# 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:** 33
**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 9, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/641 "2017-06-09T16:04:45Z")
Howdy, **jkirch26**! I just want to say how awesome I think it is that [you joined in September 2001 but that this is your first ever post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=14206055)! ---
**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 9, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/642 "2017-06-09T16:05:45Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > … which means that if Comey thought that Trump was committing any kind of obstruction of justice (a felony), and didn’t report it, he should be imprisoned? “Reading comprehension fail on pretty much every level” would be the generous description of this post. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/643 "2017-06-09T16:10:56Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > … which means that if Comey thought that Trump was committing any kind of obstruction of justice (a felony), and didn’t report it, he should be imprisoned? Comey was supposed to report it to himself? He’s the guy leading the investigation. ---
**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 9, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/644 "2017-06-09T16:11:37Z")
> [@jkirch26](#): > > Trump was likely bluffing about the tapes because knew how conversations would be interpreted in the media without proper context that tapes would provide. One odd aspect of the “tapes” angle is that this particular matter (i.e. the 3 assurances) turned out to be one of the rare instances where Trump was saying the truth even though nearly everyone (including me) assumed he wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/645 "2017-06-09T16:13:33Z")
> [@jkirch26](#): > > Also Comey’s motivation for the memos should be questioned. He claimed it was because Trump tweeted about possible recordings when in reality the existance of the memos was leaked before Trump had tweeted about the possibility of tapes. Trump was likely bluffing about the tapes because knew how conversations would be interpreted in the media without proper context that tapes would provide. that timeline has been debunked [Comey Testimony: Marc Kasowitz Made a Factual Error | TIME](http://time.com/4811888/comey-testimony-marc-kasowitz-mistake/) - no surprise that Trump’s attorneys got facts incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/646 "2017-06-09T16:15:29Z")
> [@jkirch26](#): > > Also Comey’s motivation for the memos should be questioned. He claimed it was because Trump tweeted about possible recordings when in reality the existance of the memos was leaked before Trump had tweeted about the possibility of tapes. Trump was likely bluffing about the tapes because knew how conversations would be interpreted in the media without proper context that tapes would provide. [President Trump’s Lawyer Made a Mistake in Describing James Comey’s Testimony](http://time.com/4811888/comey-testimony-marc-kasowitz-mistake/) > [@](#): > > President Trump’s private attorney incorrectly described the timeline of reporting while criticizing former FBI Director James Comey’s congressional testimony Thursday. > … > However, this misstates the order of events. Here’s a quick review of the timeline: > > On May 11, the New York Times reported that Trump and Comey had a private dinner in which Trump asked Comey for “loyalty.” The story made no mention of any contemporaneous memos. > > On May 12, Trump tweeted that Comey “better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations.” > > Comey testified that he “woke up in the middle of the night” on Monday, May 15, after realizing that if there were tapes he should put the memo “into the public square” and asked his friend to share it. > … > On May 16, the New York Times reported that a memo from Comey discussed an apparent request from Trump to shut down the investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. ---
**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 9, 2017, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/647 "2017-06-09T16:27:26Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > [President Trump’s Lawyer Made a Mistake in Describing James Comey’s Testimony](http://time.com/4811888/comey-testimony-marc-kasowitz-mistake/) “Mistake” ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/648 "2017-06-09T16:31:04Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Memo to Republican Leadership: When selecting a spokesman to muddy the waters and conflate obstruction of justice, seditious collusion with a hostile foreign power, etc on the one hand with ONOZ HER EMA1LZ! on the other hand, get someone whose mental faculties are such that he himself isn’t actually confused as to which hand is which. /snip Oh, they had other ones, too. I remember Cotton and somebody else consistently asking about emails. One of those questions brought out the whole “Loretta Lynch ‘matter’”. > [@Steken](#): > > Roughly speaking, this is [Paul Ryan’s view of the current kerfuffle](http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/08/politics/paul-ryan-donald-trump-new-to-this/): If you’re too stupid to be President, then you’re too stupid to be President. > [@dasmoocher](#): > > I’m pretty sure he had that in his notes; I think he said Comey beat him to using the quote. What caught me was Comey using that phrase unbidden. That feels like it could be far more damaging in the long run than just about anything else in the testimony. > [@Okrahoma](#): > > … which means that if Comey thought that Trump was committing any kind of obstruction of justice (a felony), and didn’t report it, he should be imprisoned? When the obstruction, by those believing it, occurred when Comey was fired, he’s not exactly a government employee anymore, huh? > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Howdy, **jkirch26**! > > I just want to say how awesome I think it is that [you joined in September 2001 but that this is your first ever post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=14206055)! That’s some impressive patience. > [@dasmoocher](#): > > [President Trump’s Lawyer Made a Mistake in Describing James Comey’s Testimony](http://time.com/4811888/comey-testimony-marc-kasowitz-mistake/) “Trump Lawyer Appears As Clueless As Trump,” news at 11. ---
**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 9, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/649 "2017-06-09T16:32:16Z")
President Trump’s Lawyer [del]Made a Mistake[/del]Told a Lie in Describing James Comey’s Testimony I fixed that. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/650 "2017-06-09T16:36:41Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > When the obstruction, by those believing it, occurred when Comey was fired, he’s not exactly a government employee anymore, huh? The misprision thing does not only apply to government employees. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/651 "2017-06-09T16:38:08Z")
“Alternative fact” is the current term of art, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/652 "2017-06-09T16:38:21Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > The democrats who put Hillary on the ballot have damn near as much blame. After 20 years of much of the country swearing that they were never going to support this feudalistic crap. That someone getting the power of the president should be able to trade power and money until the inevitable coronation of his favorite as empress. And the deluded narrative that somehow someone living in government funded mansions, making tens of millions in amoral influence swaps, had made such a sacrifice that she deserved the crown. The Hilary primary voters deserve to suffer the consequences of their stupidity as well. And hopefully the next generations learn from the mistakes of the entire pile of stupid. This nonsense grows tiresome. For the sake of brevity, let’s stipulate that every word of the above is inarguably factual; the overweening ambition, the hubris, the sense of entitlement. None of this negates the FACT that Mrs. Clinton has the skill, the work ethic, the experience, the intelligence, and sufficient moral character to competently carry out the duties of the presidency. None of it negates the FACT that a Hillary Clinton presidency would have been unalarming in terms of maintaining this nation’s place as a leading player on the world stage, economically, technologically, and militarily. Instead, the office was granted to a fuckstick who has NOT got the skill, the work ethic, the experience, the intelligence, or sufficient moral character; who explicitly disavows that America has any duty to be any kind of leader on the world stage; who, all the available evidence suggests, actively HATES America. And who seems eager to facilitate the resurrection of the Soviet Union. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/653 "2017-06-09T16:54:19Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > 18 U.S. Code § 4 - Misprision of felony > > Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. > (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 684; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) > > [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misprision_of_felony): Thanks for that. Are you claiming that Trump violated 18 USC § 4, or were you just being helpful and adding the definition to the thread? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/654 "2017-06-09T17:10:05Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Instead, the office was granted to a fuckstick who has NOT got the skill, the work ethic, the experience, the intelligence, or sufficient moral character; who explicitly disavows that America has any duty to be any kind of leader on the world stage; who, all the available evidence suggests, actively HATES America. And who seems eager to facilitate the resurrection of the Soviet Union. None of which negates the FACT that the Hilary voters share much of the blame for that happening. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/655 "2017-06-09T17:10:11Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Thanks for that. Are you claiming that Trump violated 18 USC § 4, or were you just being helpful and adding the definition to the thread? IANAL, just posting info. ---
**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 9, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/656 "2017-06-09T17:18:56Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > None of which negates the FACT that the Hilary voters share much of the blame for that happening. Man, no one wants to take any credit for Trump being president, huh? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/657 "2017-06-09T17:21:57Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > Roughly speaking, this is [Paul Ryan’s view of the current kerfuffle](http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/08/politics/paul-ryan-donald-trump-new-to-this/): I feel like everyone is glossing over the fact that while the rest of the GOP is saying Trump didn’t do anything wrong, Paul Ryan is basically admitting that Trump did something wrong he just didn’t realize it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/658 "2017-06-09T17:25:18Z")
The GOP House and Senate guys don’t even seem to be trying to deny the main thrust of Comey’s narrative – that Trump indicated to Comey that he wanted the Flynn investigation to stop, the Russia investigation to go away or be rduced, and then he fired Comey when these things didn’t happen. Their defense just seems to be “well it’s no big deal since it wasn’t illegal”. This is kind of incredible (or would be in any other political circumstances). ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/659 "2017-06-09T17:28:36Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > None of which negates the FACT that the Hilary voters share much of the blame for that happening. The Hilary voters? So the people who voted for the other candidate are to blame for the person they didn’t vote for getting elected? That sure is some logical thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/660 "2017-06-09T17:29:22Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > The misprision thing does not only apply to government employees. The “misprision thing” only applies to those who are required to report it. No longer being a government employee, how is Comey required to report it? This offense, however, requires active concealment of a known felony rather than merely failing to report it.[7] The Federal misprision of felony statute is usually only used in prosecutions against defendants who have a special duty to report a crime, such as a government official.[10] It’s ok, though. Someone will be along shortly with your new talking points. > [@wolfman](#): > > None of which negates the FACT that the Hilary voters share much of the blame for that happening. Are you actively blaming those who voted AGAINST Trump for his victory? That sounds _checks forum_…illogical. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=34)