by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 05/16/2017 at 18:52
by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 05/16/2017 at 18:52
No Tags
STARS: 13
Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation
According to notes taken by former FBI director James Comey after a meeting with the president—the sort of notes which are almost always admissible in court—the president directly asked Comey to stop the investigation of Michael Flynn.
“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey, according to the memo. “He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”
Isn’t that obstruction of justice?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/us/politics/james-comey-trump-flynn-russia-investigation.html
"Leadbull" (leadbull911)
05/16/2017 at 18:55, STARS: 10
This is too good.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
And...
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
I have a feeling I’ll need to carefully ration my 10 free NYT articles next month.
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
05/16/2017 at 18:58, STARS: 1
I read that article just a few minutes ago and got a little nervous. You don’t have to strain yourself trying to figure out health care or tax policies if you decide to destroy the planet and everyone on it rather than resign.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
05/16/2017 at 19:00, STARS: 2
Maybe, but everything about this has been from anonymous sources. Nothing exists until it is subpoenaed.
"fintail" (fintail)
05/16/2017 at 19:01, STARS: 1
I like how this regime is starting even crazier than the ending of Nixon’s.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
05/16/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 1
I don’t think asking for something constitutes obstruction. If he threw larger roadblocks up... I don’t even know if firing him constitutes obstruction, given that the investigation would continue anyways.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
05/16/2017 at 19:09, STARS: 5
Jesus Christ, Trump talks to Comey about Flynn being a Russian agent like a rich white suburban dad talks to a policeman who arrested his son for possession. “He’s a good kid who made a bad decision, officer, no need to take this any further, his mother and I will deal with him at home.”
The best part is Trump is too fucking stupid to even know what kind of deep shit he’s in and is still trying to work backroom deals like the sleazy businessman he’s always been.
"unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)" (unclevanos)
05/16/2017 at 19:14, STARS: 3
Nixon 2: Electric Boogaloo
"CB" (jrcb)
05/16/2017 at 19:16, STARS: 7
I mean, considering the fact that it’s the President of the United States, I think that asking for an investigation into anyone to be stopped “because he’s a good guy”, followed by firing the head of the FBI, could be considered obstruction.
"McMike" (mcmike)
05/16/2017 at 19:16, STARS: 2
A lot of this stuff is believable.
However....
There’s quite the witch hunt going on, so yeah. We gots to wait.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
05/16/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 1
I’m not a lawyer but from what I understand Comey is technically a subordinate of Trump so ‘asking’ him to stop investigating Flynn could be seen as an order, which would be textbook obstruction of justice insofar that it actively impedes a government investigation. As far as firing Comey goes, obstruction isn’t measured by how successful the attempt is but rather the intent; dude tried to fire the guy running the whole operation, that’s definitely trying to stop the investigation. Bottom line is if this is actually true (which the NYT, Washington Post, and CNN have all independently confirmed it is), then Trump is in even more shit than he was previously.
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
05/16/2017 at 19:23, STARS: 7
Ask someone who works for you to sleep with you and then fire them when they refuse. Tell me how it goes.
"Rocky Jones Space Ranger" (rockyjonesspaceranger)
05/16/2017 at 19:27, STARS: 3
What happens if a witch hunt catches actual witches? I suppose they have to rename the metaphor...
"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
05/16/2017 at 19:39, STARS: 1
How about Seth Rich, though?
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
05/16/2017 at 19:45, STARS: 2
What is PatBateman suffers from the same curse as me and they never refuse?
"VW Max" (vw-max)
05/16/2017 at 19:46, STARS: 1
Meh just use incognito mode and get all the articles
"190octane" (admiralcb)
05/16/2017 at 19:52, STARS: 3
It’s always the cover up that gets you. He’s like Nixon but with the iq of a baboon.
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
05/16/2017 at 20:05, STARS: 1
Welcome to the club then!
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
05/16/2017 at 20:08, STARS: 0
TOTALLY the same.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
05/16/2017 at 20:14, STARS: 1
That’s what’s crazy, there’s a recent precedent for a president trying to obstruct an active investigation against him and Trump is still doing the same shit Nixon did. It’s like he was paying zero attention in the early 70's or read a biography of Nixon’s, got about 3/4ths of the way through and thought ‘wow, this dude’s pretty smart’ and stopped reading. Thankfully Trump and his staff are so hopelessly incompetent it seems like the two years between when the break-in happened and Nixon was impeached will be accelerated.
"190octane" (admiralcb)
05/16/2017 at 20:15, STARS: 3
I get your point, we all know trump wouldn’t read 3/4ths of a book. 1/4th is probably pushing it, and that’s if there are a lot of pictures in it.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
05/16/2017 at 20:22, STARS: 3
"190octane" (admiralcb)
05/16/2017 at 20:25, STARS: 2
I thought for sure you were referencing the tax plan. This one page thing seems to be a trend.
Who knew the subject of economics was so complicated?
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
05/16/2017 at 20:38, STARS: 1
It’s not just his own Administration doing that kind of stuff, NATO is telling its members to dumb down their statements and simplify the meeting agenda in preparation for Trump’s attendance next week.
Like I said, almost funny.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
05/16/2017 at 20:47, STARS: 0
Certainly sends a message.
"fintail" (fintail)
05/16/2017 at 21:10, STARS: 0
Amusingly, these clods make Nixon and his gang look like real statesmen.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
05/16/2017 at 21:16, STARS: 0
Which statute do you think he broke?
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
05/16/2017 at 21:17, STARS: 0
Come again?
"unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)" (unclevanos)
05/16/2017 at 21:17, STARS: 1
but muh WALL and emails tho
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
05/16/2017 at 21:25, STARS: 1
If I’m reading this the way I think I’m supposed to, you get this gif:
Teamwork!
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
05/16/2017 at 21:29, STARS: 0
Again not a lawyer, but after some Googling it looks like 18 US Code 1505:
Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress
‘Agency’ implies federal organizations like the FBI if I’m not mistaken.
"Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)" (bman76-4)
05/16/2017 at 21:31, STARS: 0
As it all begins to unravel:
“Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) reportedly said Tuesday that scandals within President Trump’s administration are reaching a “Watergate size and scale.”
McCain made the statement at a International Republican Institute dinner on Tuesday night. Multiple reporters said that during a speech at the event, McCain compared recent reports surrounding Trump’s administration to Watergate.
McCain’s statement came just hours after a bombshell report that Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey inFebruary to stop his investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Trump has faced a major fallout over the last week following his surprise firing of Comey and reports that he revealed highly confidential information to Russian diplomats.
McCain also reportedly criticized Trump during his speech, calling it “unacceptable” to have allowed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov into the Oval Office.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/333755-mccain-trump-scandals-reaching-watergate-size-and-scale
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
05/16/2017 at 21:41, STARS: 0
Not a lawyer either, but I don’t think that Trump saying, in a meeting surrounded by other people, to him that he hopes that Comey drops the investigation would be considered a violation of this statute. I read the same Cornell website earlier, and it doesn’t appear that there would be enough of an influence to invoke an Impeachment.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
05/16/2017 at 21:42, STARS: 0
Could be? Maybe. Will be?
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
05/16/2017 at 21:54, STARS: 0
If we’re being pedantic here (which with all legalese should be a given) the article states that Trump actually sent everyone else out of the room and was ‘alone in the Oval Office’ with Comey before asking him to drop the investigation, which could be construed as a threatening ‘communication influence’ as mentioned by the statute (‘your boss wanting to talk to you alone specifically to stop a federal investigation concerning him’ seems like one to me at least).
That’s kind of the problem with an impeachment though, the requirements for one are so nebulous that it’s really whatever you (or Congress, more specifically) want to make of it. Unlike a lot of people on the Internet I’m not going to pretend like this meeting is definitely going to be what brings Trump down, but at the same time unless the Russia investigation or the rumored New York RICO cases move rather quickly this will be the most prominent event that could lead to impeachment proceedings.
edit: this statute seems to be more relevant than 1505:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1510
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
05/16/2017 at 21:58, STARS: 1
I’ve been waiting for him to grow a spine. Bit as long as McConnel and Ryan keep drinking the Kool Aid, we’re going nowhere.
"Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)" (bman76-4)
05/16/2017 at 22:00, STARS: 0
Yep, but the cracks are starting to show.
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
05/16/2017 at 22:18, STARS: 1
It all depends on the intent which is impossible to prove. Unless he said something explicit which is a real possibility with this moron.
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
05/16/2017 at 22:31, STARS: 1
It was already confirmed that Flynn lied about talking to the Russians. I think we are well past the witch hunt talk.