Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Cummings’ shocker: Americans don’t ‘have a clue’ how hard the GOP pushed the FBI to attack Clinton [View all]misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)21. More on this from the Daily Beast: re Cummings/Comey/Manafort
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/30/top-dems-to-fbi-spill-on-trump-s-russia-ties.html
Snip
The FBI now potentially faces a very serious credibility problem, Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said in a statement to The Daily Beast on Sunday evening.
If it turns out that the FBI is in fact investigatingor planning to investigate[former Trump campaign manager] Paul Manafort because of his dealings with Russia, or anyone else associated with Donald Trumpand does not disclose these facts to the American people before the electionthen the FBI will be accused of a double standard when those facts ultimately do come out.
("When those facts ultimately do come out". This is the part that bothers me. A cover-up is clearly at play here & with Comey in a position to keep it covered up to answer to his "mob bosses", will the depth of Russian ties ever be known. I would like to see Pres Obama have a way of relieving Comey of his position until this is resolved, & replace him with someone who knows where to look for the buried bodies.)
Manafort resigned from the Trump campaign this summer after revelations of his business dealings with the government of ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
And former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page is alleged to have visited with two Russian government officials in a possible effort to open a diplomatic backchannel with the Kremlin, according to U.S. officials.
This month, 17 U.S. intelligence agencies issued a unanimous finding that senior Russian government officials ordered a campaign of computer hacks against Democratic political organizations in an effort to interfere with the upcoming presidential contest.
Trump has praised Putin and called on the Russian government to mount further operations against Clinton in order to reveal her private emails.
And Trump adviser Roger Stone has claimed to be in contact with WikiLeaks, which has posted emails that Russian hackers stole from the Democratic National Committee and Clintons campaign chairman, John Podesta.
Cummings joined the Senates top Democrat, Harry Reid, who demanded that Comey release information he claims the FBI has on Trumps connections to Russia.
_____________________________
Most we already know of but Cummings puts it in a timeline perspective.
I worry about the Hatch Act as a tool to force Comey to come clean about Trump/Russia or to be fired/resign. Hatch Act violation is based on intent. Not the fallout from info divuldged as in this case.
A guilty result isn't criminal but it would give way for Obama to fire him or request his resignation if he doesn't come clean as to Russian involvement before the election.
I am hoping that THIS pressure on Comey is what destroys Trump & his ilk before Nov 8th, but time is quickly running out.
Also, Intent would be hard to prove with Comey, & the Repubs (Chaffetz, Gowdy) will be protecting him.
My question is:
Who investigates & prosecutes Comey?
House judiciary with Chaffetz at the lead?
I haven't found a clear answer on this process yet.
Snip
The FBI now potentially faces a very serious credibility problem, Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said in a statement to The Daily Beast on Sunday evening.
If it turns out that the FBI is in fact investigatingor planning to investigate[former Trump campaign manager] Paul Manafort because of his dealings with Russia, or anyone else associated with Donald Trumpand does not disclose these facts to the American people before the electionthen the FBI will be accused of a double standard when those facts ultimately do come out.
("When those facts ultimately do come out". This is the part that bothers me. A cover-up is clearly at play here & with Comey in a position to keep it covered up to answer to his "mob bosses", will the depth of Russian ties ever be known. I would like to see Pres Obama have a way of relieving Comey of his position until this is resolved, & replace him with someone who knows where to look for the buried bodies.)
Manafort resigned from the Trump campaign this summer after revelations of his business dealings with the government of ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
And former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page is alleged to have visited with two Russian government officials in a possible effort to open a diplomatic backchannel with the Kremlin, according to U.S. officials.
This month, 17 U.S. intelligence agencies issued a unanimous finding that senior Russian government officials ordered a campaign of computer hacks against Democratic political organizations in an effort to interfere with the upcoming presidential contest.
Trump has praised Putin and called on the Russian government to mount further operations against Clinton in order to reveal her private emails.
And Trump adviser Roger Stone has claimed to be in contact with WikiLeaks, which has posted emails that Russian hackers stole from the Democratic National Committee and Clintons campaign chairman, John Podesta.
Cummings joined the Senates top Democrat, Harry Reid, who demanded that Comey release information he claims the FBI has on Trumps connections to Russia.
_____________________________
Most we already know of but Cummings puts it in a timeline perspective.
I worry about the Hatch Act as a tool to force Comey to come clean about Trump/Russia or to be fired/resign. Hatch Act violation is based on intent. Not the fallout from info divuldged as in this case.
A guilty result isn't criminal but it would give way for Obama to fire him or request his resignation if he doesn't come clean as to Russian involvement before the election.
I am hoping that THIS pressure on Comey is what destroys Trump & his ilk before Nov 8th, but time is quickly running out.
Also, Intent would be hard to prove with Comey, & the Repubs (Chaffetz, Gowdy) will be protecting him.
My question is:
Who investigates & prosecutes Comey?
House judiciary with Chaffetz at the lead?
I haven't found a clear answer on this process yet.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
44 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Cummings’ shocker: Americans don’t ‘have a clue’ how hard the GOP pushed the FBI to attack Clinton [View all]
Dem2
Oct 2016
OP
media just about completely ignored this part of Comey's testimony during their swiftboat-like
Gabi Hayes
Oct 2016
#20
Well then, he screwed up and destroyed his number one concern. His reputation is in shambles.
George II
Oct 2016
#8
It's my feeling the the reputation thing was only an excuse to send the letter.
anamandujano
Oct 2016
#35
I've been ranting about Manafort for months - there are a lot of skeletons in his closet.
George II
Oct 2016
#7
What's shocking to me is that Comey caved under the pressure. He is not worthy...
Nitram
Oct 2016
#9
another one of the "if Hillary did it" things that is so stunning, in this case, "if Chelsea did it"
Divine Discontent
Nov 2016
#42