Adam Schiff locked in on two allegations in James Comey’s opening statement that have the potential to bring down Trump and end his presidency.
In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Rep. Schiff (D-CA) said:
Former FBI Director Comey’s written testimony confirms a host of troubling allegations concerning the President’s conduct. Two stand out: The President sought to obtain a pledge of loyalty from the Director of the FBI during a conversation that centered on whether the Director would be able to keep his job. And second, the President effectively asked the Director to drop the investigation of his former National Security Advisor. Congress must now determine whether the Director’s refusal to do either – or any other motivation to interfere with or obstruct any part of the Russia investigation – led ultimately to Comey’s firing.
Director Comey was right to be concerned that the President was trying to form a patronage relationship with him, in which the Director would guarantee loyalty in exchange for job security. Had the Director agreed to do so would have been antithetical to the independence of his agency; that he did not, does not mitigate the unethical nature of the President’s request. The fact that this request, and the subsequent effort to have the Director drop the Flynn case, were made after the President excused everyone else from the room, strongly indicates that the President was more than aware of the illegitimacy of such demands.
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Finally, it is not the Director’s job to lift the cloud of suspicion over the President’s conduct or that of his associates. The request by the President to do so – not unlike the allegations of analogous requests to Directors Rogers and Coats – represents yet another improper effort to coerce the intelligence agencies to do public relations for the White House and to undermine the independence and integrity of the intelligence community.
If investigators conclude that Comey was fired because he refused to pledge his loyalty or drop the Flynn investigation, that is obstruction of justice, which is an impeachable offense that could end Trump’s presidency. James Comey isn’t holding anything back. He is dropping bombs on Trump beginning with his opening statement. By all accounts, Comey is a person who takes great pride in his own independence and the independence of the FBI.
James Comey’s actions should be viewed through the prism of partisan politics as that of a disgruntled former director. Comey is what he noted public because he is troubled by what he saw in the Trump administration.
Forget the actual Russia scandal, if Trump interfered in the Russia investigation and fired Comey because he wouldn’t play ball, that could be the end for President Donald Trump.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
