# Comey Memo: Trump Told Him - Shut Down Flynn Probe **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 16, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792 "2017-05-16T21:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/481 "2017-06-08T17:56:07Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Trump asks everyone to leave and Comey thinks, and I quote here, “something big is about to happen”. And his reaction is to do… nothing. Were his legs broken? Did the Secret Service restrain him? No? Then stand up and say “Sir, it is not appropriate for us to meet alone” and walk out the door. > > It looks really, really, really bad for him to allow what he considered to be an inappropriate meeting to occur and then immediately write down what transpired. That appears an awful lot like Comey deliberately creating a weapon to use against Trump later. I disagree. Trump was his boss. You can’t just tell your boss “hey, I have this sense that you’re probably about to do something inappropriate so I’m leaving …” ---
**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:** [June 8, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/482 "2017-06-08T17:56:13Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Comey does not come off well here and his actions very troubling. Let’s take one of his statements from today: > > Trump asks everyone to leave and Comey thinks, and I quote here, “something big is about to happen”. And his reaction is to do… nothing. Were his legs broken? Did the Secret Service restrain him? No? Then stand up and say “Sir, it is not appropriate for us to meet alone” and walk out the door. > > It looks really, really, really bad for him to allow what he considered to be an inappropriate meeting to occur and then immediately write down what transpired. **That appears an awful lot like Comey deliberately creating a weapon to use against Trump later.** (bolding mine) Really? That’s your first impression, is that Comey was preparing an attack? :dubious: To me, it sounded more like he was trying to prepare a defense. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/483 "2017-06-08T17:57:12Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I would have sworn that Trumpelthinskin restraining himself, or allowing anyone else to restrain him, in that regard was about as likely as me coming home to find Scarlett Johansson waiting on the bed in a sheer edible French maid outfit. According to Politico, his aides set up a series of morning meetings to keep him busy and away from the television. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/484 "2017-06-08T18:10:51Z")
Donald Trump Jr live tweeted during the testimony. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/485 "2017-06-08T18:15:52Z")
Now I really want to know what the “facts” about Jeff Sessions that Comey couldn’t talk about are. - "Our judgment, as I recall, was that he was very close to and inevitably going to recuse himself for a variety of reasons. We also were aware of **facts that I can’t discuss in an open setting that would make his continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic**. And so we were convinced — and, in fact, I think we already heard that the career people were recommending he recuse himself — that he was going to be in contact with Russia-related matters much longer," he continued. “And that turned out to be the case.” \* (Bolding mine) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/486 "2017-06-08T18:18:44Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Donald Trump Jr live tweeted during the testimony. Good for him. I hate those pre-taped tweets. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/487 "2017-06-08T18:21:09Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > According to Politico, his aides set up a series of morning meetings to keep him busy and away from the television. How’d they get Putin to lend the prostitutes for a whole morning and afternoon? ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/488 "2017-06-08T18:21:51Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Very possible. But since Comey was, as a matter of policy, refusing to answer any questions about the substance of the investigation, then this particular response doesn’t have any meaning beyond that. > > [As a practical matter, you can’t refuse to answer all questions that have positive answers but answer the ones that have negative ones. Because that means that you’re answering them all. So if you have such a policy, then you need to refuse them all.] Right: Child: What am I getting for my birthday? Sibling: I can’t tell you. Child: Is it a baseball mitt? Sibling: No. Child: Is it a tutu? Sibling: No. Child: Is it a puppy? Sibling: No. Child: Is it roller skates? Sibling: I can’t tell you. Not a great tactic. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/489 "2017-06-08T18:21:57Z")
Glad to see CNN is running with revelation that AG Lynch insisted that Hillary investigation be called a “matter”. > **[Comey: Lynch asked for Clinton investigation to be called a 'matter' | CNN...](https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/08/politics/james-comey-loretta-lynch/index.html)** > > Former FBI Director James Comey said Thursday that former Attorney General Loretta Lynch requested he call the Clinton investigation a "matter," partially leading to his decision to make his now-famous statement about the results of that... An interesting peek behind the curtain. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/490 "2017-06-08T18:22:14Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Trump asks everyone to leave and Comey thinks, and I quote here, “something big is about to happen”. And his reaction is to do… nothing. Were his legs broken? Did the Secret Service restrain him? No? Then stand up and say “Sir, it is not appropriate for us to meet alone” and walk out the door. > > It looks really, really, really bad for him to allow what he considered to be an inappropriate meeting to occur and then immediately write down what transpired. That appears an awful lot like Comey deliberately creating a weapon to use against Trump later. > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I disagree. Trump was his boss. You can’t just tell your boss “hey, I have this sense that you’re probably about to do something inappropriate so I’m leaving …” > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > (bolding mine) > > Really? That’s your first impression, is that Comey was preparing an attack? :dubious: > > To me, it sounded more like he was trying to prepare a defense. I’m not in law enforcement or anything related. But I would think if I were conducting an investigation, and the blabbermouth at the center of the thing I’m investigating wanted to talk to me privately, I’d probably want to keep him talking. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/491 "2017-06-08T18:23:40Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Glad to see CNN is running with revelation that AG Lynch insisted that Hillary investigation be called a “matter”. > [Comey: Lynch asked for Clinton investigation to be called a 'matter' - CNNPolitics](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/06/08/politics/james-comey-loretta-lynch/index.html) > > A interesting peek behind the curtain. The Justice Dept is influenced by politics. Jesus Christ, THIS is what you think is the peek behind the curtain? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/492 "2017-06-08T18:23:46Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > How’d they get Putin to lend the prostitutes for a whole morning and afternoon? Scheduling is easier when you don’t have to plan for bathroom breaks. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/493 "2017-06-08T18:25:25Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Trump asks everyone to leave and Comey thinks, and I quote here, “something big is about to happen”. And his reaction is to do… nothing. Were his legs broken? Did the Secret Service restrain him? No? Then stand up and say “Sir, it is not appropriate for us to meet alone” and walk out the door. It’s just like all those times when Trump grabbed 'em by the you-know-what, and they “let” him because of those things called shock and fear! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/494 "2017-06-08T18:25:41Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I would have sworn that Trumpelthinskin restraining himself, or allowing anyone else to restrain him, in that regard was about as likely as me coming home to find Scarlett Johansson waiting on the bed in a sheer edible French maid outfit. Well, Mr., today might not be a bad day for you to just rush on home. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/495 "2017-06-08T18:27:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Glad to see CNN is running with revelation that AG Lynch insisted that Hillary investigation be called a “matter”. > [Comey: Lynch asked for Clinton investigation to be called a 'matter' - CNNPolitics](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/06/08/politics/james-comey-loretta-lynch/index.html) > > An interesting peek behind the curtain. I, too, am glad to see that CNN continues to report all the news. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/496 "2017-06-08T18:27:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Jesus Christ, THIS is what you think is the peek behind the curtain? You’re missing the point that it’s not unusual for the Justice Dept to bend to political pressure. They still get the job done in spite of the pressure from Congress or the President. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/497 "2017-06-08T18:31:24Z")
> [@treis](#): > > It looks really, really, really bad for him to allow what he considered to be an inappropriate meeting to occur and then immediately write down what transpired. That appears an awful lot like Comey deliberately creating a weapon to use against Trump later. Easy to say in hindsight, but how was he supposed to know Trump wasn’t just keeping him behind to ask about Comey’s golf swing, what his weekend plans were, or how much he enjoyed Celebrity Apprentice? He’s the _president_. Alarm bells may have been going off in his mind at the time, but what else was he going to do, run out the door with his fingers in his ears? He had a hunch Trump was going to ask him something important, and maybe a suspicion it may have been something unethical, but how was he going to know? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/498 "2017-06-08T18:32:18Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I disagree. Trump was his boss. You can’t just tell your boss “hey, I have this sense that you’re probably about to do something inappropriate so I’m leaving …” Why not? > [@Snowboarder Bo](#): > > Really? That’s your first impression, is that Comey was preparing an attack? I didn’t say that. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/499 "2017-06-08T18:33:35Z")
How long will it be before we have any numbers on viewership? I’m curious. Do the ratings make it worth having carried the testimony for the broadcast networks? How many people watch (how many are interested)? Of those that did watch, which channel did they watch (may give us an idea of political leanings)? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/500 "2017-06-08T18:35:04Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > Easy to say in hindsight, but how was he supposed to know Trump wasn’t just keeping him behind to ask about Comey’s golf swing, what his weekend plans were, or how much he enjoyed Celebrity Apprentice? He’s the _president_. Alarm bells may have been going off in his mind at the time, but what else was he going to do, run out the door with his fingers in his ears? He had a hunch Trump was going to ask him something important, and maybe a suspicion it may have been something unethical, but how was he going to know? If it were one time, I could see your point. But these meetings we an ongoing thing and Comey did nothing to stop them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=26)