In Eerie Parallel, The Same Smoking Gun That Took Out Nixon May Also Take Down Trump

Deputy Secretary of Labor for the Obama administration Chris Lu drew a compelling comparison of Trump to Nixon, pointing out that in the smoking gun tape, Nixon told Harry Robbins “Bob” Haldeman to tell CIA to tell the FBI to stop the investigation.

Trump did the same thing, but even more directly. Trump just cut out the middleman and talked directly to the FBI Director.

Comparisons to Nixon are never a good sign for a president. The first article in the articles of impeachment against Nixon was obstruction of justice.

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On June 23, 1972, Nixon was recorded talking to his chief of staff Haldeman about the FBI’s investigation into the Watergate break-in. This is the “smoking gun” tape, much like Comey’s note might become the “smoking gun” for Trump.

“Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, engaged personally and through his close subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or plan designed to delay, impede, and obstruct the investigation of such illegal entry; to cover up, conceal and protect those responsible; and to conceal the existence and scope of other unlawful covert activities.”

Lu was compelled to make this point after the New York Times published a barn burner of an article based on a memo authored by former FBI Director James Comey in which Comey indicated that President Trump had asked him to stop the investigation into retired Gen. Mike Flynn, which was a part of the investigation into Trump’s possible collusion with Russia.

Trump has already admitted during his Lester Holt interview to two other actions that were cited in the articles of impeachment against Nixon.

Lu also pointed out that obstruction of justice doesn’t require than an investigation be halted.

However, Trump is being investigated by the FBI for possible collusion with Russia, a hostile foreign power that hacked the 2016 election in acts of cyber warfare. If Trump is guilty of this, it’s a much more serious crime than Nixon’s.

Trump reportedly gave the Russians highly classified information about an ISIS plot a day after he was forced to fire Mike Flynn, an act that endangered U.S. national security and the men and women who risk their lives to spy on ISIS.

It’s anyone’s guess how long this can go on for before Republicans take action instead of feeding us trite, impotent statements about their feelings while refusing to take any actual action to protect the United States and her people from the madman in the White House.

Politico Playbook suggested this Wednesday morning that Republicans are just beginning to maybe see the harsh reality, “It’s hushed right now, and almost all off the record — but it’s there, and it’s Republicans who are beginning to grapple with the real — but far off — possibility that the president might’ve gone too far this time.”

You think?

Congressional Republicans need to pick a flag and quick.

Sarah Jones

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Sarah has been credentialed to cover President Barack Obama, then VP Joe Biden, 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and exclusively interviewed Speaker Nancy Pelosi multiple times and exclusively covered her first home appearance after the first impeachment of then President Donald Trump.

Sarah is two-time Telly award winning video producer and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

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