Comey Senate Intelligence Committee Testimony Thread

[Beet]

So the president not only ordered the FBI director to end an espionage investigation into one of his buddies, he tried to intimidate him into personal loyalty, and when he couldn't, fired him. Sounds more like what happens in third world banana republics than the United States.

[The_Doctor]

I'm going to use this thread for my own notes, and if you've read my recent rants, this testimony is hugely consequential because we now have sworn testimony corroborating the reports in the NYT and the Washington Post about Trump's efforts to end the Flynn investigation.

If we look at the body of Comey's testimony, we also know it neatly dovetails with what we know of the Trump campaign's behavior with Russia dating to 2015. Notably, Comey puts the date at 2015.

It makes the whole story about Trump and Russia on much firmer ground, although we still need to know the extent of the campaign's links with Russia.

[Person Man]

So the president not only ordered the FBI director to end an espionage investigation into one of his buddies, he tried to intimidate him into personal loyalty, and when he couldn't, fired him. Sounds more like what happens in third world banana republics than the United States.

It's called "running the Government like a business".

[The_Doctor]

One big reason to believe Comey over Trump: Trump is offering unsworn testimony and Comey is doing this under oath. Nobody has offered explicitly dissenting testimony to what we've read in the papers. Every definite answer under sworn testimony has largely corroborated what we've heard as far as Flynn, the Russian investigation, etc goes. (There has been one exception, as Comey pointed out, but by and large, we now have a definite answer on Trump obstructing justice).

[The_Doctor]

Oh, and for you at home counting points, the President is now being charged by a former FBI Director for obstructing justice in his first 130 days in the White House. We're not at the six month mark and the President now has this as part of his first six months record.

This is not normal or what happened to Bill Clinton. So just to bear that in mind, this is a criminal investigation and as Comey pointed out, the President is now part of that investigation likely, for obstruction of justice.

Not nothing, this is a majorly consequential day for the President. And not in a good way.

[Inmate Trump]

I seriously cannot fathom why so many still think we shouldn't be investigating this, that it's a witch hunt, etc.

Do you people not realize that it is FACT that Russia interfered with the election, and that is in itself an aggressive move on par with an act of war?  Why should we NOT be investigating this to the fullest extent of the law?  If either campaign had ANYTHING to do with this, our officials are honor-bound to find out, and you are honor-bound to denounce said campaign, even if you supported it during the election.  Anything less than that is truly unpatriotic, and borderline treasonous.  This goes so far beyond simple politics and partisan fighting.  It challenges the very fundamentals of our government, our elections, and each citizen's own integrity.  I'm going so far as to call any American who opposes this investigation a traitor.

[The_Doctor]

Also the president is a moron. His "Tapes tweet" prompted Comey to give his Georgetown friend the memo to leak to the NYT. Which in turn sparked the bombshells that led to the special counsel being appointed.

So no, no, this president did not act with genius aforethought. He acted as pure id and exacerbated the situation. By several degrees.

And someone needs to tell Don Jr that his tweets are not going to help his father. Although no, I don't want any Trump clan member to stop tweeting. They keep digging with the legal damage.

[The_Doctor]

Oh, and Marc Kasowitz appears to be a bigger idiot. This whole "celebration at a Washington hotel" is idiotic. It's utterly clear Trump's lawyer is from NYC and thinks this is a "jury matter." Mueller will return indictments and that could cripple the Trump Presidency right into the ground. It's the public mood that will indict Trump more than any legal rendition.

Not that it isn't right now being mauled and chewed up like a toy and Comey isn't just basically ripping apart the Trump Presidency like a tiger mauling a wounded deer.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

The Sessions stuff is sketchy. He ought to resign at this point. He's only expanded the drug war anyway.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I seriously cannot fathom why so many still think we shouldn't be investigating this, that it's a witch hunt, etc.

Do you people not realize that it is FACT that Russia interfered with the election, and that is in itself an aggressive move on par with an act of war?  Why should we NOT be investigating this to the fullest extent of the law?  If either campaign had ANYTHING to do with this, our officials are honor-bound to find out, and you are honor-bound to denounce said campaign, even if you supported it during the election.  Anything less than that is truly unpatriotic, and borderline treasonous.  This goes so far beyond simple politics and partisan fighting.  It challenges the very fundamentals of our government, our elections, and each citizen's own integrity.  I'm going so far as to call any American who opposes this investigation a traitor.

Well said.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Paul Ryan basically says that all this happened because Trump is too inexperienced.

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[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Paul Ryan basically says that all this happened because Trump is too inexperienced.

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Translation -  "This is a nothingburger.......and don't mention the I word."

[Gass3268]

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[The_Doctor]

Paul Ryan basically says that all this happened because Trump is too inexperienced.

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Translation -  "This is a nothingburger.......and don't mention the I word."

I can think of a few I words. Which one? Impeachment? Indictment?

[Hindsight was 2020]

Paul Ryan basically says that all this happened because Trump is too inexperienced.

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We are now entering the whole party taking the "he's too stupid to of done something nefarious" defense territory

[Gass3268]

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[Nyvin]

It's so...humorous how all right wing media is just running away like crazy with the line "Trump has been vindicated by Comey testimony"

They really don't think these things out very well.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Paul Ryan basically says that all this happened because Trump is too inexperienced.

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Is that not believable though? That isn't to say that his underlings like Flynn are necessarily guilt-free, but from what I can gather, President Trump seemed oblivious that a request such as the alleged one he made falls far away from his powers to grant pardon or clemency. There is a reason why Comey can't really obtain proof of intent after all?

[Yank2133]

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lol, that backfired on Cotton.

[Yank2133]

Paul Ryan basically says that all this happened because Trump is too inexperienced.

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Is that not believable though? That isn't to say that his underlings like Flynn are necessarily guilt-free, but from what I can gather, President Trump seemed oblivious that a request such as the alleged one he made falls far away from his powers to grant pardon or clemency. There is a reason why Comey can't really obtain proof of intent after all?

He asked everyone, but Comey to clear the room.......

[Gass3268]

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lol, that backfired on Cotton.

Cotton's line of questioning wasn't as bad as other Republicans.

[Middle-aged Europe]

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[Gass3268]

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[Crumpets]

John Cornyn just asked Comey if his firing impacted the FBI investigation "or Mueller's investigation." Wasn't Mueller specifically appointed after Comey's firing?

[TheSaint250]

Lol can u guys all calm down a little? Obstruction of justice, if it happened, happened. Let the investigation go forward then.