking and calling you someone on the right and the right is looking and thinking "yeah you agree with us". However, from looking at what you've posted, I believe you've hit the nail on the head succinctly. We are so polarized, that in November the world is going to turn upside down again when the Democrats take office.
I believe that we could benefit greatly from having one or two more political parties that truly represent the people of this country. That may mean that the far-right becomes a party of Their Own and the moderate middle becomes a party. The Republicans will remain the party of Big Business and the Democrats the party of global engagement. Their may be a need for the far Left, which will be as tiny as the far Right, to form a party. No, I am not advocating parlimentary action, but having people in office who actually represent the country.
Otherwise, we are running the risk of a Civil War. And it won't be good. Of course no war is good, but the tools that we have now, including our electronic tools, will make this war longer and more devastating then the first Civil War. Read American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, a book by Colin Woodard. I can see the trade wars being brutal!
1
Comey’s memos documenting his interactions with Trump, like Trump’s own blathering tweets, are Rorschach inkblot tests.
4
These memos reinforce the fact that Trump compulsively defends himself by screaming that anyone in government who either directly opposes him or is in a position he can't control (e.g. McCabe) is to be discounted as "partisan." He apparently can't appreciate the fact that our government has many people who view their job as a public service and who value personal integrity - attitudes utterly alien to himself.
29
Trump's constant return to "Hillary this, Hillary that" reminds me of my relationship with my sister.
I once crashed the family car after a long night of teenage drinking. When I was grounded for a month, I complained that my sister (an irritating do-gooder) had once left the car windows open in the rain and nothing was done to her.
18
Several Trump tweets a day attacking James Comey and a raft of new lawyers tells us that Trump is in full panic mode.
Godspeed, Mr Mueller!
29
The one response out of all of the Comey interviews that made the most sense to me about why he announced the Clinton investigation right before the election-he said it was clear she was going to win, and he was concerned that half of the country would view her election as illegitimate when news of the investigation came out later - and that would be brutally divisive for our country.
What Comey probably should have predicted, though, is that an even more horrific kind of division has taken place with Trump. He's sowing cruelty, racism and destruction of civil rights at heights, or depths, never seen before in a presidential administration.
As for Trump's demand for a Flynn pardon, and for all the other criminals in his administration that he wants to give a free pass to, when Trump says Let My People Go, it's the opposite of spiritual. In the evangelical-speak of his supporters, it's a deal with the devil.
8
Trump has exploited racism, but I sincerely doubt he has created much of it. It is tempting to think our attitudes and social problems would be vastly different had Clinton won a close election, but this is probably not the case.
Trump avoids recording anything. He just reacts via tweet. He can produce no notes of his meetings. Lawyers know the importance of contemporaneous recordation of events. Judges definitely understand the importance. I doubt Trump chronicles much beyond tweets so it will be merely his "recollection" of events. Clearing the room clears the way for one recollection v. another; however, a contemporaneous recordation should have more evidentiary weight.
23
Amazing that the Republicans think that these memos would help Trump. Amazing that the Republicans immediately released the memos to the media. No, not amazing. This is what they do.
117
I think, at least in part, they were just playing to Trump's base.
5
Because they know Fox, Hannity and the right-wing echo chamber will not show the memos in their entirety, only what Trump apologists say about them. I’m sure I’ll be hearing those talking points delivered verbatim up here in Trumpland.
5
My thought exactly: the memos were immediately leaked. Anyone heard any outrage from the Republicans about leakers? Their hypocristy and sense of entitlement are staggering.
3
Come caused the most grievous harm to the USA when early in the campaign he decided not to indict HRC. Doing so would have forced the Democratic Party to nominate another candidate for POTUS and anyone they chose would have won.
3
Then what about all the other people in government that have used a private email server? HRC was not the first to do this. Are there any laws against the use of a private email server?
8
That would have caused far more grievous harm to this country and every one in it, including you. Here in the US we do not indict private citizens for political reasons. We are a nation of laws.
Or at least we were. . . .
3
Are you forgetting that Condi Rice and Colin Powell also used private servers? Perhaps that is the reason these Republicans decided not to prosecute Hillary Clinton........that plus the fact that Colin Powell had some unfavorable comments about that so-called investigation.
2
The article notes "“What follows are notes I typed In the vehicle Immediately upon exiting Trump Tower on 1/5/17,” Mr. Comey writes at the beginning of his first memo, sent the next day to his deputy director, chief of staff and the F.B.I.’s chief counsel." - the pdf of the memo shows that as 1/6/17.
2
A correction was published today at the end of the article.
Why? because they could. He could fire him.. He could write a book. End of discussion.
Too much power in a single pair of hands??
So far as Hillary and the e-mails..YIKES... but IMO more of an excuse than anything else in terms of the voters. Her sense of entitlement, the bad treatment of Sanders in the press -- and that we had already lived thru one Clinton presidency (subsitute regime to see how words matter!).
Most of us know that computers, servers can be hacked and should have learned not to put inflammatory stuff into writing (altho some people seem to have a super high need for secrecy eg. not telling their age or sill things like that...
2
I can understand why someone would not want their personal details published. It would leave them open to have such information used against them.
give it up
So these are the conversations between the newly elected administration and the head of the FBI
Political revenge
Disparaging reputations
Salacious videos
Nailing leakers to a door
Nothing about the safety and security of the Country, it’s people or its voting systems.
We were doomed even before the inauguration
136
Trump asking Comey “ I hope you can see him clear” is the same as telling Comey to “shut down the investigation”? That is a very, very long stretch by Comey&Co. Do any of Comeys notes refer to being told to shut down the investigation? No.
It’s no wonder why people refer to this as a gratuitous witch hunt by bitter Democrats.
5
Comey’s notes are a record of the conversation, both sides, as best he could recall. If somebody didn’t say it, don’t expect every comment to be passed and interpreted in commentary at the time of recording such notes.
3
Why would any President ever express any "hope" to an FBI director about the outcome of any investigation? Other than that it be carried out vigorously and impartially, to the fullest extent of the law?
6
Yes, they're pretty much the same thing in the context of the discussion and the situation.
3
It sure sounds like Trump was trying to influence Comey to stop the Flynn investigation. I certainly trust Comey’s notes a heck of lot more than Trump’s memory
58
These don't appear to be normal "memos" of a meeting that anyone would take but a well scripted document designed to give artificial credence to the anti Trump storyline Comey was/is promting.
6
If that is the case, it is very hard to understand the reason why they were released to the public. Who ordered that?
I guess "appearance" is in the eye of the beholder. It appears to me that Comey's line of work demanded attention to facts & details, so he documented his interactions with Trump while they were fresh in his mind. It appears to me that his recollection of what transpired is considerably more reliable than the liar-in-chief's.
https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/14/politics/trump-fact-checker-1628/index.html
2
They aren’t artificial—while you’re just learning about them—they were written back when it happened. You seriously believe a career agent of our government was plotting pre swearing in to get fired and write this book? Some folks are just too dumb.
The memos provide more intimate detail, but the basic argument for "obstruction of justice" belongs to the president himself, who cleared the room to ask the head of the F.B.I. to "let go" of the Flynn investigation, and then stated on the record in interview with Lester Holt on NBC that he fired Comey to get rid of the Russian investigation. You don't have to even include that he called Comey "a real nut job" in the Oval Office with only two Russians present and stated the Russian investigation will now be over. He is a known serial liar and has never been held accountable for anything in his life, which is why he continues in the same way, as President of the United States of America. The day of reckoning is coming for Trump and justice will be served. No one is above the law in America. In Russia, Putin can bully his way to enriching himself and his oligarchs as an authoritarian leader, while killing opponents and attacking the press, but in America we do things differently. Too bad our President continues to give false equivalence to compare our countries and buddy up to Putin. We now, and never will be, a nation who will allow one man or woman rule. That is why we first became these United States and those freedoms our "so-called" president continues to attack, are the very freedoms many have died to protect and uphold.
58
What are the odds that Trump read all 15 single-spaced pages of these Comey memos before his tweet of last night? I'm betting against.
I have read them, and one thing is unequivocal. It is that they most definitely do not "show clearly that there was no collusion and no obstruction." They were not even about collusion or obstruction unless one construes Trump's request to go easy on Flynn to constitute obstruction, but Comey's memos never conclude either way.
The memos are what Comey said they were, a written record of his conversations with Trump. They are no more than that.
One cannot blame Trump for wanting to defend himself, but his continual, blatant lying in that pursuit mitigates greatly against that defense.
52
It doesn't matter what they say; many of his most ardent supporters will not read them either and simply take his word as truth.
1
I haven't read Mr. Comey's book yet, and I will, but as of today my take is that he is an ethical person who exercised very poor judgement in regard to the October re-opening of the Clinton investigation and his one on one dealing with Mr. Trump. As far as the October incident, a better sense of the content of the emails discovered should have been gained before notifying Congress. And Trump- he should have just told him that this one on one contact was deeply improper and he would not participate.
10
THIS is the smoking gun the rabid right wing cultists in congress were threatening impeachment over? Just like the Nunes "memo," it looks like another exploding cigar. The spawn of Tailgunner Joe McCarthy continue to shred the rule of law for an authoritarian gangster - while "adults" like Ryan and McConnell look on in stony silence. Nixon infamously said, "When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal." Imagine these deranged zealots in his corner four decades ago.
18
Interesting but uninformative. Time to get back to reality. I support the President. I support Trump. Thank you.
7
You support a mendacious, lying grifter. Nothing more to add, just wanted to remind you where you stand
2
Comey was certain that Clinton would win and thus, made decisions as if she had won. After her win he worked on the witch hunt that the Russians helped him.
It’s as if no one should be elected without his approval. If by chance they are, he will work with all the mainstream media to either take him down or make him resign.
The deep state and democrats can not accept he won and is working everyday to honor his campaign promises.
3
Keep telling yourself that, since you can choke down someone like Trump, choking down his garbage shouldn't be hard. Trump did not get the popular vote and he does not have the support of the majority of the people in this country, or the world for that matter. He's yours. You own him, and you will own the legacy he leaves. Deal with it.
2
A well written record of an event/events is/are more valuable than a spontaneous 'cuss' out. Bullies fear the well written word.....and truth. There is nothing transient about Comey's intellectual assault on Trump. Without his bespoke tailored suit and imposing height on display, the open neck shirted ex FBI Director sat and excoriated the POTUS. This part of his record is part of history and will be analysed ad nauseum. Hopefully the Trump descendants find solace in this reality. Their antecedent was a jerk and undeserving of the statue overlooking the bathroom facilities of a defunct golfing facility.
14
Really, what were Nunes, Gowdy, and Goodlatte thinking? I realize the Trump base will spin these revelations to their advantage, but the fact that they have given us an even clearer (as if we needed one) image of an obsessed, fearful man. He hates the press, he dumped on Flynn, and really, he proves that the dossier is real though he states otherwise. I have no doubt that Trump is not running the country. Others are making the decisions and he just mouths or signs something. Someone told Trump to fire Comey .... and he did....As for the Republican Congress....many of them are not doing their party or their president any favors. There is no honor with such machinations as these.
41
Mr.Comey talked to President Obama two times during his presidency.Mr.Obama was clearly focused on governing and working to pass legislation.Mr.Trump, on the other hand, spoke with Mr.Comey nine times in four months.He was obsessed with information about his own activities and that of those around him.Mr Trump had no time or inclination to think of the American electorate.He was focused on his reputation and and tabloid gossip- he never left his New York life.
62
Whether you hate him or like him Comey has both a legal mind and a detail orientation that support both his credibility and his re-statement of what happened. Did he make some mistakes in judgement probably.
However, who would you rather trust as a witness, he or Trump? Not even a shadow of a doubt.
The Republicans release of his notes will just add to his credibility...a desparate attempt to save Trump without any real strategy.
The rats are leaving a sinking ship.
40
@Mgk-----------------------------------Yes, the rats are leaving a sinking ship. Remember, though, that rats are actually intelligent animals. It's the stupid that go down with a sinking ship. In other words, the rats are going to survive, carrying their plans with them. Newt Gingrich is an example.
Comey didn't leak anything.
Releasing your own memos, that are not classified, is not a leak. Comey never swore to keep conversations with the president secret, and is not legally bound to do so.
The loyalty of public servants is supposed to go to We the People, not who ever the president happens to be. If the Director of the FBI thinks he has information that the American People need to know, then he is obligated to share it with us, as the source of all government power.
This is not a monarchy. No government employee owes Trump personal loyalty. And no one owes him, as a citizen or president, keeping his conversations secret.
39
If portions of memos are not classified then why are they redacted?
@Wondering: Who redacted them? If Congressional Trump sycophants did, the answer is obvious.
1
Anyone one with a reasonable thinking process should know who is telling the truth and who keeps on lying. I was in law enforcement for 24 years, one of the first things we learned at the academy was to take good notes. Use a different note book each time, as you would need it later if you had to go to court. Often times months if not years would go by before court, the notes were to help recall/jog ones memory. I can see where being in a conversation with someone like trump would tell them, I better keep notes as they may be needed at a later time. Turns out Comey was not only smart but correct.
816
I was a union rep at my workplace for 17 years. I I told my coworkers to document every contact they had with their supervisors after meetings and sometimes with other coworkers in 2 ways: (1) sending an e-mail confirming details of their conversations with electronic receive & read and (2) print copy for their own records to keep in a journal at home with any other documentation, establishing an audit trail. I would tell them to write a brief account of their work every day in these journals.This was to protect workers if they were targeted for potential firing and if there were conflicting accounts of assignments, etc. For those who were targeted or who were disciplined beyond what was necessary, the journals were invaluable in grievances and Skelly hearings. Also, stressed out workers could read their journals and realize that they were well-paid competent workers. My mantra was: document, document, document.
8
Where you taking good notes on every interaction with your superiors? I believe you took notes when you were on assignment, pursuing a case.
Correct. This how police officers and diligent public officials act in this sort of situation.
It is prudent that the public have access to these memos. As for those who are making light of specific descriptions of where people were, what they looked like, etc., in these meetings where Mr. Comey was, I say this: you know nothing about documentation. These descriptions add credence to what occurred which, of course, is what the memos are really about. I am currently reading Mr. Comey's new memo and am impressed. I do believe that it is quite possible that Mr. Trump is now sitting in the Oval Office instead of Mrs. Clinton because of what Mr. Comey did only days before the election, rehashing the email issue. All of which, of course, makes this totally ironic because had Mr. Comey not done so and had Mrs. Clinton been elected (she was in one respect by the majority of voters), Mr. Comey might well still be in the position from which he was fired. We are living in much more peril because Donald J. Trump won more votes in the Electoral College. I think Mr. Comey's book and these memos will only add more substance to the case being made that Trump has to be fired! And as soon as possible although I also fear a Pence presidency.
71
Dream all you want but you're wrong. Let's take it back a step further: If Mr. Comey had done his job in the first place, Hillary Clinton would be facing jail time.
1
Yeats was intending this passage of his poem The Second Coming to represent another time and place.
However, it seems to fit well into the issues we have today, the men who have power in our government, the man who is called POTUS, those who support him and the GOP congress.
"The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity."
15
Its too bad Comey cashed in though, too bad.
Its too bad he makes everything he touches seem motivated by personal grudges and politics, too bad.
Regardless of one's personal politics, its too bad he's contributed to the devaluation of our government.
7
Before he cashed in, he did what any loyal American, especially those in our justice system, should do: he recorded facts of wrongdoing, kept it well documented and reported on it.
He's tried to hew to that line that our nation is based on: we are a nation of laws and no one is above the law.
7
To watch Rachel Maddow interview James Comey as the memos were leaked was to witness the function of media at its best: she a consummate interviewer, and Comey as honest and forthcoming as we would expect the FBI director to be. What Nunes’ profligate gang of thugs expected as an attempt to sabotage Comey himself as well as Mueller’s investigation instead turned out to verify that Comey has been a consistent witness to the truth all along.
What the American public must keep in mind is that there are many pieces of this Russian/Trump connection that are under investigation.
We must, at all costs, protect Mueller to complete it without interference from Giuliani or other Republican obfuscators to the truth.
We are blessed in having a free press and patriots like Comey and Mueller at a time when our government is being undermined by the Republican Party.
323
I saw also the Rachel Maddow interview and thought she and the interview was excellent. Thank God for the Press!
14
The free press/media is the only thing that will save us from the tyranny of Trump and his GOP minions from turning this country into a banana republic with the daily diet of lies and depraved corruption.
Love Rachel Maddow as well.
8
These memos are another example that Trumpworld should be called Obstructionland. Fantasyland is too kind.
Oh - But Giuliani will negotiate a settlement to the Mueller investigation. Has one been offered? Reality v. Trump wins another round.
42
I was a white collar prosecutor for years. These memos are riveting, and are great examples of exactly what you want a good investigator to do - record facts (not opinions) as soon as possible, in a dispassionate manner, with no judgment. Yes. this is how it is done.
By demanding their release, Trump's bumbling loyalists in Congress only served to corroborate what is all too apparent - Comey does not lie. And Trump does. (But we already knew that. )
480
Yes!
We are a nation of laws, no one is above the law.
It's too bad that Fox & Friends (Infowars, Rush and others of that ilk) can't seem to understand that Trump isn't above the law.
10
Much of this information was already public knowledge through Comey's testimony and his new book. Was this demand an attempt to help Trump fire Rosenstein? Sure looks that way. And they wasted no time leaking these documents to the press. What will the GOP Congressional radicals ask for next? I have a feeling getting these documents is just a prelude for another ask. And all of this to protect Trump who is under investigation.
26
Talk about blowing up in your face. Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor ( and not a very good one at that judging on his Hillary Clinton cross examination and overall investigation) has recently given up running for re-election. He's given signs that he's in back of Mueller such that one might forget for the moment that's he's nothing but a partisan hack or as John Kelly would say "an empty barrel".
He should know what a good FBI agent does. He's experienced judging witness credibility issues.
I was at first dismayed that Comey would publish his book now and go on his interview tour. But his credibility to tell the truth has been on display for the country to see and judge versus that of Trump's. Not even in the same league let alone the same ballpark. It has gone extremely well. And thank you Gowdy, Nunanes and Goodlatte you've made him look even better.
71
I think anyone who has any conversation with Mr. Trump would be wise to tape it. I am saddened that the Republican party has sunk so low as to support Mr. Trump. Apparently they would rather see our democracy fail then to lose power.
The retirement train is getting longer. Can't take a chance on being defeated in an election and lose the golden benefits.
89
Not quite sure what they were trying to accomplish when they released these memos, but it sure looks like they accomplished something quite the opposite.
Comey has great foresight and integrity, and is consistent, detailed, and virtuous.
Trump is everything but.
201
Many managers keep administrative memos of meetings after they have met with superiors or with subordinates -- especially when they may be difficult relationships. It is a common practice often encouraged by HR departments. These memos are no different. If Republicans think they got their hands on something Bigly they are wrong.
52
They know they’re wrong but they hope the average trump supporter won’t know this.
3
While no fan of Mr. Comey, I am regularly amazed by the GOP congressional sycophants who will seize on the tiniest disclosure of Comey regarding something extraneous as evidence of Comey's lack of objectivity. ("Oh my stars, Director Comey noted what the dessert course was for dinner - he's a runaway freight train!!!") All the while ignoring that members of Trump's team and family met with Russian agents, and members of his team have been indicted and have pleaded guilty to crimes involving obstruction and election interference. And ignoring the fact that Trump himself has steadfastly refused to reveal any information about his supposed wealth or dealings with Russia.
For a group that loves to call others "snowflakes" it sure seems like the GOP congress has a lot of whingers in it.
159
What’s with all those blackened spaces? Who did the redactions, the Tea Party three? Are not redactions for certain CIA or national security documents merely for the purpose of protecting anonymous sources? What is national security here, or is it for Trumpian security?
7
What jumps out from these memos is the totally inappropriate, and frequent, contact, between Donald Trump and James Comey. The Executive is required to honor the independence of the FBI by going through his counsel to have any contact at all with the FBI Director. This "firewall" or "guardrail" was breached almost immediately and repeatedly finally leading Mr. Comey to remind Attorney General Jeff Sessions of its inappropriateness. Clearly, these memos are or should be Exhibit A in "OBSTRUCTION." It's obvious that Michael Flynn was not the only one with "'serious judgment issues.'"
169
Okay, the President's tweet is a lie. No; it contains two lies. First, the memos do not show "no collusion" and "no obstruction." Secondly, James Comey did not "leak" classified information. His memoranda were conveyed to Department of Justice Officials who had appropriate clearances and a need to know. When will Trump ever be held accountable for his constant lying?
265
Shortly after he testifies under oath?
12
I won't forget, and I hope others will not forget, that President Trump is attempting to destroy our justice system and Americans' trust in it, to save his own sorry hide. And that Congressional Republicans are aiding and abetting his attempted destruction, in order to save theirs.
Their actions make a mockery of Republican claims to have been the "law and order party" and their loud and false claims that Democrats undercut law enforcement.
It chills me to the bone these malevolent people are attacking a cornerstone of our democracy, intentionally seeking to degrade it.
284
I keep telling people that by attacking the honesty of the last 2 directors of the FBI, the Republicans are creating a situation where charges leveled against anyone by the FBI are suspect. I assume if these Republicans believe the men running the FBI are liars, then these same Republicans should be calling for any charges by the FBI on anyone charged during the time Comey and McCabe ran the FB,I should be immediately released. You can not claim the FBI was ran by liars, but we should believe that everyone-other than Trump-charged during their time is guilty. Only a matter of time before defense lawyers begin claiming the FBI was ran by liars and charges against their clients must be dropped. That is the real danger these accusations are creating.
1
The inescapable conclusion that one must take from reading the memos, as well as listening to the interviews this week of James Comey, is that he is entirely truthful and consistent.
What is also inescapable is the certainty that the GOP representatives in Congress who threatened Rod Rosenstein's job unless he released the memos would leak them to the public before the day was out.
Where is the vaunted Republican worship of the Rule of Law? Where is their courage, and where is their shame for lacking it? It seems a bit hypocritical of them to be outraged at the leaking of non-classified material by whistle-blowers, while attempting to impugn a valid investigation with lies and innuendo.
639
...a lot hypocritical...
3
James Comey consistently and truthfully mismanaged the Hillary Clinton e-mail server matter.
Rod Rosenstein consistently and truthfully mismanaged James Comey's firing.
If, in fact, he didn't stay the night in Moscow, it then seems even more likely that he wouldn't care about soiling the bed.
79
But he did stay the night, according to testimony from his long time body guard.
Lie, lie, lie.
4
Unfortunately naught but a dot in a series on the line of inquiry. Without hard corroboration, it’s another opportunity for partisan lawmakers, voters, and media to rationalize away evidence of obstruction, to shout “conspiracy”, and “corruptions at the highest levels” of thee FBI. In the absence of unassailable facts, the memos may inadvertently aid the corrptors of democracy.
4
In the memos Trump says he left Russia on the same day. Yet, Schiller said he delivered Trump to his hotel room at the end of the evening. But, does not know what happened after that. Both can’t be true. All this in reference to the night when the alleged tape was made.
60
if that disgusting night went as described by the dossier? those prostitutes are either dead or retired and living the high life somewhere.
James Comey's memoranda, for all that may be said about his interference in the 2016 elections, carry with them the exquisite ring of truth. As befits the nation's top law enforcement--at the time--he dutifully documented every communication--in person and telephonic--with the president. Donald Trump's rebuttals and tweets stand in direct contradiction, of course, and none can possibly bear the weight of honest denial.
I wasn't in that Moscow hotel in 2013 but I do know one thing about Donald Trump: he is fixated upon sex. This "golden showers" episode has come down upon him and he has no umbrella to protect his reputation (what there is of it) or his relationship with his wife. Additionally, this incident of prostitutes urinating upon each other in which President and Mrs. Obama once slept opens up a deeply disturbing psychological portrait of the man who is now the president of the United States.
The Trump White House is a chaotic mass of parts flying around without purpose. No one knows who is doing what or what he (or she) is doing. The president is deeply obsessed with how he is viewed in the larger world. He clearly, in my unprofessional judgment, attempted to interfere with the F.B.I.'s investigation into "the Russia thing."
All that's comforting from this tawdriness is that Robert Mueller is in possession of these documents--without the redactions. We are at a time in our nation's history when we need to decide who, what, and how we ought to be going forward.
237
@sox -- the president's claim that he is concerned for his wife's feelings about the water sports accusation is patently false. If he were truly concerned about her feelings, he wouldn't have had dalliances with other women, especially while nursing their child right after his birth.
15
“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Mr. Trump said, according to the memo.
Yeah, actually, that is pretty much textbook obstruction, right there.
407
What textbooks are you reading. Comey said elsewhere he did not feel pressured and that Trump said that he wanted others in WH investigated if there were indications that crimes had been committed.
2
correct - he said he didn't feel pressured.
that doesn't take anything away from what trump said. asking the director of the investigation to "let [the investigation] go" is quite definitely obstructing justice.
whether Comey felt pressured or not is after the fact. he's clearly a career professional so would not feel pressured because he knows what he was asked to do by 45 was beyond the pale.
3
Please get your textbook out and explain. Thanks.
Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey that he had reservations about Mr. Flynn: “The guy has serious judgment issues.”
But, under whose judgment was Flynn put in the White House - despite President Obama's warning, no less?
Trump was trying to weasel the appearance of some distance between himself and Flynn, a bad actor with whom Trump, in reality, had no daylight.
142
sounds like the "poor judgement" our criminal president referred to was the poor job of scheduling the putin call back. sounds like flynn was not with the program when it came to honoring putin at the expense of our country.
2
As I recall President Obama warned Trump about Flynn. Why didn't he heed his warning? I think we all know the answer to that question.
155
Please publish more about the conversation in which Trump allegedly suggested jailing reporters to force them to reveal their sources. That is -- if true -- absolutely appalling.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/business/media/trumps-urging-that-com...
237
Republican congressmen may regret forcing these memos into public view. Trump's preoccupation with Russian prostitutes, his political animus against Mr. McCabe, his disagreement with the decision to not prosecute Hillary Clinton despite the investigation, and his continual referencing of Mr. Comey's job status linked with loyalty expectations all confirm Mr. Comey's comments as do the president's hints and directives about his personal wishes.
It is odd that the Gowdy/Nunes/Goodlatte statement mischaracterizes the memos so completely. They say that Comey "was willing to work for someone he deemed morally unsuited for office, capable of lying, requiring of personal loyalty, worthy of impeachment, and sharing the traits of a mob boss." None of this is in the memos which documented contemporaneous meetings with the president elect or president. These are referencing his recent book instead. They complain about his leaking "at least one of these memos" in spite of the fact that they forced the release of all of them.
The FBI director does not work for the president, but for the Justice Department, and he swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution.
Are Congressional Republicans so willing to work for someone morally unsuited for office (e.g., praise for white supremacists, sex scandals, paying of hush money, boasts about sexual assaults), capable of lying thousands of times, and requiring of personal loyalty?
549
While we are discussing "intimate looks" it would also be appropriate to examine the implications of these writings on the character of James Comey. We shall see what the unredacted versions add to the conversation. The pace at which DOJ and FBI are responding to congressional requests for information seems to indicate there is a lot of story to be told.
14
Assume the best of the FBI and CIA management and you still have to ask, how is it that the CIA and the FBI did not realize that confronting an incoming president with a "salacious and unverified dossier" was not going to inflame his reactionary personality? These are the people that are supposed to evaluate and advise on foreign leaders and they couldn't get a better read on our president.
Comey's memo strikes me given my legal training as a premeditated plan to protect himself. These self-serving documents (if they were part of Comey's plan to protect his job) turn from credible accounts of what occurred to pre-planned propaganda.
10
Can't imagine why anyone working with Trump would not want to protect themselves. The man is unpredictable, dishonest, and dangerous--he's proved that over and over again.
23
"...how is it that the CIA and the FBI did not realize that confronting an incoming president with a "salacious and unverified dossier" was not going to inflame his reactionary personality?"
The motive was to inform, not to inflame. Trump assured us he could be presidential. That he is not presidential in his behavior is not the Justice Department's fault. You are obviously viewing the memos through a Republican lens. The rest of us can see from the memos, that Trump can never be presidential, and Comey documented that.
55
I'm not sure why a "premeditated plan to protect himself" seems ill-advised, given the, let's say "mercurial" nature of the president.
23
Rod J. Rosenstein, by handing over the memos, still part of the Russia investigation, has created a precedent that undermines the independence of the Justice Department. The fact that the memos were immediately leaked upon receipt so that Nunes et al use it as ammunition against Comey shows these 'lawmakers" are not at all interested in law and order, only in handling (by pleasing) the individual described so promptly and devastatingly by the former FBI director.
300
@Leigh: If Rosenstein had refused to release the memos, they would have pretended it was grounds to remove him from his job. These three Republicans didn't want the memos released. They were hoping for ammunition they could use against Rosenstein so they could replace him with a Trump toady and derail the investigation.
29
Comey was the first to leak these memos via his Columbia professor friend. Why should we not see them too?
2
Why is Comey's release of his own memos called a 'leak" when they were never classified? They belonged to him, and they were his to give to anyone he chose.
12
The Republican statement is nutty. Comey’s memos are clearly objective reports from memory of what happened during the meetings. Conclusions about obstruction of justice would have come later after reflecting on what happened. The chairman are really stretching.
182
Kinda hard to see what all the fuss is about. These interactions form the basis of the Mueller probe?
11
@Dady: No, the firing of Comey to end the "pressure" Trump was feeling from the FBI's Russia investigation triggered the Mueller probe. Trump admitted at least twice that this was his motivation--to Lester Holt and to the Russians he invited to the Oval Office.
15
No, they don’t form the basis of the Russia probe. They are merely documentation of several specific interactions between Comey and Trump.
The basis of the Russia probe was established before the election. The House and Senate Intelligence committees also started probes after the election. The FBI’s investigation had started before the election and, as Director, Comey was nominally in charge. Only after his firing in May did Rosenstein appoint Mueller as counsel to investigate.
16
This is just one thread of multiple threads that led to the Mujer investigation.
3
Trump is our long national nightmare, and he will continue to be.
207
...until he will no longer be president, (or free if he is convicted of some of the crimes he has committed).
5
When he goes, the "American carnage will end" right then and there.
8
How the Tea Party Three can't see how Director Comey felt "obstructed" is unbelievable.
What did they think he should write? That he despised this president, felt he was being squeezed, secretly harbored liberal leanings, and wanted to overthrow Donald Trump?
Come on. Comey wrote like the careful, detailed FBI official he was, amplified by excellent "writerly" descriptions as was noted by legal pundits last night.
The one thing we do know is this: Director Comey never felt compelled to document his interactions with any president before Donald Trump. We also know he felt very "uncomfortable" in his presence when alone as he testified following his firing.
But something extremely important happened last night. This forced release of memos reinforces the lengths to which Donald Trump has torn down the wall between the branches of government.
This unprecendented demand by Congress for documents related to an ongoing investigation can't be taken back.
For however long we keep our system of government, this political horse can't be put back in the barn.
GOP may come to regret their extreme politicization of judicial issues if and when Democrats gain power.
But in the end, it's the generations to come that will never know what America used to be.
733
Indeed, Christine. The Tea Party set itself out to destroy our government and ensure that progress not occur. They co-opted the Republican Party so thoroughly that Republicans as we knew them are but a memory. I will never understand how an independent judiciary is a danger in their minds.
It's a hard-line, conspiracy fueled agenda that views everyone as a potential enemy. They want to arm children, deny public education, deplete the earth's resources and somehow get people to think that's freedom.
81
Comey brought this upon himself by leaking the documents. He could have presented them to the Justice Department. But he wanted Mueller appointed after he was fired, so he leaked.
Why should we not see memos too? Many have said there is little in here that has not already been made public.
2
should the democratic party ever gain control over congress? many rules that are currently on the honor system will need to be enshrined in law. if they do not do this? THEN we will know our system of government is over and money has won.
16
This release is going to backfire on the Republicans. it might be red meat to the Trump base, but most people will see from the memos that Comey was being a straight shooter with Trump.
504
maybe, but a lot of them will be spoon fed the parts Fox and the RNC like and never see the rest.
9
So true. Unfortunately, they won't read the entire 15 pages of memos. Karma is very strong with this one, and the GOP will soon regret releasing these memos.
2
May 10 2017
Mr. Trump tells Russian officials in the Oval Office, “I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job. I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
In reality, the exact opposite of what Trump says is actually the truth.
Now we wait for Robert Mueller's memo which will make for some really nice reading and some legal action against Donald Trump which will Make America Great Again.
663
It is rather amusing that DT thought that by getting rid of ONE person, the FBI's info on him would somehow disappear into the ether. Does he not know that there's a whole team working on the investigation? Firing Comey turned out to be worse for him.
13
Trump also released classified information to the Russians that day, as recorded by RUSSIAN media, as Americans weren't given access.
17