# 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:** 39
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/761 "2017-06-13T00:52:39Z")
It’s just a bluff anyway. Trump’s way of reminding people that he could fire Mueller if he wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/762 "2017-06-13T01:14:35Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Well, Schiff is a member of the minority party in both houses. I appreciate why he feels that way but I’ve yet to see anything that makes me think the GOP leadership would allow any such thing to happen. > > Nunes is already owned by Trump. Burr would probably make a lot of harrumphing sounds but no way McConnell or Ryan would do anything as extreme as allow the appointment of an independent counsel. > > Trump ain’t gonna get impeached before 2018 and I seriously doubt it will happen after that. Yes, but the inescapable current point will be that the Republicans will demonstrate that they are getting in bed with Trump and all his abuses. It will then more of a reason to throw all the rascals out that clearly do not care to catch the Trump fleas. ---
**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 13, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/763 "2017-06-13T01:47:19Z")
I don’t think Congress can appoint an independent counsel anyway. So I don’t know what Schiff is talking about altogether. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/764 "2017-06-13T01:52:13Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Yes, but the inescapable current point will be that the Republicans will demonstrate that they are getting in bed with Trump and all his abuses. It will then more of a reason to throw all the rascals out that clearly do not care to catch the Trump fleas. There’s already plenty of reason. What’s lacking is the will to do it. Republicans aren’t going to turf your idiot president as long as his idiocy is useful. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/765 "2017-06-13T01:55:17Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Yes, but the inescapable current point will be that the Republicans will demonstrate that they are getting in bed with Trump and all his abuses. It will then more of a reason to throw all the rascals out that clearly do not care to catch the Trump fleas. Throwing the rascals out also relies on the Democrats getting their shit together. Sadly, I’ve seen no evidence this is going to happen any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/766 "2017-06-13T02:15:48Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Throwing the rascals out also relies on the Democrats getting their shit together. Sadly, I’ve seen no evidence this is going to happen any time soon. Uh uh. Therefore seeing the Republicans becoming a poison for the nation doesn’t mean that we should consider the only party that will really clean the swamp? You have to remember that in the last election even less capable Republicans were swept into office allegedly to do the right thing. Well, this is not, but they are rubber stamping what is really bad for the nation. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/767 "2017-06-13T02:52:40Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > It’s just a bluff anyway. Trump’s way of reminding people that he could fire Mueller if he wanted to. If we were talking about a normal politician, I’d say this was a trial balloon: send one of your surrogates out to suggest some hare-brained idea, and see how much blowback you get. But with Trump…who knows. He may think this is absolutely brilliant and wants to start the accolades early. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/768 "2017-06-13T02:55:27Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Throwing the rascals out also relies on the Democrats getting their shit together. Sadly, I’ve seen no evidence this is going to happen any time soon. Yeah, this is a real problem. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/769 "2017-06-13T03:10:34Z")
It’s odd that Republicans, who all had fantastic things to say about Mueller when he was appointed, now seem to have reasons that he should be disqualified. Chief among those reasons appears to be that he is actually doing his job. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/770 "2017-06-13T03:20:43Z")
A Constitutional law professor educates the MSNBC journalist that: [FBI is not independent, is not supposed to be independent, and Comey was “absolutely, as a legal matter, utterly and completely false” claiming that.](https://videos.files.wordpress.com/LuVCxXtx/elizabeth-foley-on-indepedent-fbi_hd.mp4) and [that cannot be any “obstruction of justice” in Trump’s actions even if there was “corrupt intent”. President’s power in these matters is plenary and the only consequences can be political.](https://videos.files.wordpress.com/AipXc56i/eliabeth-foley-on-trump-obstruction-of-justice_hd.mp4) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/771 "2017-06-13T03:23:12Z")
You could at least PRETEND not to be cheering on a fascist dictatorship here. ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/772 "2017-06-13T03:57:21Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > A Constitutional law professor educates the MSNBC journalist that: > > [that cannot be any “obstruction of justice” in Trump’s actions even if there was “corrupt intent”. President’s power in these matters is plenary and the only consequences can be political.](https://videos.files.wordpress.com/AipXc56i/eliabeth-foley-on-trump-obstruction-of-justice_hd.mp4) Replace “educates” with “opines.” Since we haven’t had too many possible historical cases of presidential obstruction of justice, her opinion does not have a very solid constitutional or historical footing. For instance, [a former deputy U.S. solicitor general](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/former-watergate-prosecutor-comey-lays-out-sufficient-evidence-for-an-obstruction-of-justice-case/2017/06/07/a12964a4-4be3-11e7-9669-250d0b15f83b_story.html?utm_term=.2e7afb9e2533) in the DOJ during the Nixon era opines that there is sufficient evidence already for a criminal obstruction of justice charge. [Elizabeth Foley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Price_Foley) is also heavily involved in Republican and Tea Party causes, including working for Republican congressmen. She’s not exactly a neutral observer (i.e. she’s a political hack). She doesn’t seem to have much, if any, actual experience in the criminal justice system. That’s especially helpful, if not absolutely necessary, when giving ultimate issue opinions about what can or cannot be proven in a criminal setting. ---
**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 13, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/773 "2017-06-13T04:15:50Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > A Constitutional law professor educates the MSNBC journalist that: > > [FBI is not independent, is not supposed to be independent, and Comey was “absolutely, as a legal matter, utterly and completely false” claiming that.](https://videos.files.wordpress.com/LuVCxXtx/elizabeth-foley-on-indepedent-fbi_hd.mp4) > > and > > [that cannot be any “obstruction of justice” in Trump’s actions even if there was “corrupt intent”. President’s power in these matters is plenary and the only consequences can be political.](https://videos.files.wordpress.com/AipXc56i/eliabeth-foley-on-trump-obstruction-of-justice_hd.mp4) That’s two law professors saying basically the same thing. Democrat Alan Dershowitz has been saying for awhile that Trump gives orders to the FBI. It’s part of the function of the executive branch. > **[Democrat Alan Dershowitz: Time to Move On & Stop Accusing Trump of a...](https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2017/06/09/democrat-alan-dershowitz-time-to-move-on--stop-accusing-trump-of-a-crime-for-exercising-his-constitutional-authority-n2338775?amp=true)** > >   An astute point. Trump can be challenged in other areas. > [@](#): > > Dershowitz also argued there are a number of concerning aspects surrounding President Trump’s decisions and policies worth discussion, but until the left lets go of the false narrative he is a criminal, progress or real debate on important issues cannot proceed in any kind of meaningful way. ---
**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 13, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/774 "2017-06-13T04:18:34Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Democrat Alan Dershowitz has been saying for awhile that Trump gives orders to the FBI. It’s part of the function of the executive branch. > > [https://www.google.com/amp/s/townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2017/06/09/democrat-alan-dershowitz-time-to-move-on--stop-accusing-trump-of-a-crime-for-exercising-his-constitutional-authority-n2338775%3Famp%3Dtrue](https://www.google.com/amp/s/townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2017/06/09/democrat-alan-dershowitz-time-to-move-on--stop-accusing-trump-of-a-crime-for-exercising-his-constitutional-authority-n2338775%3Famp%3Dtrue) The last sentence of the 2nd paragraph is not true. ---
**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 13, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/775 "2017-06-13T04:23:52Z")
If you prefer a direct link to Dershowitz’s op ed column. He posted it shortly after Comey testified. > **[Dershowitz: Comey confirms that I'm right - and all the Democratic...](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/dershowitz-comey-confirms-that-im-right-and-all-the-democratic-commentators-are-wrong)** > > In his testimony former FBI director James Comey echoed a view that I alone have been expressing for several weeks, and that has been attacked by nearly every Democratic pundit. ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/776 "2017-06-13T04:33:44Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > That’s two law professors saying basically the same thing. **Okrahoma** ’s links were two different files of the same professor speaking - Elizabeth Foley. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/777 "2017-06-13T04:39:27Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Uh uh. Therefore seeing the Republicans becoming a poison for the nation doesn’t mean that we should consider the only party that will really clean the swamp? > > You have to remember that in the last election even less capable Republicans were swept into office allegedly to do the right thing. Well, this is not, but they are rubber stamping what is really bad for the nation. Not really following your point. I don’t disagree the D’s would be a better choice than the GOP. My point is just because a majority of likely voters think the President is a boob doesn’t mean the D’s have a guaranteed win come 2018 or 2020. Just relying on the other guy to make everything FUBAR is not necessarily a winning strategy. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/778 "2017-06-13T04:58:14Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Not really following your point. I don’t disagree the D’s would be a better choice than the GOP. My point is just because a majority of likely voters think the President is a boob doesn’t mean the D’s have a guaranteed win come 2018 or 2020. Just relying on the other guy to make everything FUBAR is not necessarily a winning strategy. The FUBAR is already there. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/779 "2017-06-13T05:04:49Z")
“Hey, look, this Democrat is saying that the only way to get to Trump is to stop all the investigations right now! It’s totally in your best interests to listen to him!” Mm hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/780 "2017-06-13T05:13:25Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > The FUBAR is already there. Exactly. That hardly guarantees the D’s win next time. > [@Leaper](#): > > “Hey, look, this Democrat is saying that the only way to get to Trump is to stop all the investigations right now! It’s totally in your best interests to listen to him!” > > Mm hmm. Who said _that_? I missed it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=40)