It’s been just days since James Comey went before the Senate Intelligence Committee. We learned many things from the well-considered and presented testimony on Thursday, June 8. The news reports at the time summarized many of the individual points that Comey made, and several listed similar high points as the important “lessons learned.” For example, most news reports seemed most taken with Comey accusing Trump of lying. Of equal importance, although mentioned much less was Trump’s lack of interest in finding out more information about the Russian interference. Few articles focused on Comey’s actual intention of using this highly visible opportunity to help Special Counsel Mueller construct the obstruction of justice argument.
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Selection of Articles that Summarized "What We Learned from the Comey Testimony" June 8-9, 2017
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Lesson Learned
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CNN1
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NY2
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DC3
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AJ4
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Ind5
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MJ6
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Ax7
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WP8
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Comey accuses Trump of lying and/or defaming him
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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Comey was also concerned about Loretta Lynch's behavior
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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Comey leaked his memos
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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Comey thought/hoped leaked memos would trigger naming of special prosecutor
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x
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x
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x
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Comey believes he was fired because Trump disapproved of his handling of the Russia investigation
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x
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x
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x
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Comey took notes after meetings because he thought Trump might lie
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x
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x
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Comey hopes there are tapes and wants Trump to release them
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x
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x
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Comey disputed a New York Times report on communication between Trump aids and Russian intelligence officials
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x
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x
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The FBI's leadership all believed that Sessions had no choice but to recuse himself from the Russia investigation, but couldn't testify why
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x
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x
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Trump did not ask for information on the Russia investigation
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x
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x
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Comey considers that perhaps if he were stronger, he could have confronted Trump
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x
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x
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1 CNN = Cable News Network (CNN). Politics-10 Things we Learned from the James Comey Hearing. June 8, 2017
2 NY = New York Magazine. The 9 Biggest Revelations from James Comey's Testimony on Trump. June 8, 2017
3 DC = Daily Caller. 11 Things We Learned from Comey's Testimony. June 8, 2017
4 AJ = Al Jazeera. 7 Things Learned from James Comey Testimony. June 9, 2017
5 Ind= Independent. Comey Testimony: The Five Biggest Things We Learnt From His Damning Senate Hearing on Trump. June 8, 2017
6 MJ = Mother Jones. 6 Things We Learned From James Comey's Stunning Testimony. June 7, 2017
7 Ax = Axios. 7 Things We Learned from Comey's Testimony. June 8, 2017
8 WP= Washington Post. Five Key Things Said During James Comey's Testimony. June 8, 2017.
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| Trump's "Dear Leader" Cabinet Meeting |
Comey meticulously drew up an obstruction of justice case from a prosecutor’s prospective, knowing full-well that Mueller is too wise to ignore such a clear and elegant argument. Most likely, before Comey took his seat, Mueller had already read Comey’s written testimony and relaxed. Oh yes, this is it!
Of course, as helpful as the Comey testimony might be for Mueller, somewhat predictably, Trump has continued to be his own worst enemy as he demonstrates the validity of Comey’s statement. While Comey had a single, impressive example of Trump inappropriately demanding a pledge of loyalty, in the description of a 1:1 dinner Trump arranged. Trump and sons counter that he doesn’t ask for loyalty, but then this week Trump held his weird, unnatural, and televised cabinet meeting. Trump’s cabinet members tried to mimic North Korea’s “Dear Leader” in their attestation of fealty, appreciation, and devotion.
Trump denied Comey’s clearest example of possible obstruction of justice when Comey claimed that Trump had leaned on him to drop the Michael Flynn investigation. But, this week, filled with reporting about Trump’s possible plans to fire Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, Trump tweeted about his displeasure with Rosenstein, an act that, in itself, may be another sign of obstruction in the form of witness intimidation. There are also reports that Trump asked for other Intelligence leaders to quash Comey’s work. So far, Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, Michael Rogers, National Security Agency Director, and Richard Ledgett , former NSA Deputy Director have not publicly testified about these interactions.
Of course, as helpful as the Comey testimony might be for Mueller, somewhat predictably, Trump has continued to be his own worst enemy as he demonstrates the validity of Comey’s statement. While Comey had a single, impressive example of Trump inappropriately demanding a pledge of loyalty, in the description of a 1:1 dinner Trump arranged. Trump and sons counter that he doesn’t ask for loyalty, but then this week Trump held his weird, unnatural, and televised cabinet meeting. Trump’s cabinet members tried to mimic North Korea’s “Dear Leader” in their attestation of fealty, appreciation, and devotion.
Trump denied Comey’s clearest example of possible obstruction of justice when Comey claimed that Trump had leaned on him to drop the Michael Flynn investigation. But, this week, filled with reporting about Trump’s possible plans to fire Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, Trump tweeted about his displeasure with Rosenstein, an act that, in itself, may be another sign of obstruction in the form of witness intimidation. There are also reports that Trump asked for other Intelligence leaders to quash Comey’s work. So far, Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, Michael Rogers, National Security Agency Director, and Richard Ledgett , former NSA Deputy Director have not publicly testified about these interactions.
Comey showed patriotism, honesty, and a sense of duty as he shared his concerns, his intentions, and his fears. He revealed his weaknesses as he straddled a difficult situation with Trump. Comey (along with many of the rest of us) is nauseated by the idea that his previous revelations and opinions about Hillary Clinton, while being mute on Trump in 2016, may have tipped the election. Comey now has done his best to help Mueller construct the case that may undo some of the harm.