# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/141 "2017-06-03T15:01:27Z")
He’ll never be impeached in the House as long as Repubs have it, no matter what is found. He’ll never get convicted in the Senate unless he did/does something in addition to or a lot worse than obstruction. You want to get rid of him before 2020, half the country has to stop going to work. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/142 "2017-06-03T16:29:31Z")
Money, the Dollar Almighty. That is his strength, and that is his weakness. Pull the thread on his business loans, and the sweater unravels. Let him know, quietly and deniably, that if he resigns in order to spend more time with his family, the pressure will lessen. Otherwise, every irregularity, every hinky-dinky deal, will get the sunlight treatment. Then, hi-ho, hi-ho, its off to court we go! Where, we will hint, the most stringent and ruinous penalties will be applied. A few million here, a few million there, it begins to add up to real money. Especially if Il Douche is not as rich as he pretends to be. He’s always been rich, he has no idea what it like to be poor, or even just not-rich. He’s never filled his own gas tank, never shopped at Piggly Wiggly with the _lumpenprole._. Death doesn’t scare him as much as not-rich. Follow the money, threaten to take it away, and he will cave. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/143 "2017-06-03T18:23:18Z")
> [@ThisIsTheEnd](#): > > He’ll never be impeached in the House as long as Repubs have it, no matter what is found. From a factual standpoint, can anyone enlighten me as to what happens if the FBI probe identifies undeniable criminal activity that the House still won’t impeach for? Can the president be a defendant in court in a criminal prosecution? At some point, it has to be out of the House Republican’s hands, no? ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/144 "2017-06-03T20:16:42Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > From a factual standpoint, can anyone enlighten me as to what happens if the FBI probe identifies undeniable criminal activity that the House still won’t impeach for? Can the president be a defendant in court in a criminal prosecution? At some point, it has to be out of the House Republican’s hands, no? It seems to be an open question. The WH OLC has argued in the past that impeachment is necessary, but the question hasn’t been tested before a court. In other words, the answer seems to be “I dunno, try it and see if it works.” [The suddenly relevant debate about whether a president can be prosecuted, explained - Vox](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/17/15654158/trump-prosecuted-constitution-impeachment-prosecutor) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/145 "2017-06-03T20:49:25Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > “Melania sent me a dick pic she took of you on her phone while you were sleeping.” “And hoo-boy, if people think your _hands_ are tiny…” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/146 "2017-06-03T21:16:51Z")
So, any predictions for what happens after next week when Comey testifies that Trump obstructed justice? ---
**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:** [June 3, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/147 "2017-06-03T21:18:18Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > So, any predictions for what happens after next week when Comey testifies that Trump obstructed justice? A shitload of tweets. ---
**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 3, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/148 "2017-06-03T21:41:24Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > So, any predictions for what happens after next week when Comey testifies that Trump obstructed justice? I predict nothing at all will happen regardless of how damning Comey’s testimony may be. ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/149 "2017-06-03T22:12:36Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I think that some of the Republican leadership may be compromised. > > I don’t know all of the parliamentarian mechanics involved. Can the rank and file impeach and convict without the cooperation of the leadership? Articles have to be passed by a majority of the House Judiciary Committee, so the Committee chairman has to be on board. Then, the Speaker would have to schedule it for a vote by the full House. So, there are two separate chokepoints. But realistically, the House Judiciary chairman is not going to allow any articles to be considered at all unless the rest of the leadership already consented. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/150 "2017-06-03T22:30:12Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > I predict nothing at all will happen regardless of how damning Comey’s testimony may be. This. Trump already admitted he obstructed the investigation. Why would Comey agreeing make any difference? ---
**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 3, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/151 "2017-06-03T23:01:06Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > So, any predictions for what happens after next week when Comey testifies that Trump obstructed justice? After the election results, I am not predicting anything for a good long time, but I’d love to hear such testimony! I may even take the day off of work to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/152 "2017-06-04T00:01:40Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > So, any predictions for what happens after next week when Comey testifies that Trump obstructed justice? Comey is no idiot. I predict that he will not testify that Trump obstructed justice. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/153 "2017-06-04T01:39:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Comey is no idiot. I predict that he will not testify that Trump obstructed justice. Why would testifying that Trump did make Comey an idiot? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/154 "2017-06-04T02:02:13Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Why would testifying that Trump did make Comey an idiot? Two reasons. As a LEO, he knows that such a case would be very difficult to prove. And secondly, he knows that such a charge against a sitting president is a political act, and as such is up to Congress to do. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/155 "2017-06-04T02:23:17Z")
He may, however, testify that he was told to stall or halt the investigation without opining as to the motive. Stranger ---
**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 4, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/156 "2017-06-04T02:25:11Z")
Comey need not state conclusions about whether what the President did might constitute a crime. Just like witnesses at a trial don’t need to say, “The defendant took my personal property, thereby committing theft in the third degree!” Comey has an opportunity to simply say what Trump told him. He doesn’t need to testify that what Trump told him constitutes a crime: it’s up to others to judge that. But I don’t know what Comey will say during his testimony. I can see a scenario that he would lay everything out on the table, and another scenario that he keeps certain parts of the story private. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/157 "2017-06-04T02:39:04Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > He may, however, testify that he was told to stall or halt the investigation without opining as to the motive. > > Stranger I will bet that he won’t testify that he was told to do so. ---
**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 4, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/158 "2017-06-04T03:55:37Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I will bet that he won’t testify that he was told to do so. That is a very small part of the venn diagram for obstruction of justice. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/159 "2017-06-04T04:00:33Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Two reasons. As a LEO, he knows that such a case would be very difficult to prove. And secondly, he knows that such a charge against a sitting president is a political act, and as such is up to Congress to do. Yeah, Comey would never say anything that could be construed as a political act. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2017, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792/160 "2017-06-04T05:10:02Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > That is a very small part of the venn diagram for obstruction of justice. So what? > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Yeah, Comey would never say anything that could be construed as a political act. Then it’s a good thing I didn’t say that! Frankly, you may actually be correct. But I still didn’t say that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comey-memo-trump-told-him-shut-down-flynn-probe/786792.md?page=9)