UPDATED - 'I expect loyalty,' Trump told Comey, according to written testimony

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post


By Devlin Barrett June 7 at 2:06 PM

Fired FBI Director James B. Comey said President Trump told him at the White House “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty’’ in their private White House dinner conversation in January, according to written testimony prepared by Comey.

In written remarks submitted to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday — a day before his much-anticipated testimony — Comey said he remembered nine separate private conversations with President Trump. Three were in person and six on the phone.

When the president made his comments about loyalty at the Jan. 27 dinner, Comey wrote that “I didn’t move, speak, or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed. We simply looked at each other in silence. The conversation then moved on, but he returned to the subject near the end of our dinner.’’

When prompted again on the subject of loyalty, Comey said he replied, “You will always get honesty from me.’’



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2017/06/07/trump-to-comey-i-need-loyalty-i-expect-loyalty-according-to-prepared-remarks-from-the-former-fbi-directors-testimony-for-thursday/

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[link:http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/national/read-comeys-prepared-remarks-for-his-upcoming-testimony/2465/|Read Comey’s prepared remarks for his upcoming testimony
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Comey claims Trump asked him in late March to 'lift the cloud' of the Russia probe
By JOSH GERSTEIN 06/07/2017 02:13 PM EDT

Fired FBI Director James Comey claims that President Donald Trump asked him in late March to "lift the cloud" put over his administration by the ongoing investigation into his campaign's alleged ties to Russia.

In a written statement submitted in advance of Comey's expected testimony Thursday, the former FBI director also confirmed reports that in an earlier Oval Office conversation, Trump made what Comey interpreted as a request to end an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, saying the FBI chief should "let this go."

Comey's statement does support Trump's claims that Comey gave repeated assurances that Trump wasn't personally under investigation. However, the ex-FBI chief says he rebuffed the president's attempts to have the agency clear him publicly in case the probe did eventually turn to Trump.

Comey, who was fired by Trump on May 9, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday in one of the most-highly anticipated congressional hearings in decades.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/07/comey-claims-trump-asked-him-in-late-march-to-lift-the-cloud-of-the-russia-probe-239251

[SHRED]

1. Seems pretty damning.

[LisaM]

3. Actually, it does.

I'm kind of surprised.

[meadowlark5]

2. Only if he actually says it and isn't prevented from saying it

And even if he does say it, is that illegal? Asking for loyalty is one thing but adhering to that loyalty, I would think, is where the illegalities come in.

I hope he does make the "dropping the investigation" statement. But until I hear it, I am keeping my expectations low.

[MGKrebs]

5. Not adhering to the loyalty is what got him fired.

If that isn't obstruction I don't know what the hell is.

[winstars]

4. "Showboat Comey" strikes a blow for the USA!!! Please proceed...

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Cool hand Luke to stare that down

Sounds like an invitation to discuss need$. Comey is true to the law. Good for him!

[MFM008]

7. Translation.

I expect you to do what I want.
Do what I say
Unquestionably.
Whatever I say.

[zentrum]

8. Very nervous about Wray.

Can only assume he extracted this loyalty oath from Wray or Trump wouldn't have gone forward with him.

[Kleveland]

9. Wray is in no way qualified to head the FBI.

We need a true American who has worked for the FBI or some similar investigative organization.

Fat chance of that happening apparently.

Scumbag traitors being what they are.

[livetohike]

10. Cue "The Godfather" theme music. n/t

[winstars]

20. How about Goodfellas???

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?rel=0

[Shell_Seas]

11. Unfortunately,

9am is too early for popcorn.

I'm not sure what I'm looking forward to more, Comey's testimony or Rachael's show tomorrow night.

[NastyRiffraff]

16. It's too early for beer, too

Nevertheless, I'm going to a watch party at a DC bar which is opening early at 10:00am.

After all, these are not normal times. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

[dawnie51]

12. Loyalty, like a mafia don.......

the honesty Comey offered was anathema for Dump; he doesn't want honesty, he looks for DIShonesty in people. He wants people who will lie, cheat and steal for him. This entire family is just odious.

[deurbano]

13. Why would Comey allow SIX private conversations with someone whose campaign

was a target of an FBI investigation? I hope to god his testimony helps take down that orange piece of slime and his whole, corrupt, racist, misogynist (etc., ad infinitum) crew (and party!)... but what a hypocrite, after the damage he caused Clinton by his absurd (and tragic) overreaction to the perceived impropriety of the publicly observed, unplanned meeting between Bill (not Hillary) Clinton and Loretta Lynch-- people who actually knew each other apart from her role in the Justice Dept..

Comey had previously been so successful at (self) promoting himself as the above reproach, by-the-book, morally unimpeachable, nonpartisan Boy Scout. His actions suggest otherwise. We wouldn't BE in this horrible situation if not for Comey... so helping to mitigate the disaster to which he pivotally contributed is the LEAST he can do. And I can't help but wonder if we'd be hearing about any of these six private conversations if he hadn't been fired. What was he planning to do with that information? (He's leaking like a sieve, NOW.)

[athena]

19. Exactly! Excellent post!

I am annoyed that more people don't see through Comey. His statement makes it clear that he was not unbiased at all. He *wanted* to work under Trump rather than under Clinton. He went out of his way to avoid openly disagreeing with Trump when Trump asked him to say and do inappropriate things. He stayed silent in situations where his silence implied consent. Would he have been so quiet and so discreet if Hillary had asked him anything even vaguely inappropriate, as unimaginable as that is? If Trump hadn't fired him, we would not be hearing any of this. Comey would still be focusing his energies on protecting Trump from the media's scrutiny and on making sure he himself didn't look bad if anything ever leaked about his discussions with Trump.

I am more angry at Comey than I am at any other person in this. He consistently puts his self-interest against the good of the country, and it drives me crazy that no matter how questionable and harmful his actions, he always ends up looking like a man of integrity. And now he's a liberal hero because he might hurt Trump with his testimony. I wish people would step back and look at the big picture for once.

[zentrum]

14. Disappointed in Comey in the

......the crunch.

His last reply should have again been the one word "honest", not "honest loyalty". Those are weasel words that Trump can use to his own advantage---i.e. he can say he understood that Comey meant what Comey himself says he meant which is honest loyalty to the Constitution.

I think Comey played it both ways under pressure and it can now be used to protect Trump. Trump just needs a teeny tiny little ledge to stand on from the Repugs point of view and I think "honest loyalty" gives him that.

[DesertRat]

15. "I need loyalty. I expect loyalty."

Donald Trump, Godfather 4

Link to tweet

[DesertRat]

17. Does anyone know why his written testimony was released in advance?

[Stuart G]

18. k and r...nt