Trump won't use executive privilege to block James Comey from testifying in Congress: spokeswoman

[DonViejo]

Source: RawStory


ERIC W. DOLAN
05 JUN 2017 AT 14:14 ET

White House deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders said Monday that President Donald Trump would not invoke executive privilege to prevent former FBI director James Comey from testifying before Congress this week.

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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/trump-wont-use-executive-privilege-to-block-james-comey-from-testifying-in-congress-spokeswoman/

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White House says Trump will not assert executive privilege to block Comey's testimony

By LOUIS NELSON 06/05/2017 02:17 PM EDT

President Donald Trump will not invoke executive privilege in order to block former FBI Director James Comey from testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday.

“The president's power to exert executive privilege is very well established,” Sanders said at Monday’s White House press briefing. “However, in order to facilitate a swift and thorough examination of the facts sought by the Senate Intelligence Committee, President Trump will not assert executive privilege regarding James Comey's scheduled testimony.”

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http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/05/comey-trump-239146

[meadowlark5]

1. He, legally, probably can't.

I saw an analyst saying that comey is a private citizen now and that usually the only thing a president can invoke executive privilege on is classified info. And a conversation about asking for a loyalty pledge or to ask for the stop to an investigation as a courtesy for a "great guy" is not classified.

So he'll probably try to spin it that he's being an honest broker, wanting to get the facts out there when he wants nothing of the kind. I'm sure if he could block Comey, he would.

[OregonBlue]

2. I also read that he had discussed their conversations publically and that he had

even tweeted about some of them. Therefore, it is no longer "privileged" since he discussed it with the whole world.

[PoliticAverse]

3. That was never likely to succeed. n/t

[TBA]

4. Just guessing but it seems like

if they were choosing not to request executive privilege on principle they could have said that two weeks ago. But I image the lawyers just recently finishing and failed at an all out effort to find a way to block.

[kairos12]

5. I'll believe when he tweets that he won't use EP.

[Doitnow]

6. At the very last minute he will try to use it just so a massive protest

won't be able to form in time.

[turbinetree]

7. Damn, I wanted him to have to march into the Senate , explain himself for obstruction and TREASON

and walk out in hand cuffs by the Sargent of Arms for the Logan Act, with Jared, Manafort, Flynn, Page, Tillerson, Burr, Stone and anyone else having the left hand cuffed to the right hand of the treasonous ass**** behind them.

Now we get to watch Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley and all the other hypocrites on the right try to find the "leakers" and then have the right wing minions come out and say its all fake---------get ready.

[cstanleytech]

8. I hope Comey has a good 24/7 bodyguard and food taster because he might

have an accident that could prevent him from testifying and it wouldnt surprise me if Putin would be behind it as he does have a history of assassination.

[Calista241]

9. Not sure what to think about this.

My fear is that Trump knows what Comey is going to say and is not worried.

I can't imagine Comey has his finger on the Impeach Trump Now button, and just kept it under wraps until now. But we'll see on Thursday.

[moonscape]

10. Now he wants credit for not doing what he can't n/t

[dalton99a]

11. Exactly.

[GreydeeThos]

12. It looks like the 'Fix Is In'

The threats have been communicated

The blackmail has been brandished

The promises of future benefits have been made

The money has changed hands

Trump will walk away again and we will all be left to wonder "What just happened?"

[meadowlark5]

13. That was my other thought

I put nothing past this Russian mafia family that occupies the white house.

Comey might be dealing with threats to his family, maybe it is true that everyone can be bought. But somehow I feel like there will be no bombshell - even though I bet Comey could provide one.

[Egnever]

17. Comey held his position for over a decade

Do you seriously believe threats intimidate him?

I am sure he has been threatened many many times .

[meadowlark5]

18. Not really

Just second guessing everything. Seems to be something I do more and more.

I heard Trump couldn't invoke executive privilege, legally. But then I wonder, does he have assurances that Comey won't be saying anything damaging? If so, how? This idiot occupant of the White House makes me

[Egnever]

16. No

He is just fucked. If he tries to stop him from testifying it makes the obstruction case even stronger against him.

At this point he can not be seen as doing anything at all to impede the investigation. The case against him is already strong he has to stop digging.

There would be huge downsides to him stopping the testimony and little if no upside.

[keithbvadu2]

14. Stop the wonder and anticipation, Donald... Play the tapes.

[Egnever]

15. He can't

It would further the obstruction of Justice case.

He has boxed himself in.