In shock move, Trump fires FBI Director Comey

[Guest]

 

Quote

 

Days Before He Was Fired, Comey Asked for Money for Russia Investigation

 

WASHINGTON — Days before he was fired, James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, asked the Justice Department for a significant increase in money and personnel for the bureau’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election, according to three officials with knowledge of his request.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/us/politics/comey-russia-investigation-fbi.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

I'm still puzzled why some Trump fans don't want full and independent investigation to Russiagate?

 

Are these people happy to be patriots of the USA, even under control of Russia?

 

 

[ilostmypassword]

JUST DAYS BEFORE FIRING, COMEY ASKED TO EXPAND RUSSIA INQUIRY

Days before he was fired, James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, asked the Justice Department for a significant increase in money and personnel for the bureau’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election, according to three officials with knowledge of his request.

Mr. Comey asked for the resources during a meeting last week with Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general who wrote the Justice Department’s memo that was used to justify the firing of the F.B.I. director this week.

Mr. Comey then briefed members of Congress on the meeting in recent days.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/us/politics/comey-russia-investigation-fbi.html?_r=0

 

[mogandave]

JUST DAYS BEFORE FIRING, COMEY ASKED TO EXPAND RUSSIA INQUIRY

Days before he was fired, James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, asked the Justice Department for a significant increase in money and personnel for the bureau’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election, according to three officials with knowledge of his request.

Mr. Comey asked for the resources during a meeting last week with Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general who wrote the Justice Department’s memo that was used to justify the firing of the F.B.I. director this week.

Mr. Comey then briefed members of Congress on the meeting in recent days.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/10/us/politics/comey-russia-investigation-fbi.html?_r=0

 

Yes, this stinks to high heaven, Trump's administration is crumbling around him. Now hopefully the media will quit protecting him and expose him for what he is.

And why is Flynn not behind bars?

[Opl]

Why now just before Trump's meeting with  Russian foreign minister Lavrov ?

[heybruce]

8 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

18 U.S. Code § 793 - Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information

 

The answer is in (f): You'll find the word "intent" in subsection (a) but it is purposely omitted in subsection (f)

 

GUILTY AS CHARGED

 

(f)

Whoever, being entrusted with or having lawful possession or control of any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, note, or information, relating to the national defense, (1) through gross negligence permits the same to be removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, or (2) having knowledge that the same has been illegally removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of its trust, or lost, or stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, and fails to make prompt report of such loss, theft, abstraction, or destruction to his superior officer—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

 

(a)

Whoever, for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense with intent or reason to believe that the information is to be used to the injury of the United States, or to the advantage of any foreign nation, goes upon, enters, flies over, or otherwise obtains information concerning any vessel, aircraft, work of defense, navy yard, naval station, submarine base, fueling station, fort, battery, torpedo station, dockyard, canal, railroad, arsenal, camp, factory, mine, telegraph, telephone, wireless, or signal station, building, office, research laboratory or station or other place connected with the national defense owned or constructed, or in progress of construction by the United States or under the control of the United States, or of any of its officers, departments, or agencies, or within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, or any place in which any vessel, aircraft, arms, munitions, or other materials or instruments for use in time of war are being made, prepared, repaired, stored, or are the subject of research or development, under any contract or agreement with the United States, or any department or agency thereof, or with any person on behalf of the United States, or otherwise on behalf of the United States, or any prohibited place so designated by the President by proclamation in time of war or in case of national emergency in which anything for the use of the Army, Navy, or Air Force is being prepared or constructed or stored, information as to which prohibited place the President has determined would be prejudicial to the national defense; or

(b)

Whoever, for the purpose aforesaid, and with like intent or reason to believe, copies, takes, makes, or obtains, or attempts to copy, take, make, or obtain, any sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, document, writing, or note of anything connected with the national defense; or

(c)

Whoever, for the purpose aforesaid, receives or obtains or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain from any person, or from any source whatever, any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, or note, of anything connected with the national defense, knowing or having reason to believe, at the time he receives or obtains, or agrees or attempts to receive or obtain it, that it has been or will be obtained, taken, made, or disposed of by any person contrary to the provisions of this chapter; or

(d)

Whoever, lawfully having possession of, access to, control over, or being entrusted with any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, or note relating to the national defense, or information relating to the national defense which information the possessor has reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation, willfully communicates, delivers, transmits or causes to be communicated, delivered, or transmitted or attempts to communicate, deliver, transmit or cause to be communicated, delivered or transmitted the same to any person not entitled to receive it, or willfully retains the same and fails to deliver it on demand to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it; or

(e)

Whoever having unauthorized possession of, access to, or control over any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, or note relating to the national defense, or information relating to the national defense which information the possessor has reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation, willfully communicates, delivers, transmits or causes to be communicated, delivered, or transmitted, or attempts to communicate, deliver, transmit or cause to be communicated, delivered, or transmitted the same to any person not entitled to receive it, or willfully retains the same and fails to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it; or

(f)

Whoever, being entrusted with or having lawful possession or control of any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, note, or information, relating to the national defense, (1) through gross negligence permits the same to be removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, or (2) having knowledge that the same has been illegally removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of its trust, or lost, or stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, and fails to make prompt report of such loss, theft, abstraction, or destruction to his superior officer—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

(g)

If two or more persons conspire to violate any of the foregoing provisions of this section, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be subject to the punishment provided for the offense which is the object of such conspiracy.

(h)

(1)

Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall forfeit to the United States, irrespective of any provision of State law, any property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds the person obtained, directly or indirectly, from any foreign government, or any faction or party or military or naval force within a foreign country, whether recognized or unrecognized by the United States, as the result of such violation. For the purposes of this subsection, the term “State” includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

(2)

The court, in imposing sentence on a defendant for a conviction of a violation of this section, shall order that the defendant forfeit to the United States all property described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(3)The provisions of subsections (b), (c), and (e) through (p) of section 413 of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 853(b), (c), and (e)–(p)) shall apply to—

(A)

property subject to forfeiture under this subsection;

(B)

any seizure or disposition of such property; and

(C)

any administrative or judicial proceeding in relation to such property,

if not inconsistent with this subsection.

(4)

Notwithstanding section 524(c) of title 28, there shall be deposited in the Crime Victims Fund in the Treasury all amounts from the forfeiture of property under this subsection remaining after the payment of expenses for forfeiture and sale authorized by law.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 736; Sept. 23, 1950, ch. 1024, title I, § 18, 64 Stat. 1003; Pub. L. 99–399, title XIII, § 1306(a), Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 898; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 103–359, title VIII, § 804(b)(1), Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3440; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 607(b), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511.)

 

LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.

This makes it very clear that General Patreus should be doing hard time.  The reason he isn't is that a trial would have revealed classified information.  That was possibly a consideration in Comey's recommendation against prosecution in the case of the Clinton emails.  Prosecutors have a lot of discretion about what charges can be brought, if any.

 

The Trumpies are staying true to form.  Whenever Trump does something stupid, embarrassing, unethical, etc, their first response its to bring up Hillary Clinton's emails.

[ilostmypassword]

29 minutes ago, heybruce said:

This makes it very clear that General Patreus should be doing hard time.  The reason he isn't is that a trial would have revealed classified information.  That was possibly a consideration in Comey's recommendation against prosecution in the case of the Clinton emails.  Prosecutors have a lot of discretion about what charges can be brought, if any.

 

The Trumpies are staying true to form.  Whenever Trump does something stupid, embarrassing, unethical, etc, their first response its to bring up Hillary Clinton's emails.

Actually, a more apt comparison would be to Michael Flynn. He shared classified information with people who weren't authorized to view it. Foreigners, no less. The military justice system recommended that he not be prosecuted because he wasn't aware of the restriction. And he wasn't. Because there was no criminal intent. Although, I imagine, given the upshot of his later conduct, Trumpists probably wish he had been prosecuted and convicted.

[Jingthing]

"Things" are hitting the fan for trump. 

This report is both horrifying and hilarious.

Sean Spicer hiding in the bushes!

You couldn't make this stuff up!

 

Quote

 

The Daily 202: Firing FBI director Comey is already backfiring on Trump. It’s only going to get worse.

 

Donald Trump has surrounded himself with sycophants and amateurs who are either unwilling or unable to tell him no. He lacks a David Gergen-like figure who is wise to the ways of Washington and has the stature to speak up when the president says he wants to fire an FBI director who is overseeing the counterintelligence investigation into whether his associates coordinated with Moscow. Without such a person, Trump just walked headlong into a political buzz saw.

 

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/05/10/daily-202-firing-fbi-director-comey-is-already-backfiring-on-trump-it-s-only-going-to-get-worse/5912635de9b69b209cf2b7fb/

[Jingthing]

Many of us knew trump wants to be a dictator. 

Here we go. 

Who will win? 
The forces of DARKNESS or the forces out to save American democracy?

 

Quote

 

DONALD TRUMP’S FIRING OF JAMES COMEY IS AN ATTACK ON AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Congress must restrain him and reassert the principles of American democracy by appointing an independent special prosecutor to take over the Russia investigation. If the legislature won’t act unprompted—and the initial signs are that most of the G.O.P. intends to yield to the President’s abuse of his power—it will be incumbent on the American people to register their protests forcefully, and to put pressure on their elected officials. Trump is a menace. He must be stopped.

 

 

http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/donald-trump-has-attacked-american-democracy

[heybruce]

20 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Actually, a more apt comparison would be to Michael Flynn. He shared classified information with people who weren't authorized to view it. Foreigners, no less. The military justice system recommended that he not be prosecuted because he wasn't aware of the restriction. And he wasn't. Because there was no criminal intent. Although, I imagine, given the upshot of his later conduct, Trumpists probably wish he had been prosecuted and convicted.

"he wasn't aware of the restriction"?   BS.  Nobody can make the rank of general, or even lieutenant, without knowing that you don't reveal classified information to anyone who doesn't have the appropriate clearance and a need to know.  At least Petraeus admitted that he knowingly mishandled classified, though "mishandled" understates the seriousness of his crime:

 

"As part of an agreement with prosecutors, he admitted that he improperly removed and retained highly sensitive information in eight personal notebooks that he gave the biographer, Paula Broadwell, to read."

 

"When FBI agents confronted him in his CIA office in October 2012, Petraeus said he had never provided classified information to Broadwell, prosecutors said."

 

"Making a false statement to a federal law enforcement agent during an investigation is a felony, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison."

 

"The FBI searched Petraeus’s house in April 2013 and found the books in an unlocked drawer in his study. The books contained top-secret information that the Justice Department said could cause “exceptionally grave damage” to national security if disclosed."

 

"That information included code words for secret intelligence programs, identities of covert officers, war strategy and deliberative discussions with the National Security Council."

  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/petraeus-set-to-plead-guilty-to-mishandling-classified-materials/2015/04/22/3e6dbf20-e8f5-11e4-aae1-d642717d8afa_story.html?utm_term=.5f5d96a1984b 

 

I admire Gen Petraeus, but what he did was unfathomably stupid.  He avoided hard time because prosecuting him would have been a national embarrassment and could have revealed classified information.

 

What Hillary Clinton did was also stupid, but more in the line of ignorance and carelessness, not knowingly violating (shattering) classified regulations.  Trump and others are applying a blatant, self-serving double standard when they insist Clinton should be in jail but Petraeus's crimes were no big deal.

 

 

[Andaman Al]

31 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Many of us knew trump wants to be a dictator. 

Here we go. 

Who will win? 
The forces of DARKNESS or the forces out to save American democracy?

Sadly I think the forces of Darkness will win. The forces out to save American democracy only win in Hollywood.

[Jingthing]

This is the man with the nuclear codes.

No confidence in Comey?
How about no confidence in trump?

Parliamentary systems may have votes of no confidence.

In the USA, we have IMPEACHMENT.

Don't be deceived by trump's lies.

The firing had nothing to do with Clinton's emails.

You buy into his game even talking about that.

It was about the RUSSIA investigation. 

 

Quote

 

Behind Comey’s firing: An enraged Trump, fuming about Russia

The president deliberated for more than a week before ousting the FBI chief who was investigating Trump associates.
...

He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe, one adviser said.

 

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/10/comey-firing-trump-russia-238192

[USPatriot]

4 hours ago, Berkshire said:

Why would the FBI conduct surveillance on US citizens without cause?  Do you have any idea what you're talking about?

The fbi had due cause but failed to do anything.

 

There was plenty of evidence, but some won't and never will get special treatment like politicians and higher level government employees. Or if you maintain her personal email server.

[Andaman Al]

7 minutes ago, USPatriot said:

The fbi had due cause but failed to do anything.

 

There was plenty of evidence, but some won't and never will get special treatment like politicians and higher level government employees. Or if you maintain her personal email server.

I love how so many people on here are aware of so much 'evidence' yet US intelligence agencies and one of the worlds premier law enforcement agencies seem to have no clue. Perhaps you should be the next Director FBI.

 

The US DOJ is ruthless and it is well known that it does not matter who you are, if you break the law they will come after you. There are several billionaires doing 20-50 years in US prisons, did their immense money and power help them? Bernie Maddhof had more influence and cash than the Clintons could dream of, no matter- 50 years inside. Nixon was brought down, Petreus, brought down yet you think a republican Director in charge of the FBI is going to do the Clintons a 'favour' by letting them off the hook? That is simply Mad. 

 

Emails are investigated - nothing found. Benghazi has been done to death - nothing, 4 dead and Clinton was not found guilty of any criminal charges (yet not one investigation into Iraq where 6500 US servicemen died!!! and the Whitehouse illegally deleted more than 5 million emails relating to the build up to the conflict).

 

This is NOT about Clintons emails or the Clinton foundation (which has been audited every year and given an exemplary classification - yet the Trump foundation has been ordered to cease due to misappropriation of funds!!!), so GET OVER IT.

 

This is about Trump sacking the Director of the FBI when it was getting to close for comfort regarding the Russian investigation. If you really were a US Patriot, you would want no stone left unturned to ensure that any allegations of  treasonous conduct between US Government officials and Russia we either proven or disproven beyond doubt. I am simply amazed by what some people on here actually say/believe.

[simple1]

8 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

And as a gentleman, he has now congratulated the winner and offered to work with him.

Off topic, As a "gentleman" and representative of the American people he should never have expressed support for a far right candidate.

[tomacht8]

His geography knowledge is unfortunately deficient. Maybe he thinks fbi is part of a state of scotland which wants to leave the EU.

[TonyClifton]

4 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

You never know…LOL.

I think SPECTRE and the man from U.N.C.L.E might be in on it too.

 

You forget about Austin Powers.

[TonyClifton]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

"Things" are hitting the fan for trump. 

This report is both horrifying and hilarious.

Sean Spicer hiding in the bushes!

You couldn't make this stuff up!

 

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/05/10/daily-202-firing-fbi-director-comey-is-already-backfiring-on-trump-it-s-only-going-to-get-worse/5912635de9b69b209cf2b7fb/

 

No kidding, the Washington Compost is writing bad things about President Trump?  Egads, say it isn't so.

[TonyClifton]

1 hour ago, Andaman Al said:

The US DOJ is ruthless and it is well known that it does not matter who you are, if you break the law they will come after you. There are several billionaires doing 20-50 years in US prisons, did their immense money and power help them? Bernie Maddhof had more influence and cash than the Clintons could dream of, no matter- 50 years inside. Nixon was brought down, Petreus, brought down yet you think a republican Director in charge of the FBI is going to do the Clintons a 'favour' by letting them off the hook? That is simply Mad. 

 

What is simply mad, is that anyone believes what you just wrote.  Martha Stuart, Leona Helmsley, Willie Nelson, I could go on, but they did little time.

 

Nixon did no time.  Perhaps you should crack open your grandkids history book or do some internet searching for facts, not #FAKENEWS.

[Andaman Al]

1 minute ago, TonyClifton said:

What is simply mad, is that anyone believes what you just wrote.  Martha Stuart, Leona Helmsley, Willie Nelson, I could go on, but they did little time.

 

Nixon did no time.  Perhaps you should crack open your grandkids history book or do some internet searching for facts, not #FAKENEWS.

Sherlock, where did I say Nixon did time? I said he was brought down.

Trumpsters spinning and lying as usual. Look on the bright side, Trump WILL do time.

[heybruce]

1 minute ago, Andaman Al said:

Sherlock, where did I say Nixon did time? I said he was brought down.

Trumpsters spinning and lying as usual. Look on the bright side, Trump WILL do time.

Unfortunately that is unlikely.  If he has the good sense to resign it will come after Mike Pence agrees (off the record) to pardon Trump for all crimes.

 

 

[Jingthing]

21 minutes ago, TonyClifton said:

No kidding, the Washington Compost is writing bad things about President Trump?  Egads, say it isn't so.

The name of the incredibly well respected and esteemed media organ you speak of is the Washington Post. Yes, I know, it's not Breitbart. 

[TonyClifton]

31 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

The name of the incredibly well respected and esteemed media organ you speak of is the Washington Post. Yes, I know, it's not Breitbart. 

Yes, it is quite an organ.  Much like a member of an ORGANization.

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.  

[tmifune]

1 hour ago, TonyClifton said:

Yes, it is quite an organ.  Much like a member of an ORGANization.

I would hope that some of us here understand that you are having a good time at the audiences expense. 

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

No kidding, the Washington Compost is writing bad things about President Trump?  Egads, say it isn't so.

They were right with Nixon.

[CaptHaddock]

9 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

More #FAKEFACTS for us to digest? Do tell us how many underlings were in that small headcount.  I'd like a number.

Actually, I stand corrected.  The Trump Organization has 22,000 employees.  My opinion of Trump remains.

[LannaGuy]

5 hours ago, simple1 said:

Off topic, As a "gentleman" and representative of the American people he should never have expressed support for a far right candidate.

should stay out of 'recommending' candidates in other countries as other retired POTUS do what would everyone say if Putin 'recommended' a candidate and he is not an 'ordinary' citizen so that argument doesn't have wings 

[SheungWan]

4 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

No kidding, the Washington Compost is writing bad things about President Trump?  Egads, say it isn't so.

 

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

They were right with Nixon.

And the Trumpian resentment starts right there.

[kevkev1888]

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Sean Spicer hiding in the bushes!

Yeah, I thought his stand in was much better. She should get the gig permanently. 

[mtls2005]

One view after 24 hours is that the President took Director Comey's phrase: "It makes me mildly nauseous to think we might have had some impact on the election", very personally and stewed about it for 4 - 5 days. Then he told Sessions and Rosenstein to figure out a way to fire Comey on Monday.  Having his personal attache/bodyguard Keith Schiller hand deliver the letter(s) to the FBI late on Wednesday, essentially firing Comey long-distance by TV, only adds to the personal and urgent nature with which this action took place. I'm not sure if this sort of peevish behavior is a good thing, or a bad thing?

 

 

Trotting out Kissinger was beyond strange.