Comey's most disturbing testimony

[aegsm76]

The most disturbing thing to me out of his testimony was the fact that Comey was a "leaker".
This speaks volumes to me about the mindset of our intelligence services.
I also wonder how many other times he has "leaked" info.
I have not read the transcript, but I would have asked him if this was his first time to leak info to the media, whether directly of through others.
I would say that it was not.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

The most disturbing thing to me out of his testimony was the fact that Comey was a "leaker".
This speaks volumes to me about the mindset of our intelligence services.
I also wonder how many other times he has "leaked" info.
I have not read the transcript, but I would have asked him if this was his first time to leak info to the media, whether directly of through others.
I would say that it was not.

If something wasn't specifically designated as being classified or secret it can be said freely anywhere. It could even recollected in a speech at a dinner banquet if Comey was the speaker.

Was what was "leaked" designated as being classified or secret?

If not, this is just ring-wing spin.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

If something wasn't specifically designated as being classified or secret it can be said freely anywhere. It could even recollected in a speech at a dinner banquet if Comey was the speaker.

Was what was "leaked" designated as being classified or secret?

If not, this is just ring-wing spin.

As I posted in another thread, this was a private conversation between the POTUS and Comey (in the role of Director of FBI) in the Oval Office. This was NOT a chummy conversation between POTUS and private citizen Comey at a DC Bistro. There was an expectation of privacy, and there is likely a legal issue in Comey leaking what could be considered privileged communication with the POTUS.

Understand, the POTUS could block testimony by Comey in his role as Director of the FBI. Being that Comey was still the FBI Director when he wrote that memo, it was private and privileged communication. Comey did not receive permission to release the information and I hope the DOJ takes his leak seriously and prosecutes him if he indeed broke any law.

Add to this Comey calling the things he wrote "memos" up until he admitted leaking the information, then he suddenly changed and said he just wrote this one as his "recollection" as a "private citizen."

He was FBI Director at the time he wrote whatever he wishes to call it. Did he use FBI resources to write it? This is another issue in which he may end up having perjured himself. He claims this was just recollections as a private citizen. Congress has requested those memos Comey wrote. If that "recollection" is written on Director of the FBI letterhead or any designated FBI paper, he lied. He did it as Director and not as a private citizen. And if he perjured himself, I'd hope he is charged with perjury.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

As I posted in another thread, this was a private conversation between the POTUS and Comey (in the role of Director of FBI) in the Oval Office. This was NOT a chummy conversation between POTUS and private citizen Comey at a DC Bistro. There was an expectation of privacy, and there is likely a legal issue in Comey leaking what could be considered privileged communication with the POTUS.

There is nothing wrong with discussing a private conversation unless it is legally deemed SSI, classified, secret, or the President invokes executive privilege (which Trump did).

Like I've said before, legally speaking, you can share a private conversation with any President at a banquet dinner as key note speaker if you wished.

Understand, the POTUS could block testimony by Comey in his role as Director of the FBI. Being that Comey was still the FBI Director when he wrote that memo, it was private and privileged communication. Comey did not receive permission to release the information and I hope the DOJ takes his leak seriously and prosecutes him if he indeed broke any law.

That's the point, Comey didn't break any law.

Add to this Comey calling the things he wrote "memos" up until he admitted leaking the information, then he suddenly changed and said he just wrote this one as his "recollection" as a "private citizen."

They were handwritten "memos to self".

He was FBI Director at the time he wrote whatever he wishes to call it. Did he use FBI resources to write it? This is another issue in which he may end up having perjured himself. He claims this was just recollections as a private citizen. Congress has requested those memos Comey wrote. If that "recollection" is written on Director of the FBI letterhead or any designated FBI paper, he lied. He did it as Director and not as a private citizen. And if he perjured himself, I'd hope he is charged with perjury.

That's all debatable. But, I doubt it.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

There is nothing wrong with discussing a private conversation unless it is legally deemed SSI, classified, secret, or the President invokes executive privilege (which Trump did).

Trump did not invoke executive privilege, but doesn't have to do so for the conversation to be considered privileged.

Originally Posted by Aquila

Like I've said before, legally speaking, you can share a private conversation with any President at a banquet dinner as key note speaker if you wished.

No, you cannot share any conversation. Especially ones within the Oval Office, in which the POTUS clearly meant to have a private conversation with the FBI Director.

Originally Posted by Aquila

That's the point, Comey didn't break any law.

We don't know that yet.

Originally Posted by Aquila

They were handwritten "memos to self". That's all debatable. But, I doubt it.

Who said they're handwritten "memos to self?" These were memos written to be shared with FBI leadership. These weren't "memos to self."

"""I began to type it on a laptop in an FBI vehicle outside Trump Tower the moment I walked out of the meeting"""

[n david]

"""prior to the January 6 meeting, I discussed with the FBI’s leadership team whether I should be prepared to assure President-Elect Trump that we were not investigating him personally. That was true; we did not have an open counter-intelligence case on him. We agreed I should do so if circumstances warranted. During our one-on-one meeting at Trump Tower, based on President- Elect Trump’s reaction to the briefing and without him directly asking the question, I offered that assurance.

I felt compelled to document my first conversation with the President-Elect in a memo. To ensure accuracy, I began to type it on a laptop in an FBI vehicle outside Trump Tower the moment I walked out of the meeting. Creating written records immediately after one-on-one conversations with Mr. Trump was my practice from that point forward."""

I find it incredibly odd that Comey "felt compelled" to document his conversations with Trump after the January 6th meeting in Trump Tower -- the meeting Comey set up, per his statement, and as a result of NDI Coats and the other IC Directors agreeing that Comey should meet with Trump and state that Trump was not personally under investigation.

At this point, there was no allegedly loyalty request. At this point, Trump had not expressed his hope that the Flynn investigation would be closed.

This is the very first meeting which Comey initiated, not Trump.

Yet Comey claims he "felt compelled."

But Comey didn't feel compelled to write a memo when Lynch directed him to called Hillary's criminal investigation a "matter," and not a "criminal investigation."

And Comey didn't feel compelled to write memos after meeting with obama.

It's just very odd that he would mention that after the Jan 6th meeting, he "felt compelled." A bit fishy to me.

[n david]

Comey is talking to the media through his daddy. The Sr. Comey told the media that his son is taking time to cool down after the hearing. He says Comey "enjoyed" testifying before Congress and "likes" to give people updates on the case. The Sr. Comey says when Comey heard he was being criticized for "leaking," Comey said it couldn't be leaking since he gave a friend "one of his own documents."

On another message board, someone is claiming they read that Comey does not have any memos, that they were "deleted." I asked for a source to his claim and am waiting on an answer. I haven't been able to find anything about the claim, and I doubt it's true. Comey stated the memos were available and he would make them available during his testimony. If they were destroyed, it means he perjured himself. Again, I don't believe the claim.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Trump did not invoke executive privilege, but doesn't have to do so for the conversation to be considered privileged.

But it becomes opinion at that point. If I'm mistaken, please show me the statute, legislation, or legal documentation stating that anything said by a President is privileged.

No, you cannot share any conversation. Especially ones within the Oval Office, in which the POTUS clearly meant to have a private conversation with the FBI Director.

Source please.

We don't know that yet.

What "law" might he have broken?

Who said they're handwritten "memos to self?" These were memos written to be shared with FBI leadership. These weren't "memos to self."

Comey made memos to self and used them as notes for the memos sent to leadership. They were most likely shorthand in form, but elaborated upon in memos to leadership.

"""I began to type it on a laptop in an FBI vehicle outside Trump Tower the moment I walked out of the meeting"""

And...?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

"""prior to the January 6 meeting, I discussed with the FBI’s leadership team whether I should be prepared to assure President-Elect Trump that we were not investigating him personally. That was true; we did not have an open counter-intelligence case on him. We agreed I should do so if circumstances warranted. During our one-on-one meeting at Trump Tower, based on President- Elect Trump’s reaction to the briefing and without him directly asking the question, I offered that assurance.

I felt compelled to document my first conversation with the President-Elect in a memo. To ensure accuracy, I began to type it on a laptop in an FBI vehicle outside Trump Tower the moment I walked out of the meeting. Creating written records immediately after one-on-one conversations with Mr. Trump was my practice from that point forward."""

I find it incredibly odd that Comey "felt compelled" to document his conversations with Trump after the January 6th meeting in Trump Tower -- the meeting Comey set up, per his statement, and as a result of NDI Coats and the other IC Directors agreeing that Comey should meet with Trump and state that Trump was not personally under investigation.

At this point, there was no allegedly loyalty request. At this point, Trump had not expressed his hope that the Flynn investigation would be closed.

This is the very first meeting which Comey initiated, not Trump.

Yet Comey claims he "felt compelled."

But Comey didn't feel compelled to write a memo when Lynch directed him to called Hillary's criminal investigation a "matter," and not a "criminal investigation."

And Comey didn't feel compelled to write memos after meeting with obama.

It's just very odd that he would mention that after the Jan 6th meeting, he "felt compelled." A bit fishy to me.

I would have felt compelled never to be alone with him and to record every second. Trump has a reputation of being a liar and a rip-off artist. And seeing that several within the campaign and the administration are under investigation, I'd be compelled to document everything.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Comey is talking to the media through his daddy. The Sr. Comey told the media that his son is taking time to cool down after the hearing. He says Comey "enjoyed" testifying before Congress and "likes" to give people updates on the case. The Sr. Comey says when Comey heard he was being criticized for "leaking," Comey said it couldn't be leaking since he gave a friend "one of his own documents."

On another message board, someone is claiming they read that Comey does not have any memos, that they were "deleted." I asked for a source to his claim and am waiting on an answer. I haven't been able to find anything about the claim, and I doubt it's true. Comey stated the memos were available and he would make them available during his testimony. If they were destroyed, it means he perjured himself. Again, I don't believe the claim.

Internet rumors???

I'd like to know your source, it could be very interesting.