This is developing (check back for more)
- TRUMP REMOVES FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY: WHITE HOUSE
- TRUMP FIRES COMEY: SPICER STATEMENT
Statement:
Today, President Donald J. Trump informed FBI Director James Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office.
President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Bottom line:
Trump just fired the guy leading the investigation into Trump.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) May 9, 2017
Here’s the letter:
And here’s what Jeff Sessions (who lied under oath) sent to Trump:
This comes after the FBI notified Congress that Comey grossly exaggerated important findings regarding the Clinton email investigation during testimony last week. Apparently, when Comey said “hundreds and thousands,” of e-mails were forwarded to Anthony Weiner, he actually meant “a small number.”
As WaPo notes, “a letter was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, more than a week after Comey testified for hours in defense of his handling of the Clinton probe.”
“This letter is intended to supplement that testimony to ensure that the committee has the full context of what was reviewed and found on the laptop,’’ wrote FBI Assistant Director Gregory A. Brower.
This was first reported by ProPublica. To wit:
FBI director James Comey generated national headlines last week with his dramatic testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, explaining his “incredibly painful” decision to go public about the Hillary Clinton emails found on Anthony Weiner’s laptop.
Perhaps Comey’s most surprising revelation was that Huma Abedin – Weiner’s wife and a top Clinton deputy – had made “a regular practice” of forwarding “hundreds and thousands” of Clinton messages to her husband, “some of which contain classified information.” Comey testified that Abedin had done this so that the disgraced former congressman could print them out for her boss. (Weiner’s laptop was seized after he came under criminal investigation for sex crimes, following a media report about his online relationship with a teenager.)
The New York Post plastered its story on the front page with a photo of an underwear-clad Weiner and the headline: “HARD COPY: Huma sent Weiner classified Hillary emails to print out.” The Daily News went with a similar front-page screamer: “HUMA ERROR: Sent classified emails to sext maniac Weiner.”
The problem: Much of what Comey said about this was inaccurate. Now the FBI is trying to figure out what to do about it.
Don’t forget this:
And do note that this is Trump firing someone who is investigating the administration’s ties to Russia. I mean, it’s difficult to imagine that this is anything other than Trump purging anyone who might be getting too close.
Because what’s the alternative here (given everything noted above)? That Trump is suddenly “concerned” that Comey might have screwed Hillary?! That’s ludicrous. But apparently that’s what they’re going with. Here’s WaPo again:
Officials said Comey was fired because senior Justice Department officials concluded he had violated Justice Department principles and procedures by publicly discussing the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of private email.
Does anyone actually believe that Trump fired #Comey for being too mean to Hillary Clinton? This is insanity.
— Mike Levin (@MikeLevin) May 9, 2017
Fired for being mean to Hillary Clinton…#comey pic.twitter.com/29pJaFN4PU
— TheRealSmitty06 (@TheRealSmitty06) May 9, 2017
what are we supposed 2 believe with Comey?! That Trump is mad at him 4 screwing Hillary? That's dumb as shit. Of course he's fired 4 Russia.
— Heisenberg Report (@heisenbergrpt) May 9, 2017
Via Bloomberg
- “I was as disappointed and frustrated as anyone at how the email investigation was handled. But this terrifies me,” Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook says on Twitter after FBI Director James Comey’s firing. Clinton campaign press sec. Brian Fallon says reasons for firing are “appropriate sentiment,” but DOJ should “have awaited IG probe on Comey”
- “Now it just smells like coverup on Russia”
- “Congressional Republicans cannot possibly disagree now: the only fix to this mess is an independent commission with subpoena power,” Fallon says
- “I’m not shedding any tears for Comey personally – he hurt FBI’s reputation – but I do worry whether we ever get to the bottom of Russia now”
Then there’s this:
Reminder: Fired FBI Director Comey was scheduled to testify before Senate Intel on Thursday (h/t @MariannaNBCNews): pic.twitter.com/32l2llhtoQ
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) May 9, 2017
And the backlash is coming in hot:
“I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination," Sen. Burr (R-NC) says https://t.co/RYsIHJPnLI pic.twitter.com/DIdXa3vVdI
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 9, 2017
#Trump fires #Comey. No reason given. What’s Trump trying to hide? More than ever, need #SpecialCounsel to investigate Trump and #Russia.
— Congressman Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) May 9, 2017
Even Snowden is pissed:
Set aside politics: every American should condemn such political interference in the Bureau's work. https://t.co/hROwSMg1vd
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) May 9, 2017
TRUMP FIRES COMEY pic.twitter.com/FmaTzz6Mnr
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 9, 2017
The President accepted the recommendation of the deputy attorney general to dismiss FBI Director James Comey.
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) May 9, 2017
My read of the DAG's letter "Comey went rogue during 2016 election,ignored chain of command." Implication: we're worried he'll do it again.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) May 9, 2017
BREAKING: President Trump has fired FBI Director James Comey, the White House says https://t.co/TCAGGw2lVP https://t.co/BOT9RzLJwf
— CNN International (@cnni) May 9, 2017
Straightforward from here
1. Fire Comey
2. Impeach Trump & Pence
3. Liberate DC Zoo bobcat
4. Bobcat led coup
5. President bobcat— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) May 9, 2017
Comey's replacement was just notified that he'll be sworn in soon. He's very excited.#FBIDirector#Sarumanthestooge pic.twitter.com/uoVdlhXpEb
— Mordor National Park (@MordorNPS) May 9, 2017
too late, his house is gonna burn down! hahaha!
Hey this could all work out!
Just heard there was an opening in the NSA.
We are all in this house
They couldn’t be any more obvious, could they?
I threw the election for this guy and all I got was a stupid pink slip.
another case of desperate people do desperate things…… Trump knows it is close to “caught” and will try anything at this point!
Looks like there’s a new job opening for Michael Flynn.
I was willing to believe there may be a shred of respect in the trump presidency for due process and democracy. Not anymore. Seems hypocritical.
just for grins, I would love to have a peek into Hillary’s house…..two of her dreams coming true today! Comey got fired and Trump is doing anything he can to stay out of jail. Yeah, she’s dancing in the house! I’m glad she gets to celebrate – she at least deserves that much – so many unfair things happened to her and were said about her and she could not overcome it all. I voted for her because she was the lesser of two evils.
Also expect war with NK over the ensuing months. This confirms that nothing is “off the table” anymore.
So, H, is this one of your black swans? ’cause….damn.
I am here for the latest stock tip from Sharon
Just wow
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/10/comey-firing-trump-russia-238192
When he finally pulled the trigger Tuesday afternoon, he didn’t call James Comey. He sent his longtime private security guard to deliver the termination letter in a manila folder to FBI headquarters.
He had grown enraged by the Russia investigation, two advisers said, frustrated by his inability to control the mushrooming narrative around Russia. He repeatedly asked aides why the Russia investigation wouldn’t disappear and demanded they speak out for him. He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe, one adviser said.
YATES knows FLYNN has been compromised by saying in public an untrue statement (I did not talk to Russians about sanctions) and therefore susceptible to blackmail by Russians. YATES is fired.
…
COMEY knows (maybe) TRUMP has been compromised by saying in public an untrue statement (I did not talk to Russians about ???) and therefore susceptible to blackmail by Russians. COMEY is fired.
What’s a congressman to do?
What’s a citizen to do?
and lastly
What is an investor to do?
Congressmen will do what they always do: look out for themselves. Citizens and investors are left to fend for themselves.
Can you imagine Sean Spicer’s anticipation of his day at the office?
It should be priceless.
either I dreamed it (tv was on all night!) or it was mentioned that Spicey would not be meeting with the press today – the arrogant snotty woman will instead. Trump does not even come close to trusting what poor little Spicey would say. I find it hard to believe that Spicey has not been fired yet!
yeah spicey is on vacation – sort of