Former FBI director Comey testifies under oath that Trump directed him to kill the FBI's Flynn investigation (obstruction of justice), that Trump told him that his job depended on his loyalty to Trump, that Trump fired him because of the Russian investigation (obstruction of justice) and then lied about it and defamed the FBI in the process, that Trump lied when he stated that it was Comey who initiated their dinner meeting, and that he took copious contemporary notes of his meetings with Trump because he thought that there was a chance that Trump would later lie about them.
Trump (through his lawyer): "I feel completely vindicated."
Comey purged
James Comey is only the biggest victim of Trump's purge of the Federal government. He joins Sally Yates, 42 federal prosecutors, the entire leadership of the State Department, EPA scientists, and others. The goal of this purge is to replace career government professionals (the deep state, according to Steve Brannon) with loyal Trumpists. Its complement is the nonstop war on the credibility of the press.
The stakes could not be higher--nothing less than the future of our democracy. Trump's timing--firing Comey the day after he was severely damaged by Sally Yates--is so transparent as to represent an admission of guilt. Trump is literally daring the American people to stand up for justice.
The real surprise is deputy attorney general Ron Rosenstein, who supplied a lengthy letter urging the firing of Comey--for not prosecuting Hillary Clinton. Rosenstein is critical to a legitimate investigation of Trump's dealing with the Russians because Jeff Sessions, who himself had contact with the Russians as a member of the Trump team, has recused himself from such an investigation. Just yesterday Sally Yates expressed her confidence in Rosenstein's ability to conduct that investigation. He will have NO credibility now unless he appoints a special prosecutor. Comey has made speeches over the past two years in which he spoke candidly about police and racial issues that may have given Sessions, who is aggressively decommissioning federal oversight of police negotiated by the Obama administration, concerns about Comey's willingness to play ball with his "law and order" program.
If the Trumpists think that Comey will go quietly, I think they are mistaken, even though Comey will be hampered in setting the record straight without revealing classified information. Key to the short-term future of our country is the ability of the American people to put pressure on the Republicans in Congress. If the Republicans stand behind Trump in supporting a rubber-stamp replacement for Comey and in blocking an independent prosecutor for the Trump/Russia scandal, we are in big trouble. We will have no independent investigation outside of the efforts of the press. Democrats are chasing down every media person in D.C. to condemn this firing. No Republican has yet commented.
RESIST!
