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Mueller moves in on Trump for possible obstruction of justice

The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice, officials said The move by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III to investigate Trump's own conduct marks a major turning point in the nearly year-old FBI investigation, which until recently focused on Russian meddling during the presidential campaign and on whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Investigators have also been looking for any evidence of possible financial crimes among Trump associates, officials said Trump had received private assurances from former FBI Director James B. Comey starting in January that he was not personally under investigation. Officials say that changed shortly after Comey's firin Five people briefed on the requests, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Adm. Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Rogers' recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett, agreed to be interviewed by Mueller's investigators as early as this week. The investigation has been cloaked in secrecy and it's unclear how many others have been questioned bv the FBI

The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice, officials said The move by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III to investigate Trump's own conduct marks a major turning point in the nearly year-old FBI investigation, which until recently focused on Russian meddling during the presidential campaign and on whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. Investigators have also been looking for any evidence of possible financial crimes among Trump associates, officials said Trump had received private assurances from former FBI Director James B. Comey starting in January that he was not personally under investigation. Officials say that changed shortly after Comey's firin Five people briefed on the requests, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Adm. Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Rogers' recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett, agreed to be interviewed by Mueller's investigators as early as this week. The investigation has been cloaked in secrecy and it's unclear how many others have been questioned bv the FBI

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Putin's defensive line

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Sessions admits info about 3rd meeting leaked from closed session

WYDEN "He said it's problematic and I asked you what was problematic about it'" SESSIONS - "Well, some of that leaked out of the committee that he said in closed session"

WYDEN "He said it's problematic and I asked you what was problematic about it'" SESSIONS - "Well, some of that leaked out of the committee that he said in closed session"

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The Quid, the Pro, and the Quo

Quid pro Quo the Quo the 1- Advise what Pro to steal & voter targets the Quid 2- Distribute Russian money to 1- Steal emails GOP campaigns weaponize voter data 3- Lift sanctions 2- Donate Russian money to GOP super PACs 4- DOJ blocks investigation 3- Sell piece of Rosneft oil to Trump Associates @PuestoLoco

Quid pro Quo the Quo the 1- Advise what Pro to steal & voter targets the Quid 2- Distribute Russian money to 1- Steal emails GOP campaigns weaponize voter data 3- Lift sanctions 2- Donate Russian money to GOP super PACs 4- DOJ blocks investigation 3- Sell piece of Rosneft oil to Trump Associates @PuestoLoco

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Leader of investigation knew it would touch Trump eventually

COMEY: Sure, and - and the - the leader who had that view-it didn't change. His view was still that it was probably - although literally true, his concern was it could be misleading, because the nature of the investigation was such that it might well touch - obviously, it would touch the campaign, and the person at the head of the campaign would be the candidate. And so that was his view throughout. 1

COMEY: Sure, and - and the - the leader who had that view-it didn't change. His view was still that it was probably - although literally true, his concern was it could be misleading, because the nature of the investigation was such that it might well touch - obviously, it would touch the campaign, and the person at the head of the campaign would be the candidate. And so that was his view throughout. 1

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James Comey on why this investigation matters

@NPR Comey was asked why Americans should care about the investiga tion into Russian meddling in the U.S. election. n.pr/2rZpYJM EG The reason this is such a big deal is we have this big, messy, wonderful country where we fight with each other all the time, but nobody tells us what to think, what to fight about, what to vote for except other Americans. And that's wonderful and often painful. But we're talking about a foreign government that-using technical intrusion and lots of other methods -tried to shape the way we think. we vote, we act. That is a big deal." James Comey, former FBl director

@NPR Comey was asked why Americans should care about the investiga tion into Russian meddling in the U.S. election. n.pr/2rZpYJM EG The reason this is such a big deal is we have this big, messy, wonderful country where we fight with each other all the time, but nobody tells us what to think, what to fight about, what to vote for except other Americans. And that's wonderful and often painful. But we're talking about a foreign government that-using technical intrusion and lots of other methods -tried to shape the way we think. we vote, we act. That is a big deal." James Comey, former FBl director

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Nothing

Recap of what this "Russia Investigation" has found: absolutely nothing No collusion. Just kicking and screaming about Trump being POTUS EN COMEY TESTIFES BEFORE CONGRESS 201550 LIVE BREAKING NEWS INTEL CHIEFS: NEVER FELT PRESSURED TO SWAY RUSSIA PROBE -AN But won't say whether Trump asked them to infiluence FBl investigationA CNN RUMP TWEETS THAT HE INTENDS TO NOMINATE CHRISTOPHER WRAY AS NE INSIDE POLITICS National Security FBI reviewed Flynn's calls with Russia ambassador but found nothing illicit Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg By Ellen Nakashima and Greg Miller 」anuary 23 . RETWEETS LIKES 1,515 2,572 12:11 PM-J2017 http:/larchive.is/WEpgD

Recap of what this "Russia Investigation" has found: absolutely nothing No collusion. Just kicking and screaming about Trump being POTUS EN COMEY TESTIFES BEFORE CONGRESS 201550 LIVE BREAKING NEWS INTEL CHIEFS: NEVER FELT PRESSURED TO SWAY RUSSIA PROBE -AN But won't say whether Trump asked them to infiluence FBl investigationA CNN RUMP TWEETS THAT HE INTENDS TO NOMINATE CHRISTOPHER WRAY AS NE INSIDE POLITICS National Security FBI reviewed Flynn's calls with Russia ambassador but found nothing illicit Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg By Ellen Nakashima and Greg Miller 」anuary 23 . RETWEETS LIKES 1,515 2,572 12:11 PM-J2017 http:/larchive.is/WEpgD

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Don't shoot yourself in the foot!

e said he was considering ordering me to investigate the alleged incident to prove it didn't happen. I replied that he should give that careful thought because it might create a narrative that we were investigating him personally, which we weren't, and because t was veny difficulit to prove a negative. He said he would think

e said he was considering ordering me to investigate the alleged incident to prove it didn't happen. I replied that he should give that careful thought because it might create a narrative that we were investigating him personally, which we weren't, and because t was veny difficulit to prove a negative. He said he would think

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Mueller has the ball

But whether a sitting president may be indicted while in office is an open question I advised the Watergate special prosecutors (and argued to the Supreme Court in the Nixon tapes case) that the president enjoys no unique immunity from obeying criminal laws. Other Justice Department officials, however, have taken a contrary position The ball now is in Mueller's court to decide whether he has (or will have) enough evidence to charge Trump with obstruction and, if so, whether to reach the same conclusion that I reached in the Nixon investigation - that, like everyone else in our system, a president is accountable for committing a federal crime

But whether a sitting president may be indicted while in office is an open question I advised the Watergate special prosecutors (and argued to the Supreme Court in the Nixon tapes case) that the president enjoys no unique immunity from obeying criminal laws. Other Justice Department officials, however, have taken a contrary position The ball now is in Mueller's court to decide whether he has (or will have) enough evidence to charge Trump with obstruction and, if so, whether to reach the same conclusion that I reached in the Nixon investigation - that, like everyone else in our system, a president is accountable for committing a federal crime

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"Lordy, I hope there are tapes."

LORDY I HOPE THERE ARE TAPES

LORDY I HOPE THERE ARE TAPES

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The Passion of the Shill

Anonymous (ID 06/08/17 (Thu)21:14:36 No.129120438 >Wake up today >Look at $700 iPhone CNN: It's over for Drumpf today >Oh boy, it's finally the big day >Double Bonus Dead silence here in Brooklyn bar as patrons watch Comey's testimony 95 KB JPG $750 paycheck finally hit >Pay interest on student loans >Still $80k in debt for gender studies >Drop off $700 rent check 8 days late Call off work at coffee shop >Gotta go see Comey ruin Drumpf! >Bike down to the local bar Theyre having specials >$5 PBRs >Testimony Starts >Lorreta Lynch? >Bet they're gonna talk about the grandkids Told FBI to call it a "matter?!?!?" Log into Huffpo >Okay cool, they still say Drumpf is done They ve never been wrong >Ha! Bet they never catch that leaker. >What?!? Comey is a s------ leaker?!? >Guys??? It's still over for Drumpf, right? S"Trump not under FBl investigation >This can't be happening again! S"NYT had it all wrong >But I just renewed my subscription! >Get text from Share Blue >$.07/post tonight "Comey did really well today" >"Definitely over for Trump" >I'm resisting! >Maybe not today, but someday I'll get ahead >Someday I'll stop worrying about dying alone is was somebody's day today.

Anonymous (ID 06/08/17 (Thu)21:14:36 No.129120438 >Wake up today >Look at $700 iPhone CNN: It's over for Drumpf today >Oh boy, it's finally the big day >Double Bonus Dead silence here in Brooklyn bar as patrons watch Comey's testimony 95 KB JPG $750 paycheck finally hit >Pay interest on student loans >Still $80k in debt for gender studies >Drop off $700 rent check 8 days late Call off work at coffee shop >Gotta go see Comey ruin Drumpf! >Bike down to the local bar Theyre having specials >$5 PBRs >Testimony Starts >Lorreta Lynch? >Bet they're gonna talk about the grandkids Told FBI to call it a "matter?!?!?" Log into Huffpo >Okay cool, they still say Drumpf is done They ve never been wrong >Ha! Bet they never catch that leaker. >What?!? Comey is a s------ leaker?!? >Guys??? It's still over for Drumpf, right? S"Trump not under FBl investigation >This can't be happening again! S"NYT had it all wrong >But I just renewed my subscription! >Get text from Share Blue >$.07/post tonight "Comey did really well today" >"Definitely over for Trump" >I'm resisting! >Maybe not today, but someday I'll get ahead >Someday I'll stop worrying about dying alone is was somebody's day today.

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Here we go again.

6 June 2017 BREAKING NEWS SOURCES TELL CNN: COMEY TO TESTIFY HE NEVERC TOLD TRUMP HE WAS NOT UNDER FBI INVESTIGATION DIGAETON CAN 10:31 PM PT AC360 7 June 2017 OVII BREAKING NEWS LIVE COMEY TOLD TRUMP HE WAS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION DIRECTLY CN Dow ▲ 37.12 S VISIBLY FRUSTRATED SENATORS ALSO GRILLED DEPUTY ATTY. GEN. F THE LEAD

6 June 2017 BREAKING NEWS SOURCES TELL CNN: COMEY TO TESTIFY HE NEVERC TOLD TRUMP HE WAS NOT UNDER FBI INVESTIGATION DIGAETON CAN 10:31 PM PT AC360 7 June 2017 OVII BREAKING NEWS LIVE COMEY TOLD TRUMP HE WAS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION DIRECTLY CN Dow ▲ 37.12 S VISIBLY FRUSTRATED SENATORS ALSO GRILLED DEPUTY ATTY. GEN. F THE LEAD

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One level higher than you.

□ Anonymous (ID: OPR Gan))諞06/07/17(Wed)15:55:01 No.128912680 Wait, did Trump fire Comey in a brutal fashion because he knew Comey would be angry and want to testify against him, but in the process would have to admit Trump was never under investigation? What level does this man operate at!?!

□ Anonymous (ID: OPR Gan))諞06/07/17(Wed)15:55:01 No.128912680 Wait, did Trump fire Comey in a brutal fashion because he knew Comey would be angry and want to testify against him, but in the process would have to admit Trump was never under investigation? What level does this man operate at!?!

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The Trump Boys

THE TRUMP BOYS THE CLOUD THE HOOKERS AND THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK by RODEAL ANTRU

THE TRUMP BOYS THE CLOUD THE HOOKERS AND THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK by RODEAL ANTRU

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Comey Memos (April 11)

ril 11 Phone Call On the morning of April 11, the President called me and asked what I had done about his request that I "get out" that he is not personally under investigation. I replied that I had passed his request to the Acting Deputy Attorney General, but I had not heard back. He replied that "the cloud" was getting in the way of his ability to do his job. He said that perhaps he would have his people reach out to the Acting Deputy Attorney General. I said that was the way his request should be handled. I said the White House Counsel should contact the leadership of DOJ to make the request, which was the traditional channel He said he would do that and added, "Because I have been very loyal to you, very loyal; we had that thing you know." I did not reply or ask him what he meant by "that thing." I said only that the way to handle it was to have the White House Counsel call the Acting Deputy Attorney General. He said that was what he would do and the call ended. That was the last time I spoke with President Trump.

ril 11 Phone Call On the morning of April 11, the President called me and asked what I had done about his request that I "get out" that he is not personally under investigation. I replied that I had passed his request to the Acting Deputy Attorney General, but I had not heard back. He replied that "the cloud" was getting in the way of his ability to do his job. He said that perhaps he would have his people reach out to the Acting Deputy Attorney General. I said that was the way his request should be handled. I said the White House Counsel should contact the leadership of DOJ to make the request, which was the traditional channel He said he would do that and added, "Because I have been very loyal to you, very loyal; we had that thing you know." I did not reply or ask him what he meant by "that thing." I said only that the way to handle it was to have the White House Counsel call the Acting Deputy Attorney General. He said that was what he would do and the call ended. That was the last time I spoke with President Trump.

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Comey Memos (Part 8)

hadn't done anything wrong and hoped I would find a way to get it out that we weren't investigating him In an abrupt shift, he turned the conversation to FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, saying he hadn't brought up "the McCabe thing" because I had said McCabe was honorable, although McAuliffe was close to the Clintons and had given him (I think he meant Deputy Director McCabe's wife) campaign money. Although I didn't understand why the President was bringing this up, I repeated that Mr. McCabe was an honorable person He finished by stressing "the cloud" that was interfering with his ability to make deals for the country and said he hoped I could find a way to get out that he wasn't being investigated. I told him I would see what we could do, and that we would do our investigative work well and as quickly as we could Immediately after that conversation, I called Acting Deputy Attorney General Dana Boente (AG Sessions had by then recused himself on all Russia- related matters), to report the substance of the call from the President, and saidI would await his guidance. I did not hear back from him before the President called me again two wecks later On the moening of Apthe President called me nd asked what I had dure about his request thi! I "get our-that he訴not petideally under investigation lepled that I had passed his Rquest the Actitg Depuy. Altonley General, but I had not heand back. He replied that the cloud was getting in the way of his ability to do his job. He said that perhaps he would have hs people reach out to the Acting Deputy Attoney General I said that was the way his request should be handled I said the White House Coussel should contact the leadership of DOJ to make the request, which was the traditional channel. He said he woulkd do that atd added "Because I have been very loyal to you, very layal; we had that thing you know." Idid not reply or ask him what he meant by "that thing I said only that the way to handle it was to have the White House Counsel call the Acting Deputy Attorney General. He said that was what he woul do and the call ended That was the a time I spoke with President Trump 丼棼丼

hadn't done anything wrong and hoped I would find a way to get it out that we weren't investigating him In an abrupt shift, he turned the conversation to FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, saying he hadn't brought up "the McCabe thing" because I had said McCabe was honorable, although McAuliffe was close to the Clintons and had given him (I think he meant Deputy Director McCabe's wife) campaign money. Although I didn't understand why the President was bringing this up, I repeated that Mr. McCabe was an honorable person He finished by stressing "the cloud" that was interfering with his ability to make deals for the country and said he hoped I could find a way to get out that he wasn't being investigated. I told him I would see what we could do, and that we would do our investigative work well and as quickly as we could Immediately after that conversation, I called Acting Deputy Attorney General Dana Boente (AG Sessions had by then recused himself on all Russia- related matters), to report the substance of the call from the President, and saidI would await his guidance. I did not hear back from him before the President called me again two wecks later On the moening of Apthe President called me nd asked what I had dure about his request thi! I "get our-that he訴not petideally under investigation lepled that I had passed his Rquest the Actitg Depuy. Altonley General, but I had not heand back. He replied that the cloud was getting in the way of his ability to do his job. He said that perhaps he would have hs people reach out to the Acting Deputy Attoney General I said that was the way his request should be handled I said the White House Coussel should contact the leadership of DOJ to make the request, which was the traditional channel. He said he woulkd do that atd added "Because I have been very loyal to you, very layal; we had that thing you know." Idid not reply or ask him what he meant by "that thing I said only that the way to handle it was to have the White House Counsel call the Acting Deputy Attorney General. He said that was what he woul do and the call ended That was the a time I spoke with President Trump 丼棼丼

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Comey Memos (Part 7)

the previous day. The President began by saying Flynn hadn't done anything wrong in speaking with the Russians, but he had to let him go because he had misled the Vice President. He added that he had other concerns about Flynn, which he did not then specify The President then made a long series of comments about the problem with leaks of classified information a concern I shared and still share, After he had spoken for a few minutes about leaks, Reince Priebus leaned in through the door by the grandfather clock and I could see a group of people waiting behind him The President waved at him to close the door, saying he would be done shortly. The door closed The President then returned to the topic of Mike Flynn, saying, "He is a good guy and has been through a lot." He repeated that Flynn hadn't done anything wrong on his calls with the Russians, but had misled the Vice President He then said, "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go." I replied only that "he is a good guy." (In fact, I had a positive experience dealing with Mike Flynn when he was a colleague as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency at the beginning of my term at FBI.) I did not say I would "let this go." The President returned briefly to the problem of leaks. I then got up and left out the door by the grandfather clock, making my way through the large group of people waiting there, including Mr. Priebus and the Vice President I immediately prepared an unclassified memo of the conversation about Flynn and discussed the matter with FBI senior leadership. I had understood the President to be requesting that we drop any investigation of Flynn in connection with false statements about his conversations with the Russian ambassador in December. I did not understand the President to be talking about the broader investigation into Russia or possible links to his campaign. I could be wrong, butI took him to be focusing on what had just happened with Flynn's departure and the controversy around his account of his phone calls. Regardless, it was very concerning, given the FBI's role as an independent investigative agency. The FBI leadership team agreed with me that it was important not to infect the investigative team with the President's request, which we did not intend to abide. We also concluded that, given that it was a one-on-one conversation, there was nothing available to corroborate my account. We concluded it made little sense to report it to Attorney General Sessions, who we expected would likely recuse himself from involvement in Russia-related investigations. (He did so two weeks later.) The Deputy Attorney General's role was then filled in an acting capacity by a United States Attorney, who would also not be long in the role

the previous day. The President began by saying Flynn hadn't done anything wrong in speaking with the Russians, but he had to let him go because he had misled the Vice President. He added that he had other concerns about Flynn, which he did not then specify The President then made a long series of comments about the problem with leaks of classified information a concern I shared and still share, After he had spoken for a few minutes about leaks, Reince Priebus leaned in through the door by the grandfather clock and I could see a group of people waiting behind him The President waved at him to close the door, saying he would be done shortly. The door closed The President then returned to the topic of Mike Flynn, saying, "He is a good guy and has been through a lot." He repeated that Flynn hadn't done anything wrong on his calls with the Russians, but had misled the Vice President He then said, "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go." I replied only that "he is a good guy." (In fact, I had a positive experience dealing with Mike Flynn when he was a colleague as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency at the beginning of my term at FBI.) I did not say I would "let this go." The President returned briefly to the problem of leaks. I then got up and left out the door by the grandfather clock, making my way through the large group of people waiting there, including Mr. Priebus and the Vice President I immediately prepared an unclassified memo of the conversation about Flynn and discussed the matter with FBI senior leadership. I had understood the President to be requesting that we drop any investigation of Flynn in connection with false statements about his conversations with the Russian ambassador in December. I did not understand the President to be talking about the broader investigation into Russia or possible links to his campaign. I could be wrong, butI took him to be focusing on what had just happened with Flynn's departure and the controversy around his account of his phone calls. Regardless, it was very concerning, given the FBI's role as an independent investigative agency. The FBI leadership team agreed with me that it was important not to infect the investigative team with the President's request, which we did not intend to abide. We also concluded that, given that it was a one-on-one conversation, there was nothing available to corroborate my account. We concluded it made little sense to report it to Attorney General Sessions, who we expected would likely recuse himself from involvement in Russia-related investigations. (He did so two weeks later.) The Deputy Attorney General's role was then filled in an acting capacity by a United States Attorney, who would also not be long in the role

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Comey Memos (Part 6)

After discussing the matter, we decided to keep it very closely held, resolving to figure out what to do with it down the road as our investigation progressed. The investigation moved ahead at full speed, with none of the investigative team members or the Department of Justice lawyers supporting them - aware of the President's request Shortly afterwards, I spoke with Attorney General Sessions in person to pass along the President's concerns about leaks. I took the opportunity to implore the Attorney General to prevent any future direct communication between the President and me. I told the AG that what had just happened - him being asked to leave while the FBI Director, who reports to the AG, remained behind - was inappropriate and should never happen. He did not reply. For the reasons discussed above, I did not mention that the President broached the FBI's potential investigation of General Flynn March 30 Phone Call On the morning of March 30, the President called me at the FBI. He described the Russia investigation as "a cloud" that was impairing his ability to act on behalf of the country. He said he had nothing to do with Russia, had not been involved with hookers in Russia, and had always assumed he was being recorded when in Russia. He asked what we could do to "lift the cloud." I responded that we were investigating the matter as quickly as we could, and that there would be great benefit, if we didn't find anything, to our having done the work well. He agreed, but then re-emphasized the problems this was causing him Then the President asked why there had been a congressional hearing about Russia the previous week - at which I had, as the Department of Justice directed confirmed the investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. I explained the demands from the leadership of both parties in Congress for more information, and that Senator Grassley had even held up the confirmation of the Deputy Attorney General until we briefed him in detail on the investigation. I explained that we had briefed the leadership of Congress on exactly which individuals we were investigating and that we had told those Congressional leaders that we were not personally investigating President Trump. I reminded him I had previously told him that. He repeatedly told me, "We need to get that fact out." (I did not tell the President that the FBI and the Department of Justice had been reluctant to make public statements that we did not have an open case on President Trump for a number of reasons, most importantly because it would create a duty to correct, should that change.) The President went on to say that if there were some "satellite" associates of his who did something wrong, it would be good to find that out, but that he

After discussing the matter, we decided to keep it very closely held, resolving to figure out what to do with it down the road as our investigation progressed. The investigation moved ahead at full speed, with none of the investigative team members or the Department of Justice lawyers supporting them - aware of the President's request Shortly afterwards, I spoke with Attorney General Sessions in person to pass along the President's concerns about leaks. I took the opportunity to implore the Attorney General to prevent any future direct communication between the President and me. I told the AG that what had just happened - him being asked to leave while the FBI Director, who reports to the AG, remained behind - was inappropriate and should never happen. He did not reply. For the reasons discussed above, I did not mention that the President broached the FBI's potential investigation of General Flynn March 30 Phone Call On the morning of March 30, the President called me at the FBI. He described the Russia investigation as "a cloud" that was impairing his ability to act on behalf of the country. He said he had nothing to do with Russia, had not been involved with hookers in Russia, and had always assumed he was being recorded when in Russia. He asked what we could do to "lift the cloud." I responded that we were investigating the matter as quickly as we could, and that there would be great benefit, if we didn't find anything, to our having done the work well. He agreed, but then re-emphasized the problems this was causing him Then the President asked why there had been a congressional hearing about Russia the previous week - at which I had, as the Department of Justice directed confirmed the investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. I explained the demands from the leadership of both parties in Congress for more information, and that Senator Grassley had even held up the confirmation of the Deputy Attorney General until we briefed him in detail on the investigation. I explained that we had briefed the leadership of Congress on exactly which individuals we were investigating and that we had told those Congressional leaders that we were not personally investigating President Trump. I reminded him I had previously told him that. He repeatedly told me, "We need to get that fact out." (I did not tell the President that the FBI and the Department of Justice had been reluctant to make public statements that we did not have an open case on President Trump for a number of reasons, most importantly because it would create a duty to correct, should that change.) The President went on to say that if there were some "satellite" associates of his who did something wrong, it would be good to find that out, but that he

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Comey Memos (Part 5)

about me from Jim Mattis, Jeff Sessions, and many others. He then said, "I need loyalty." I replied, "You will always get honesty from me." He paused and then said, "That's what I want, honest loyalty." I paused, and then said, "You will get that from me." As I wrote in the memo I created immediately after the dinner, it is possible we understood the phrase "honest loyalty" differently, but I decided it wouldn't be productive to push it further. The term - honest loyalty - had helped end a very awkward conversation and my explanations had made clear what he should expect During the dinner, the President returned to the salacious material I had briefed him about on January 6, and, as he had done previously, expressed his disgust for the allegations and strongly denied them. He said he was considering ordering me to investigate the alleged incident to prove it didn't happen. I replied that he should give that careful thought because it might create a narrative that we were investigating him personally, which we weren't, and because it was very difficult to prove a negative. He said he would think about it and asked me to think about it As was my practice for conversations with President Trump, I wrote a detailed memo about the dinner immediately afterwards and shared it with the senior leadership team of the FBI February 14 Oval Office Meetin On February 14, I went to the Oval Office for a scheduled counter terrorism briefing of the President. He sat behind the desk and a group of us sat in a semi-circle of about six chairs facing him on the other side of the desk. The Vice President, Deputy Director of the CIA, Director of the National Counter- Terrorism Center, Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and I were in the semi-circle of chairs. I was directly facing the President, sitting between the Deputy CIA Director and the Director of NCTC. There were quite a few others in the room, sitting behind us on couches and chairs The President signaled the end of the briefing by thanking the group and telling them all that he wanted to speak to me alone. I stayed in my chair. As the participants started to leave the Oval Office, the Attorney General lingered by my chair, but the President thanked him and said he wanted to speak only with me The last person to leave was Jared Kushner, who also stood by my chair and exchanged pleasantries with me. The President then excused him, saying he wanted to speak with me When the door by the grandfather clock closed, and we were alone, the President began by saying, "I want to talk about Mike Flynn." Flynn had resigned

about me from Jim Mattis, Jeff Sessions, and many others. He then said, "I need loyalty." I replied, "You will always get honesty from me." He paused and then said, "That's what I want, honest loyalty." I paused, and then said, "You will get that from me." As I wrote in the memo I created immediately after the dinner, it is possible we understood the phrase "honest loyalty" differently, but I decided it wouldn't be productive to push it further. The term - honest loyalty - had helped end a very awkward conversation and my explanations had made clear what he should expect During the dinner, the President returned to the salacious material I had briefed him about on January 6, and, as he had done previously, expressed his disgust for the allegations and strongly denied them. He said he was considering ordering me to investigate the alleged incident to prove it didn't happen. I replied that he should give that careful thought because it might create a narrative that we were investigating him personally, which we weren't, and because it was very difficult to prove a negative. He said he would think about it and asked me to think about it As was my practice for conversations with President Trump, I wrote a detailed memo about the dinner immediately afterwards and shared it with the senior leadership team of the FBI February 14 Oval Office Meetin On February 14, I went to the Oval Office for a scheduled counter terrorism briefing of the President. He sat behind the desk and a group of us sat in a semi-circle of about six chairs facing him on the other side of the desk. The Vice President, Deputy Director of the CIA, Director of the National Counter- Terrorism Center, Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and I were in the semi-circle of chairs. I was directly facing the President, sitting between the Deputy CIA Director and the Director of NCTC. There were quite a few others in the room, sitting behind us on couches and chairs The President signaled the end of the briefing by thanking the group and telling them all that he wanted to speak to me alone. I stayed in my chair. As the participants started to leave the Oval Office, the Attorney General lingered by my chair, but the President thanked him and said he wanted to speak only with me The last person to leave was Jared Kushner, who also stood by my chair and exchanged pleasantries with me. The President then excused him, saying he wanted to speak with me When the door by the grandfather clock closed, and we were alone, the President began by saying, "I want to talk about Mike Flynn." Flynn had resigned

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Comey Memos (Part 4)

Statement for the Record Senate Select Committee on Intelligence James B. Comey June 8, 2017 Chairman Burr, Ranking Member Warner, Members of the Committee Thank you for inviting me to appear before you today. I was asked to testify today to describe for you my interactions with President-Elect and President Trump on subjects that I understand are of interest to you. I have not included every detail from my conversations with the President, but, to the best of my recollection, I have tried to include information that may be relevant to the Committee January 6 Briefin I first met then-President-Elect Trump on Friday, January 6 in a conference room at Trump Tower in New York. I was there with other Intelligence Community (IC) leaders to brief him and his new national security team on the findings of an IC assessment concerning Russian efforts to interfere in the election. At the conclusion of that briefing, I remained alone with the President- Elect to brief him on some personally sensitive aspects of the information assembled during the assessment The IC leadership thought it important, for a variety of reasons, to alert the incoming President to the existence of this material, even though it was salacious and unverified. Among those reasons were: (1) we knew the media was about to publicly report the material and we believed the IC should not keep knowledge of the material and its imminent release from the President-Elect; and (2) to the extent there was some effort to compromise an incoming President, we could blunt any such effort with a defensive briefing The Director of National Intelligence asked that I personally do this portion of the briefing because I was staying in my position and because the material implicated the FBI's counter-intelligence responsibilities. We also agreed I would do it alone to minimize potential embarrassment to the President-Elect. Although we agreed it made sense for me to do the briefing, the FBI's leadership and I were concerned that the briefing might create a situation where a new President came into office uncertain about whether the FBI was conducting a counter-intelligence investigation of his personal conduct

Statement for the Record Senate Select Committee on Intelligence James B. Comey June 8, 2017 Chairman Burr, Ranking Member Warner, Members of the Committee Thank you for inviting me to appear before you today. I was asked to testify today to describe for you my interactions with President-Elect and President Trump on subjects that I understand are of interest to you. I have not included every detail from my conversations with the President, but, to the best of my recollection, I have tried to include information that may be relevant to the Committee January 6 Briefin I first met then-President-Elect Trump on Friday, January 6 in a conference room at Trump Tower in New York. I was there with other Intelligence Community (IC) leaders to brief him and his new national security team on the findings of an IC assessment concerning Russian efforts to interfere in the election. At the conclusion of that briefing, I remained alone with the President- Elect to brief him on some personally sensitive aspects of the information assembled during the assessment The IC leadership thought it important, for a variety of reasons, to alert the incoming President to the existence of this material, even though it was salacious and unverified. Among those reasons were: (1) we knew the media was about to publicly report the material and we believed the IC should not keep knowledge of the material and its imminent release from the President-Elect; and (2) to the extent there was some effort to compromise an incoming President, we could blunt any such effort with a defensive briefing The Director of National Intelligence asked that I personally do this portion of the briefing because I was staying in my position and because the material implicated the FBI's counter-intelligence responsibilities. We also agreed I would do it alone to minimize potential embarrassment to the President-Elect. Although we agreed it made sense for me to do the briefing, the FBI's leadership and I were concerned that the briefing might create a situation where a new President came into office uncertain about whether the FBI was conducting a counter-intelligence investigation of his personal conduct

russiagate donald trump james comey federal bureau of investigation fbi united states senate intelligence committee richard burr mark warner trump tower obstruction of justice