(05-16-2017 11:03 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 10:50 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 06:07 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(05-16-2017 05:35 PM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  And now it comes out Trump asked Comey to quash the Flynn probe....

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/us/po...p=cur&_r=0

It's hard to keep track of all the scandals at this point.

This is the first time I actually think Trump will be impeached. See this line from the article:

Quote: Mr. Comey created similar memos — including some that are classified — about every phone call and meeting he had with the president, the two people said.

FBI notes are apparently often used as evidence in court, and should these memos exist, my admittedly non-lawyer mind, thinks that this reeks of obstruction of justice.

My understanding is that if Comey thought somebody was trying to obstruct justice, he was duty bound to report it. He didn't.

If Trump is impeached, I guess that will make Pence President. Or if you get them both, then Ryan is President.

I've not gotten that understanding about being bound to disclose those actions publicly.

I listened to some news tonight and a number of interesting points were brought up regarding the memo and Comey's decision not to come forward with it at the time. Ranging from the idea that the actions couldn't legally be obstruction of justice if there wasn't a criminal investigation going on at the time (just an intelligence probe), to the fact that Comey may not have wanted to jeopardize the Russia investigation that he was overseeing, as coming forward with that memo would have opened a whole can of worms.

But let's say he was bound by duty to report it, what difference does it make if it was brought forward after the fact? Is this admission outside a statute of limitations for disclosing obstruction of justice?

And yep, you have the order correct through the speaker of the House.

edit: I'd also like to point out that we are talking about a memo here that was written by Comey about the interaction he had with Trump due to the peculiarities of the meeting. Everything I've heard indicates that Comey himself said nothing about obstruction of justice - just that he wanted to continue a practice he regularly had done, which was document unusual interactions he had with people.

The obstruction of justice comments have come from the peanut gallery.

Good points. I haven't been able to spend much time in front of the TV lately, and won't be able to for a while, but what little I caught brought this aspect up.

I would think that not disclosing meant he did not think it was obstruction of justice.

My understanding is that Comey kept notes on every interaction he had with superiors, not just unusual ones.

I think a lot of the hoi polloi among the Resistance, the peanut gallery as you say, think without thinking, that somehow getting rid of Trump will put Hillary in office. They are still fighting the election. I am not sure without looking it up who is next after the Speaker of the House, but I am sure that Hillary is not in the line of succession.

Aside: peanut gallery? That was a name used for the crowd of kids in a popular children's show when I was young, in the 1950's, Howdy Doody. I am sure you are not that old. Pick it up from a father or grandfather?