# 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:** 46
**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 16, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/901 "2017-06-16T15:18:18Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > What a dumbass article. Telling reporters that they shouldn’t trust anonymous sources. > Hey, dumbass – the REPORTER knows who his/her source is— they just aren’t telling. And anyway, a named source can lie just as easily as an anonymous source. The key is that reporters **check out** the sources, anonymous or not. ---
**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 16, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/902 "2017-06-16T16:26:34Z")
CNN just reported that an anonymous source tells them that Rod Rosenstein issued his statement on anonymous sources on his own initiative, not at the behest of the White House. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/903 "2017-06-16T16:33:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > CNN just reported that an anonymous source tells them that Rod Rosenstein issued his statement on anonymous sources on his own initiative, not at the behest of the White House. Anonymous, but his name was something like “Maude Pinkystone”. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/904 "2017-06-16T17:55:50Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Anonymous, but his name was something like “Maude Pinkystone”. It was something like Ronald Sump. Or maybe John Barron? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/905 "2017-06-16T19:04:08Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > CNN just reported that an anonymous source tells them that Rod Rosenstein issued his statement on anonymous sources on his own initiative, not at the behest of the White House. Did CNN mention what country it came from? ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/906 "2017-06-16T19:56:07Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > It was something like Ronald Sump. Or maybe John Barron? I really wish Robert Barron was one of his aliases. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/907 "2017-06-16T20:16:53Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > CNN just reported that an anonymous source tells them that Rod Rosenstein issued his statement on anonymous sources on his own initiative, not at the behest of the White House. They left out the bottom, where it was signed “Epstein’s Mom” (ETA, I’m dating myself with that reference. It was the show “Welcome Back Kotter”, where one student, Epstein, would provide a note from his “mom” excusing himself from homework. The note was signed “Epstein’s Mom”). ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/908 "2017-06-16T21:05:10Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > CNN just reported that an anonymous source tells them that Rod Rosenstein issued his statement on anonymous sources on his own initiative, not at the behest of the White House. Which implies that there’s a shoe yet to drop (a bombshell story sourced by ‘anonymous foreign officials’). ---
**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 16, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/909 "2017-06-16T21:15:56Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Which implies that there’s a shoe yet to drop (a bombshell story sourced by ‘anonymous foreign officials’). For a while we were getting shoes dropping routinely at about 5:00 PM eastern time, often on a Friday. Maybe today will be another example of that. Fingers crossed!! ---
**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 16, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/910 "2017-06-16T21:24:00Z")
Why would Rosenstein have any inside knowledge about a bombshell story about to drop and attributed to “anonymous foreign sources”? [Sorry to ask that … but I’m still waiting for the bombshell Chaffetz story - involving him stepping down immediately due to some financial or sex scandal - to drop.] ---
**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 16, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/911 "2017-06-16T21:36:58Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > They left out the bottom, where it was signed “Epstein’s Mom” > > (ETA, I’m dating myself with that reference. It was the show “Welcome Back Kotter”, where one student, Epstein, would provide a note from his “mom” excusing himself from homework. The note was signed “Epstein’s Mom”). Remember it well. It was before John Travolta became JOHN TRAVOLTA. Ok, now the theme song is stuck in my head. Carry on. ---
**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 16, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/912 "2017-06-16T21:38:25Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Remember it well. It was before John Travolta became JOHN TRAVOLTA. Ok, now the theme song is stuck in my head. Carry on. I never liked the show all that much. Excellent theme song, though. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/913 "2017-06-16T21:39:48Z")
Hypothetically, Rosenstein might have been asked for comment by a reporter who’d received a tip from a foreign source about something involving Rosenstein himself. That’s not the only way for it (Rosenstein having inside knowledge etc.) to happen, but it’s one way. As for Chaffetz–true enough, we haven’t heard much about him, lately. Perhaps he’s receiving less journalistic scrutiny than might have been the case in a less bombshell-rich environment. And Bayard–it’s past 5pm, dang it! Story’s late. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/914 "2017-06-16T21:39:59Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Why would Rosenstein have any inside knowledge about a bombshell story about to drop and attributed to “anonymous foreign sources”? > > [Sorry to ask that … but I’m still waiting for the bombshell Chaffetz story - involving him stepping down immediately due to some financial or sex scandal - to drop.] Um. Chaffetz is stepping down to have time for his other duties working for a foreign government, and leaking to undermine the US? Just ballparking. ---
**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 16, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/915 "2017-06-16T22:19:30Z")
As long as Trump is now publicly broadsasting that he was _told_ to fire Comey after Trump broadcast with Lester Holt that he, Trump, made the decision to fire Comey by himself, (was going to fire him all along, yup yup,) then all is as it should be in Trumpworld. :smack::smack::smack: ---
**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 17, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/916 "2017-06-17T00:03:05Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > They left out the bottom, where it was signed “Epstein’s Mom” > > (ETA, I’m dating myself with that reference. It was the show “Welcome Back Kotter”, where one student, Epstein, would provide a note from his “mom” excusing himself from homework. The note was signed “Epstein’s Mom”). [Nitpick] They were always signed “Epstein’s Mother”. [/Nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/917 "2017-06-17T04:30:10Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Nitpick] > > They were always signed “Epstein’s Mother”. > > [/Nitpick] Wow! That’s weird the way memories work. I’d have sworn it was always signed “Epstein’s mom”! Not challenging you it’s just kinda fun realizing how you so badly misremember something like that. ---
**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 17, 2017, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/918 "2017-06-17T12:37:24Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Wow! That’s weird the way memories work. I’d have sworn it was always signed “Epstein’s mom”! > > Not challenging you it’s just kinda fun realizing how you so badly misremember something like that. Think about poor Donald Trump. He misremembers what he said this morning. Sometimes what he said in the previous paragraph. ---
**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 17, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/919 "2017-06-17T18:10:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Think about poor Donald Trump. He misremembers what he said this morning. Sometimes what he said in the previous paragraph. I don’t think that his memory or attention span syllables. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/920 "2017-06-18T04:36:25Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > As long as Trump is now publicly broadsasting that he was _told_ to fire Comey after Trump broadcast with Lester Holt that he, Trump, made the decision to fire Comey by himself, (was going to fire him all along, yup yup,) then all is as it should be in Trumpworld. > :smack::smack::smack: Of course it was his brilliant decision when he thought everyone was going to praise him for it. When that didn’t happen, it naturally became someone else’s _fault_. It’s never on him when things don’t turn out the way he planned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=47)