Trump ally Lindsey Graham warns against prosecution

 

One of Donald Trump's staunchest allies, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, has told the BBC that any decision to prosecute the former president would lead to big problems in the country.

“If you’re going to prosecute the likely nominee in 2024, the former president of the United States, for mishandling classified information and that’s it - after Hillary Clinton - that’s going to create a major problem in the United States,” Senator Graham told the BBC Hardtalk programme’s Stephen Sackur.

“If he’s done more, then he’ll be held accountable.”

The FBI seized 33 boxes from the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in August.

Documents marked "confidential" and "top secret" were among the material. Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and said the items were declassified.

The US holds midterm elections on 8 November with the next presidential election scheduled for November 2024. Mr Trump has yet to announce whether he will run for a second, non-consecutive term.

Hillary Clinton was cleared twice by the FBI over her use of a private email server while secretary of state.

Trump was willing to halt criminal investigations as 'favor' to dictators, Bolton book says

• Trump pleaded with China’s Xi to help re-election effort
• President urged Xi to build concentration camps for Muslims

“The pattern looked like obstruction of justice as a way of life, which we couldn’t accept,” Bolton writes, adding that he took his concerns to the attorney general, William Barr.

The anecdote involving Xi is particularly damaging for Trump in the run-up to an election in which he is trying to position himself as tough on China, and his opponent, Joe Biden, as being in Beijing’s pocket.

In the memoir, The Room Where It Happened, Bolton describes a one-on-one meeting between Trump and Xi on the sidelines of the June 2019 G20 meeting in Japan. Xi complained to Trump about US critics of China, and Trump suggested a way Xi could help him defeat his domestic opposition.

“He [Trump] then, stunningly, turned the conversation to the coming US presidential election, alluding to China’s economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns, pleading with Xi to ensure he’d win,” Bolton writes.

“He stressed the importance of farmers, and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome. I would print Trump’s exact words but the government’s prepublication review process has decided otherwise.”

From the beginning of his administration the taint of corruption and illegality dogged Donald Trump. Within 24 days of his inauguration, his first national security advisor was fired for "lying"   to Mike Pence. Already under investigation by the FBI. His firing and attempted cover up led to the appointment of Special Prosecutor Robert Muller.  

All of this took place within the first three months of Donald Trump's taking office. Following the appointment of the special prosecutor then Attorney  General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the investigation. Frustrated that the investigation was still on going Donald Trump sacked FBI Director James Comey for his refusal to stop the investigation.  During an interview with NBC's Lester Holt, the fool admitted he fired James Comey in the false belief that the investigation into Russian interference in 2016 presidential election.  

All this took place before May of 2017 and hasn't stopped.    

Temper Tantrum Trump Lashes Out At James Comey

President Donald Trump lashed out at former FBI Director James Comey on Friday after excerpts from Comey’s book began to circulate. 

He slammed Comey as an “untruthful slime ball” and a “proven LEAKER & LIAR,” claiming Comey has lied to Congress under oath.

Comey’s memoir, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, has yet to be released, but a few salacious passages have been made available that paint Trump in a less-than-flattering light.

According to Comey’s book, the president was obsessed with disproving the existence of the so-called “pee tape” ― the footage that supposedly shows Trump watching sex workers urinate in a Moscow hotel suite the Obamas had stayed in.

Donald Trump provides the world daily with proof that he doesn't have the ability to hold the office to which he was elected.   He acts like  Draco Malfoy, believing he's entitled, like nobility of old and with that comes the need to bully others. Yet, like Draco Malfoy he's a weak and frightened little boy.

Sessions fires McCabe before he can retire

Trump had repeatedly attacked the veteran FBI official

Attorney General Jeff Sessions late Friday night accepted the recommendation that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who took the reins of the agency during the turbulent days after the abrupt firing of James Comey, be terminated — two days before he was to retire and become eligible for full pension benefits.

Though McCabe — who has been attacked by President Donald Trump — stepped down as deputy director in late January, he remained on the federal payroll, planning to retire on Sunday. The firing places his federal pension in jeopardy.

Unlike Trump's removal of Comey last year, which produced widespread resentment inside the FBI, McCabe's termination was recommended by the agency he served for 21 years.

If Stupidity Was A Preexisting Condition Donald Trump Would Be The Poster Boy

I believe the James Comey leaks will be far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible. Totally illegal? Very 'cowardly!'

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2017

In his usual, I'm dumber than a box of rocks mode Donald Trump as you've read above is accusing former FBI Director James Comey of leaking government documents. Since the material in question are James Comey's personal thoughts on his several meetings with Donald Trump, and the White House failed to invoke executive privilege, thereby preventing his testimony or the release of said testimony 24 hours before his hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee how can James Comey be accused of leaking anything? Further James Comey is no longer a government employee which gives the government little control over his personal papers.

Donald Trump Takes To Twitter To Rage About James Comey

Great reporting by @foxandfriends and so many others. Thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2017

Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2017

The man who lies like an out of control firehose accuses James Comey and the media of being liars. Goes on to praise the Republican propaganda network Fox News.

Who would you trust is this situation? Certainly not the Mango Menace.

James Comey Testimony Live on CBSN

Comey Wrote Memo Saying Trump Urged Him to Drop Flynn Investigation: Sources

by ALEX JOHNSON, PETER ALEXANDER and KEN DILANIAN

Fired FBI Director James Comey built a paper trail documenting what he believed to be President Donald Trump's campaign to derail the FBI's investigation of alleged Russian ties to his presidential campaign, a source close to Comey told NBC News on Tuesday.

The documents include a memo in which Comey wrote that Trump asked him to shut down an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, the source said. A second source, a former federal law enforcement official, also confirmed the existence of the memo to NBC News.

The unclassified memo was first reported by The New York Times.

Neither NBC News nor The Times has seen the actual memo. But The Times said an associate of Comey's read parts of the memo to a reporter.

The source close to Comey told NBC News that Trump told the then-FBI chief in a White House meeting: "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go."

The Times reported that the conversation took place Feb. 14. Times reporter Michael Schmidt told MSNBC that Trump "kicked everybody else out of the room" — including Vice President Mike Pence — and made the request one on one. The White House denied that version of events in a statement to NBC News, calling it "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey."

The Guardian

Donald Trump directly asked former FBI director James Comey to drop an investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, according to notes kept at the time by Comey and first reported on Tuesday by the New York Times.

“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Trump told Comey, according to Comey’s record of the meeting, as reported by the Times. “He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

The latest crisis to beset the White House came just 24 hours after the first reports emerged of Trump having shared classified intelligence with Russia during Oval Office talks.

Alone in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Mr. Comey’s associates.

Maher: 'Welcome To The Apprentice, Nuclear Edition'

MAHER: I think we're all thinking the same thing, TGIF, after a week of WTAF. It seems like there was a year's worth of news stuffed into a week. So let's start with, the president fired the FBI Director, the man who was investigating him. How'd you like to be able to do that? …

And the way he did it. Of course Trump can't do anything without doing it like a little bitch. One minute into the show and I've lost my mind already. …

Instead of calling Comey up like a real man would do and telling him, or in person, no, he sends his albino assassin, with a letter that says “You are hereby terminated and removed from office effective immediately... sincerely Vladimir Putin.”

Trump had his surrogates go out there and say “Well this is all very routine. The president simply lost confidence in Director Comey's ability to mislead and it came down to a character issue.”

Yeah, Comey had some.

Get this. The main reason they said that Comey had to go had nothing to do with Russia. It was all about how unfair he was to Hillary. This insulted Sarah Palin's intelligence. …

He admitted obstruction of justice right there on live national television, and the Republicans... “Nothing to see here.” Because we all live now in America-agua . Would you like a little banana with your Republic?

Can you imagine what the Republicans would be saying if Hillary was doing this? The articles of impeachment wouldn't just be drafted, Roger Stone would have them tattooed on his back by now.

And, a little over a hundred days we are in this administration. The acting Attorney General, fired. National Security Advisor, you're fired. FBI Director, you're fired. Welcome to The Apprentice, nuclear edition

Trump Fires FBI Director Comey

Deputy attorney general: Comey mishandled Clinton email investigation

Here are some excerpts from deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein’s memo on Comey’s firing, which goes into great detail about the FBI’s handling of Hillary Clinton’s emails:

• “I cannot defend the Director’s handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton’s emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken.” 
• “The Director was wrong to usurp the Attorney General’s authority on July 5, 2016, and announce his conclusion that the case should be closed without prosecution.”
• “The Director ignored another longstanding principle: we do not hold press conferences to release derogatory information about the subject of a declined criminal investigation.

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Ben Jacobs 

✔@Bencjacobs

The Rosenstein letter is remarkable. Comey is being fired for his press statement in July 2016 about Clinton https://twitter.com/akarl_smith/status/862062661596479490 …

6:55 AM - 10 May 2017

 
•  921921 Retweets
 
•  771771 likes

Donald Trump: 'You are not able to effectively lead'

Reporters have obtained copies of Trump’s letter to Comey, which states that the FBIdirector is “not able to effectively lead”:

While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgement of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.

In March, Comey confirmed for the first time that the FBI was investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to interfere with the results of the presidential election. Here’s the full letter.

Here are some initial high-profile reactions to the termination of Comey, a polarizing figure whose decision to disclose an inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s emails just before the election last year sparked widespread debate.

From a former Clinton manager:

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Robby Mook 

✔@RobbyMook

Twilight zone. I was as disappointed and frustrated as anyone at how the email investigation was handled. But this terrifies me.

7:02 AM - 10 May 2017

 
•  1,0981,098 Retweets
 
•  2,0502,050 likes

Edward Snowden, who has been targeted by the FBI, criticized the firing, saying: “every American should condemn such political interference in the Bureau’s work.”

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Edward Snowden 

✔@Snowden

This FBI Director has sought for years to jail me on account of my political activities. If I can oppose his firing, so can you. https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/862067649748119553 …

7:17 AM - 10 May 2017

 
•  3,3293,329 Retweets
 
•  4,0074,007 likes

From Clinton’s former vice presidential candidate:

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Senator Tim Kaine 

✔@timkaine

Trump firing Comey shows how frightened the Admin is over Russia investigation

7:16 AM - 10 May 2017

 
•  1,6771,677 Retweets
 
•  3,4103,410 likes

If Donald Trump would just apply those same standards to himself, America's 3 month nightmare of his complete inability to govern could come to an end.