Transcripts detail how FBI debated whether Trump was 'following directions' of Russia

[Julian Englis]

Source: CNN

(CNN)In the chaotic aftermath at the FBI following Director James Comey's firing, a half-dozen senior FBI officials huddled to set in motion the momentous move to open an investigation into President Donald Trump that included trying to understand why he was acting in ways that seemed to benefit Russia.

They debated a range of possibilities, according to portions of transcripts of two FBI officials' closed-door congressional interviews obtained by CNN. On one end was the idea that Trump fired Comey at the behest of Russia. On the other was the possibility that Trump didn't have an improper relationship with the Kremlin and was acting within the bounds of his executive authority, the transcripts show.

James Baker, then-FBI general counsel, said the FBI officials were contemplating with regard to Russia whether Trump was "acting at the behest of and somehow following directions, somehow executing their will."

"That was one extreme. The other extreme is that the President is completely innocent, and we discussed that too," Baker told House investigators last year. "There's a range of things this could possibly be. We need to investigate, because we don't know whether, you know, the worst-case scenario is possibly true or the President is totally innocent and we need to get this thing over with — and so he can move forward with his agenda."

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/14/politics/trump-fbi-debate-investigation/index.html

[Iliyah]

1. It was exposed back when Comey was fired and

quickly covered up until now. t-rump met with Russians in the oval office at the WH shortly thereafter with no media involved. It was a closed meeting. That story fell off by the media universe. Closed, secret meetings t-rump had with Putin and that does not count for the numerous telephone or other secret conversations t-rump had with Putin.


I would not be surprised if Putin told him to shut down the government using the wall as a crutch. I would not be surprised that Russia with the help of the GOPs help steal the 2016 election across board. I would not be surprised when Barr is confirmed he will quietly try and closed Mueller's investigation.


The United States of America has been compromised. The Republican party is compromised.

[Phoenix61]

2. Remember when Comey said

"Lordy, I hope there's tapes." I'm thinking that was a bit of snark on his part. He knew there were tapes.

[Farmer-Rick]

3. So, Hillary's e-mails would open an investigation but not a Moscow Trump tower

or meeting with Russian officials during the campaign, or money laundering for the Russians at Trump casinos, or the Steele dossier and pee-pee tapes, or hiring known Russian political players, or decades of criminality or calling publicly for Russian involvement.

From the link:

"Page told lawmakers the decision to open the case was not about "who was occupying the director's chair," according to a source. While FBI lawyers limited her answers about the text, she said the text wasn't suggesting that the case couldn't be opened with Comey as director.

"It's not that it could not have been done," Page told lawmakers. "This case had been a topic of discussion for some time. The 'waiting on' was an indecision and a cautiousness on the part of the bureau with respect to what to do and whether there was sufficient predication to open."

Seems the FBI was waiting on an invitation.

The dumbest thing Trump ever did was try to pressure Comey, then fire him. Comey was covering for Trump up to that point.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Kick