Obstruction of justice...they and the rest of the socialist liberals have been saying since Comey's memos were leaked by an anonymous source that he committed obstruction of justice.
Yes, I know you will now say the video shows him lying under oath (which he is not) which would be obstruction.
I don't know if the network has taken a position on obstruction of justice. They have had commentators that thought "yes" and some that thought "no".
I agree his lying to reporter is not obstruction, but it proves he is a liar.
As far as the case for obstruction - the facts of his letter could support a case of obstruction of justice. I am not sure why you are so convinced that his statement would not support one. Whether Mueller/Congress will conclude that the totality of evidence supports obstruction is yet to be determined.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.was...83b_story.html
No proof of obstruction from Comey's statement, but certainly stupidity.
More commentary about the criminal intent for obstruction and the facts from the letter that provide evidence of the intent.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/07/politi...ony/index.html
Just guessing, but I doubt Comey offers a legal opinion on whether there was obstruction of justice - but I bet he will be asked. His statement reads like a fact witness without any conclusions - just facts, impressions of what he understood statements to mean in the context they were provided, and his basis for doing the things he did.
"I think the key is that the most significant step Trump appears to have taken is not his specific discussions with Comey, but his decision to fire Comey entirely because of his dissatisfaction with the shape and progress of the Russia investigation," Vladeck explained.
The bad facts for Trump are that he asked Comey to let the thing go with Flynn - that is the obstruction. That he claimed as one of his conflicting reasons for Comey that it had to do with his handling of the "whole" Russia investigation doesn't absolve him.
Other bad facts include asking everyone to leave the room - which tends to show that what you are doing is not above board (criminal intent). The context around other meetings regarding him keeping his job and the loyalty pledge also add color and context to the request to drop charges against Flynn.
The fact that Trump lied about it to reporters also tends to demonstrate that he knew what he did was wrong.
This is just the opening statement, we will see soon what additional testimony is illicited.
Nun uh....
Trump did not instruct Comey to let the Flynn thing go. He didnt even ask him to. It wasn't a question. He stated that he hoped Comey could let it go. Trump can hope anything he wants. That was not a command to Comey to cease the investigation. Otherwise, he'd have given the order. Using the phrase "I hope" gives Comey the power to make the decision.
Everything else I agree with.
Being myself personally responsible and accountable for knowing, following, and consulting on healthcare laws and compliance...one of the most regulated industries in the galaxy...and understanding the government's approach in things like this...plus seeing how Clinton's issues were treated...the only way this goes bad for Trump is if there is a record that he directly asked Comey to suspend the investigation. Otherwise, it is all speculation as to his meaning, just like you did in your last post. That will not prove obstruction.
Last edited by RhythmDawg; 06-08-2017 at 07:40 AM.
The question is what did he mean by that. Did he mean it literally or was it, in view of the surrounding circumstances and context, intended as a request.