Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
The Daily 202: Trump's warning to Comey deepens doubts about his respect for the rule of law
Long article {45 version: very, very, very long article}:
The Daily 202: Trump's warning to Comey deepens doubts about his respect for the rule of law
By James Hohmann May 12 at 11:11 AM
THE BIG IDEA: The biggest news out of Donald Trumps Thursday interview with NBC was his confession that the Russia investigation was on his mind when he fired FBI director James Comey. Undercutting 48 hours of denials by his aides, the president said: In fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, its an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.
But what may ultimately get Trump into bigger trouble is his story about Comey assuring him he was not under investigation during a one-on-one dinner at the White House. Lester Holt asked the president to elaborate on his claim, made in the letter firing Comey, that hed been told three times he was not under federal investigation. He wanted to stay at the FBI, and I said Ill, you know, consider and see what happens, Trump said. But we had a very nice dinner, and at that time he told me, You are not under investigation. (Watch a 13-minute video of Holts sit-down here.)
It would be a big dang deal if the FBI director was discussing an ongoing investigation with the president generally prohibited by Justice Department policy at the same time he was also asking to keep his job.
But on the front page of todays New York Times, Michael Schmidt paints a very different picture of the Jan. 27 dinner: The conversation that night, Mr. Comey now believes, was a harbinger of his downfall according to two people who have heard his account of the dinner. As they ate, the president and Mr. Comey made small talk about the election and the crowd sizes at Mr. Trumps rallies. The president then turned the conversation to whether Mr. Comey would pledge his loyalty to him. Mr. Comey declined to make that pledge. Instead, Mr. Comey has recounted to others, he told Mr. Trump that he would always be honest with him, but that he was not reliable in the conventional political sense. By Mr. Comeys account, his answer to Mr. Trumps initial question apparently did not satisfy the president Later in the dinner, Mr. Trump again said to Mr. Comey that he needed his loyalty. Mr. Comey again replied that he would give him honesty and did not pledge his loyalty But Mr. Trump pressed him on whether it would be honest loyalty. You will have that, Mr. Comey told his associates he responded.
....
James Hohmann is a national political correspondent for The Washington Post. Follow @JamesHohmann
By James Hohmann May 12 at 11:11 AM
THE BIG IDEA: The biggest news out of Donald Trumps Thursday interview with NBC was his confession that the Russia investigation was on his mind when he fired FBI director James Comey. Undercutting 48 hours of denials by his aides, the president said: In fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, its an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.
But what may ultimately get Trump into bigger trouble is his story about Comey assuring him he was not under investigation during a one-on-one dinner at the White House. Lester Holt asked the president to elaborate on his claim, made in the letter firing Comey, that hed been told three times he was not under federal investigation. He wanted to stay at the FBI, and I said Ill, you know, consider and see what happens, Trump said. But we had a very nice dinner, and at that time he told me, You are not under investigation. (Watch a 13-minute video of Holts sit-down here.)
It would be a big dang deal if the FBI director was discussing an ongoing investigation with the president generally prohibited by Justice Department policy at the same time he was also asking to keep his job.
But on the front page of todays New York Times, Michael Schmidt paints a very different picture of the Jan. 27 dinner: The conversation that night, Mr. Comey now believes, was a harbinger of his downfall according to two people who have heard his account of the dinner. As they ate, the president and Mr. Comey made small talk about the election and the crowd sizes at Mr. Trumps rallies. The president then turned the conversation to whether Mr. Comey would pledge his loyalty to him. Mr. Comey declined to make that pledge. Instead, Mr. Comey has recounted to others, he told Mr. Trump that he would always be honest with him, but that he was not reliable in the conventional political sense. By Mr. Comeys account, his answer to Mr. Trumps initial question apparently did not satisfy the president Later in the dinner, Mr. Trump again said to Mr. Comey that he needed his loyalty. Mr. Comey again replied that he would give him honesty and did not pledge his loyalty But Mr. Trump pressed him on whether it would be honest loyalty. You will have that, Mr. Comey told his associates he responded.
....
James Hohmann is a national political correspondent for The Washington Post. Follow @JamesHohmann
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 2818 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (3)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Daily 202: Trump's warning to Comey deepens doubts about his respect for the rule of law (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
May 2017
OP
TeapotInATempest
(804 posts)1. What doubts?
He has no respect for the rule of law. None.
CanonRay
(14,689 posts)2. The first question for Comey's replacement at the confirmation hearings:
Have you, or will you ever, pledge your loyalty to Trump?
Under oath, please.
skylucy
(3,818 posts)3. This definitely has the ring of truth. Thanks for posting it.
Rollo
(2,559 posts)4. Trump has long considered himself above the law...
And he's pissed off that some laws still apply to the presidency
Marcuse
(7,871 posts)5. Once again satire becomes reality.