Senate Judiciary Committee opens investigation into Trump for firing former FBI Director James Comey

[Chicago1980]

Source: The Raw Story

Senate Judiciary Committee opens investigation into Trump for firing former FBI Director James Comey

David Edwards
14 Jun 2017 at 14:02 ET

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the Senate Judiciary Committee will investigate President Donald Trump’s firing of former FBI Director James Comey.

According to the report, senators want to know if Trump acted improperly when he allegedly fired Comey to influence an investigation into Russia’s hacking of the 2016 U.S. election.

“The Judiciary Committee has an obligation to fully investigate any alleged improper partisan interference in law enforcement investigations,” Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said in a statement. “It is my view that fully investigating the facts, circumstances, and rationale for Mr. Comey’s removal will provide us the opportunity to do that on a cooperative, bipartisan basis.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/senate-judiciary-committee-opens-investigation-into-trump-for-firing-former-fbi-director-james-comey/

[furtheradu]

1. Wow. Thanks for this.

Much needed goood news.

[Phoenix61]

2. Wow!

That's a pleasant surprise.

[asiliveandbreathe]

3. On this day marking the 71st year for drumpf....

I just can't seem to get to mention anything happy...

[riversedge]

11. ha ha. Trumps chocolate cake may a big lump and only one scoop.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Meaning Beauregard will probably need to testify again

since he "signed off on" the manufactured reason for the firing that Drumpf dismissed in later remarks.

[a kennedy]

12. AND IN FRONT OF AL FRANKEN.

Yeeehaaa.......this is gonna be great. Love my Senator from MN.

[nocalflea]

17. Wonder if they'll have to subpoena him ?

If he does testify and he repeats yesterday's performance, I wonder if they'll have the spine to cite him for contempt ?

[BumRushDaShow]

23. He'll just claim that Rosenstein "wrote it" and he just signed off on it.

Who would be more under the gun in this instance is their fall guy Rosenstein.

[nocalflea]

26. Yeah, but

it was his refusal to answer questions about his conversations with Trump re Comey's firing that lead Heinrich to accuse Sessions of "impeding" the investigation. Sessions kept hiding behind executive privilege that Trump had not claimed and Sessions acknowledged that he had not claimed (at one point saying he was protecting Trump's right to claim privilege in the future) then he said it was really DOJ policy that kept him from answering. In other words,bullshit,couldn't keep his excuses straight.
(If he testifies again, Trump may claim privilege, moot point.)

[BumRushDaShow]

30. Yeah - he and others made up a whole other category

of why they can't respond and fortunately, both Congress members and the media are pointing it out. This thing about "not responding in case the President wants to invoke Executive Privilege" is just bullshit.

As Heinrich pointed out - you have the "I'll answer the question" bucket, the "It's Classified, but I'll answer in closed session" bucket, and the "President has invoked Executive Privilege" bucket.... But they can't just make up some other bucket.

And technically, I might add one other option and that's the "I take the 5th" bucket, that any of them could have done.

And IIRC regarding that thing about "DOJ Policy", I think one of his answers attempted to suggest that the policy came from Eric Holder (and Cotton was also using that excuse) - without also indicating that Obama had invoked Executive Privilege (which eventually went to court and the remaining docs being demanded were subsequently submitted), so not a valid claim.

And we'll see if they turn over the policy docs per Sen. Kamala Harris' demand.

[nocalflea]

32. Love that he's scared to death of the optics of pleading the fifth.

Just keep on talking dude, dig that hole a little deeper.
K.Harris doesn't miss a thing. So thrilled when she asked for the policy docs.

[BumRushDaShow]

33. Expect Flynn to take so many "5ths"

that he could start his own liquor distribution operation.

[marylandblue]

5. I am very surprised.

Could some Republicans actually be rudimentary vertabrates instead of spineless worms?

[Ligyron]

6. Trumpy isn't going to like this.

Maybe he thinks he can fire Senators too.

He'll be pissed when he finds out "not".

[flibbitygiblets]

7. Happy Birthday Cheeto! We got you another investigation.

Look at all the attention you're getting! Who wants more beautiful chocolate cake?

[Madam45for2923]

9. Yeah! I send my Investigation wishes for 71 yo Newbie!

[PearliePoo2]

8. Chuck Grassley?? Well that IS shocking.

Is Senator Feinstein taking him by the hand and showing him the way?

K&R

[riversedge]

10. I trust grassley to direct the committee to an outcome of his liking. be vigilant.

[Txbluedog]

14. This

Trump would like nothing better then the Senate to vindicate him

[slumcamper]

19. Exactly. A career politican's partisan SMOKESCREEN. n/t

[rurallib]

28. yep. Grassley will be working with an outcome in mind

That is just based on his last 20 or so years.

[democrank]

13. K & R

Good news

[bucolic_frolic]

15. Let's whitewash it before Bob Mueller gets up a head of steam

'It's all a PR game anyway'

[NeoGreen]

25. That is my take too...

...make a mess of the discussion and conflate bad ideas and create questions about the questions to allow drumph to skate through...

[Achilleaze]

16. Slappy Birthday to the republican Draft Dodger in Chief

Better than two scoops.

[Dopers_Greed]

20. I wonder if WH staff gave the Manchurian Manchild an extra scoop of ice cream with this news

[bora13]

21. GUMP!

life is like a box of ice cream scoops. you never know much
you gonna git all over you.

I wonder if some kid made t-rump drop one of his ice cream cones on the streets of Queens as a kid.

"Wanna lick? Psyche!"

[Hekate]

22. Good start. Remember your oath of office, Senator Grassley. nt

[C Moon]

24. I don't have ANY faith in ANY member of the GOP to do ANYthing for our country.

[RKP5637]

27. Same here. n/t

[58Sunliner]

29. After all the senators who testified on the record for JS yesterday,

and then solicited an affirmative response to a prepared question, I'll have to hold my breath.
Between the prepared testimony and the propaganda, that was one of the most egregious abuses of process I have seen at a senate hearing. And I am not including the weasel dragging out answers to run the clock down.

[Honeycombe8]

31. Good! nt

[DeminPennswoods]

34. Interesting because Grassley's been supportive of Trump

He's been carrying a lot of water for Trump, so it's interesting that he's allowed his committe to open this investigation. It makes me wonder if he got the ok from McConnell to proceed. If so, it would be a sign that senate Rs think Trump is now more trouble than he's worth and that they can get the same bills signed by Pence.