# Comey Fired! Who is covering who? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226 "2017-05-09T21:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/81 "2017-05-10T02:02:39Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > But what was Nixon’s official reason for wanting the special prosecutor to be fired? Doesn’t he need cause? Or is that reserved for those who serve at the pleasure of the President? “serve at the pleasure of the President” means that the President can fire you whenever he wants, for whatever reason he wants, or no reason at all. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/82 "2017-05-10T02:08:09Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > [False.](http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/zeifman.asp) Sorry, she was kicked off the Watergate comittee. She’s a crook of the first water. That’s the whole issue here really. Forget about Comey for the moment. She was an extremely flawed candidate, and everybody tried to cover for her. In fact, you’re still trying to cover for her. Had the Democrats put up a “clean” candidate, he/she may well have likely won. A candidate under investigation for negligence innthe handling of state secrets, that’s a deal breaker for a lot of folks apparently. The Republicans normally or typically nominate squishes and eunuchs that the press can knock around like a pinata. The shitshow in Washington city has got to stop. There are a LOT of people in government who need to be fired, frankly. Thousands. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/83 "2017-05-10T02:12:36Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > Sorry, she was kicked off the Watergate comittee. She’s a crook of the first water. You can check the sources and everything. She wasn’t. If you don’t trust me, trust the left-leaning Cato Institute. [https://www.cato.org/blog/was-hillary-clinton-fired-nixon-impeachment-inquiry](https://www.cato.org/blog/was-hillary-clinton-fired-nixon-impeachment-inquiry) ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/84 "2017-05-10T02:12:44Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “serve at the pleasure of the President” means that the President can fire you whenever he wants, for whatever reason he wants, or no reason at all. Ok. I thought I heard a talking head on TV saying that he needed cause. I could have misheard tho. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/85 "2017-05-10T02:15:27Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > woosh! Were the other claims a woosh too? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/86 "2017-05-10T02:17:24Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > Sorry, she was kicked off the Watergate comittee. She’s a crook of the first water. Did you somehow miss this? > [@](#): > > Back in 1995 he noted that Hillary had remained with the inquiry staff up until the end, leaving only when President Nixon’s August 1974 resignation made the issue of impeachment moot and the Judiciary Committee’s impeachment inquiry staff was therefore disbanded: > > ``` > Hillary was twenty-seven when the impeachment inquiry staff was disbanded. The next morning she took a train down to Little Rock, Arkansas. She moved in with Bill Clinton and they eventually married. > > ``` > > And again in 1998, Zeifman was quoted in a Scripps Howard News Service article as unambiguously confirming that not only did he not “fire” Hillary, but that it was not even within his power to do so: > > ``` > Jerome Zeifman, chief Democratic counsel on the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 … does not have flattering memories of Rodham’s work on the committee. **“If I had the power to fire her, I would have fired her,” he said.** > > ``` Bolding in the original article. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/87 "2017-05-10T02:18:25Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “serve at the pleasure of the President” means that the President can fire you whenever he wants, for whatever reason he wants, or no reason at all. Evidently, having a criminal investigation into his campaign is displeasing to the President. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/88 "2017-05-10T02:21:16Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > She’s a witch? This made me laugh out loud. 😃 > [@jshore](#): > > Yeah, we basically have three contradictory things coming out of the Administration: > > (1) The Deputy A.G.'s memo, which spends most of its time discussing ways in which Comey was unfair to Clinton (derogatory info & the October Surprise) and only rather tersely mentions his decision not to prosecute her. > > (2) Trump’s bizarre letter firing Comey in which he just can’t help himself from bringing up the Russian influence investigation. > > (3) Trump’s recent twitter storm in which he claimed that Comey helped her. > > I don’t envy Sean Spicer to try to make sense out of all these contradictory messages they are sending! Let’s keep one thing in mind: The Director did not decide not to prosecute Ms. Clinton. That’s not a call he gets to make. That’s the point of the memo. I think that timing of this has more to do with the fact that Comey either lied in his testimony the other day, or made a mistake, in saying that thousands of classified emails were sent to Weiner from Abedin. The F.B.I. said today they have to try and get that testimony corrected. Probably the final straw for the President. But let me get this straight: All the people who last year were clamoring for this guy to be fired because of what he did in October are now clamoring for him NOT to have been fired? That’s silly. The key will be to see who gets appointed to replace him, and how, if at all, the White House and the Congress work to defuse the claim that the President is trying to influence the investigation into him and his staff. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/89 "2017-05-10T02:26:18Z")
Last person to hear Comey was fired? Comey > [@](#): > > Mr. Comey was addressing a group of F.B.I. employees in Los Angeles when a television in the background flashed the news that he had been fired. > > In response, Mr. Comey laughed, saying he thought it was a fairly funny prank. > > Then his staff started scurrying around in the background and told Mr. Comey that he should step into a nearby office. > > Mr. Comey stopped addressing the group. He proceeded to shake hands with the employees he had been speaking to. Then he stepped into a side office, where he confirmed that he had been fired. At that point, he had not heard from the White House. > > Shortly thereafter, a letter from Mr. Trump was delivered to the F.B.I.’s headquarters, just seven blocks from the White House. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/comey-trump-fbi-live.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/comey-trump-fbi-live.html) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/90 "2017-05-10T02:31:05Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > But let me get this straight: All the people who last year were clamoring for this guy to be fired because of what he did in October are now clamoring for him NOT to have been fired? That’s silly. Again: changing circumstances. It’s not at all silly to think that his handling of Clinton’s case was fireable, but that he shouldn’t be fired by Trump while he’s investigating Trump’s campaign for malfeasance. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/91 "2017-05-10T02:35:26Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > But let me get this straight: All the people who last year were clamoring for this guy to be fired because of what he did in October are now clamoring for him NOT to have been fired? That’s silly. I don’t think it is. I didn’t think Comey should have been fired, and I actually saw some logic in his October announcement, even though I strongly think his press conference was an enormous, very serious mistake. In my mind, had Clinton won and fired him, I would find that to be wrong, as it would appear as though it was simple retaliation for him doing his job of investigating a possible crime (notwithstanding his mistakes). That Trump fired him while Trump’s campaign and associates are under criminal investigation is also wrong. Totally, completely wrong. To the extent that Trump and the DoJ believed that Comey had committed very serious missteps, I would suggest a very unusual step: that Trump should have proposed to Congress that he be impeached for his misdeeds. Put the ball in Congress’ court as to whether Comey made such serious mistakes that he deserved to have his term cut short. Would there still have been a firestorm? Yes. Is it a very high bar for impeachment? Yes. But at least there would have been a public airing of the facts and ultimately the decision would rest with a body that is not neck-deep in this criminal investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/92 "2017-05-10T02:44:09Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > But let me get this straight: All the people who last year were clamoring for this guy to be fired because of what he did in October are now clamoring for him NOT to have been fired? That’s silly. I didn’t say he should be fired in October, am I allowed to have an opinion now? Really, if anyone -democrat or republican- believes Trump fired Comey because he was mean to Hillary, they should have an MRI scan as soon as possible. I would be screaming bloody fucking murder if Hillary were doing this, and I will hold Trump supporters to the same standard. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/93 "2017-05-10T02:45:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _77 Sunset Strip_. Ask your parents. \*The F.B.I. \* Ask your parents. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/94 "2017-05-10T02:47:25Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > What I find interesting is the juxtaposition in time of this firing with the issuance of the news that the FBI was going to have to correct his testimony from yesterday before Congress. Looks like everyone had had enough of Director Comey sometime yesterday, and today, the string was cut. He’s not a cabinet member but could he have been impeached? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/95 "2017-05-10T02:49:05Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > He’s not a cabinet member but could he have been impeached? All Executive Branch officers can be removed from office by impeachment and conviction of high crimes and misdemeanors. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/96 "2017-05-10T02:51:34Z")
Off to IMHO. That’s seems the best home for it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/97 "2017-05-10T02:53:11Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Off to IMHO. That’s seems the best home for it. :dubious: Please reconsider, as central to this whole clusterfuck is Comey’s investigation of Russian meddling in the US ELECTION. Elections is the proper forum for discussing an action that very may well have resulted from elections shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/98 "2017-05-10T02:57:35Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Pause for a second. Do you really think this is the time for you to try to score “liberals is hypocrites” points? It’s the only game he knows. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/99 "2017-05-10T03:09:08Z")
> [@Common\_Tater](#): > > If you really want to compare it to Watergate, an interesting historical footnote, Hillary herself was fired from Sam Ervin’s Watergate committee, ostensibly for lying and mishandling documents. Ole Sam was a staunch Republican so… No, she was not. That isn’t any truer now than it has been the multiple times right wingers have repeated it. > **[Did Jerry Zeifman Fire Hillary Clinton from the Watergate Investigation?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hillary-clinton-watergate/)** > > Hillary Clinton was not fired from the House Judiciary Committee's Watergate investigation by Chief Counsel Jerry Zeifman. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226/100 "2017-05-10T03:11:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “serve at the pleasure of the President” means that the President can fire you whenever he wants, for whatever reason he wants, or no reason at all. The FBI Director does not serve at the pleasure of the President. He serves a fixed ten year term unless there are valid reasons to fire him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-fired-who-is-covering-who/786226.md?page=6)