Trump Told Russians That Firing 'Nut Job' Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, had relieved great pressure on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting.

"I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job", Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off". Mr. Trump added, "I'm not under investigation."

The conversation, during a May 10 meeting the day after he fired Mr. Comey reinforces the notion that Mr. Trump dismissed him primarily because of the bureaus investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives. Mr. Trump said as much in one televised interview, but the White House has offered changing justifications for the firing.

The White House document that contained Mr. Trumps comments was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting. One official read quotations to The Times, and a second official confirmed the broad outlines of the discussion.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/us/politics/trump-russia-comey.html

---

[BeyondGeography]

1. And, with that, bon voyage, asshole!

What a maroon.

[BootinUp]

2. ...of epic proportions!

[countryjake]

17. Sail away...

[sprinkleeninow]

23. Who's offering a freed up barge with a long distance capable tugboat? eom

[countryjake]

55. Sorry, the few available lifeboats are reportedly full already

And no self respecting Merchant Marine would ever hitch a hawser to a vessel with that sort of infectious crew.

[sprinkleeninow]

68. You!

😆

[lsewpershad]

49. And

Don't return.

[notdarkyet]

3. Why does he call up Putin for everything he does? This is a sign of giving up secrets

And strategies. To warn Putin? To seek his advise. This is very dysfunctional and unhealthy for our nation.

[tblue37]

18. He said this to the Russians he met with in the Oval Office--Lavrov and Sislyak.

Putin would hear of it, too, of course, from his guys, but Trump didn't directly call Putin to say these things.

[leftynyc]

4. There were only a few

of donnie's closest advisors, the russians and the russian press in the oval office. Who's the leaker? Is putin putting donnie's nuts in a vice?

[countryjake]

13. It's the official account of the meeting, based on notes.

From that NY Times piece:

"The White House document that contained Mr. Trump’s comments was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting. One official read quotations to The Times, and a second official confirmed the broad outlines of the discussion."

It doesn't sound like any surreptitious leaking was involved, to me. It's unclear, though, from that article. Spicer was contacted and apparently verified that the official "notes" were accurate.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/us/politics/trump-russia-comey.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=65326241&pgtype=article

Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, did not dispute the account.

In a statement, he said that Mr. Comey had put unnecessary pressure on the president’s ability to conduct diplomacy with Russia on matters such as Syria, Ukraine and the Islamic State.

“By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia’s actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia,” Mr. Spicer said. “The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations.”

[sprinkleeninow]

25. 'Grandstanding' word again. Shut the HELLUP!!

Missing brain cells to rub together in order to access their funk n wagnalls. How original--grandstanding and showboating.
Shut the HELLUP!!
What's going on w/me today.
I'm seething.

[Sugar Smack]

38. Welcome to DU!

Thanks for articulating my thoughts so well.

[sprinkleeninow]

66. Ta, Shug. (I chilled some since my hyperventilation post.)

I joined DU under another screen name when the mad cowboy got selected to occupy the Peoples' House, then had peace of mind when Barack became our CiC and curtailed my activity. Had medical emergencies with my mom and that took over anyway.
I joined again recently with a new name. Didn't want a feeling of isolation. There is a wealth of info. and camaraderie so to speak on here.
Cheers, sprink

[niyad]

74. welcome back!!

[Volaris]

34. 'Negotiate' now means 'Give Daddy Vladdy whatever the hell he wants'

Yes, I would have to agree that the FBI Russia investigations would put pressure on those 'negotiations'.

Good thing that's all taken care of now that the nutjob is fired. . .

The American President honestly thinks he can lie to Russian mob interests as easily as he lies to his own constituents, and that there just won't be any consequences for this. I have a feeling that no matter what else happens, he's going to find out how wrong he is.

[countryjake]

46. Would you like a nice polonium tea with that prediction?

I've thought for a long time now, whenever I see people wondering what exactly it might be that Putin has on Trump...it is most likely simply his knowledge of the fates of so many others who learned the hard way what can happen when dealings with Russia go sour.

Fear.

Alexander Litvinenko, Viktor Yushchenko, Yuri Shchekochikhin... and the list goes on and on.

[Amaryllis]

45. But who took the notes? And was in a position to know what was said and would risk being ?

identified at the leaker since there were so few people it could have been? ANd is T really so stupid that if he knew someone was taking notes he would still say all that stuff?

[countryjake]

51. Cannot dignify your final sentence with any sort of serious reply.

Bwahahahahaha! Are you asking that question about the same man who is on record as publicly tweeting literally hundreds of inane statements, buffoonish retorts that, if any Democratic leader had ever made such damaging declarations, drastic legal proceedings would have begun immediately?!

As far as I know, it hasn't yet been revealed who the note taker could have been. But the way that NYTimes article reads, the person who wrote down those notes isn't necessarily the same person who read Trump's quotes to Matt Apuzzo, Maggie Haberman, or Matthew Rosenberg.

It just says the White House document was circulated as the official account of the meeting.

[kytngirl]

57. Don't Care!!!

I don't care who took the notes. Spicer didn't deny it was said. He spun some BS about needing to reassure Russia blah, blah, blah. Therefore the leaker spoke to the truth. We'll probably find out that Spicer has been "Deep Throat" all along. Trumps makes him go out there to tell a bunch of lies and then he (Trump) comes along a day or so later and says something completely different. Yeah, if I was Spicer I'd leak every tidbit I heard because the idiot doesn't deserve loyalty!

[madaboutharry]

5. Trump has no self-discipline, no filter

Maybe Kushner and Ivanka should put duck tape over his mouth before they let him off the plane when it lands in Saudi Arabia and he has the opportunity to start blabbing.

[Ilsa]

12. Or hand-gesturing. nt

[dalton99a]

27. Trump is a criminal with an IQ less than his age

[Grammy23]

35. Straight jacket and duct tape for tRump.

[maddiemom]

43. Where have the Kushners been this week?

They seem pretty quiet.

[sheshe2]

58. Lawyering up?

[Kleveland]

6. Wow.... that's rich...

Who is that wacko calling a nut job?

Talk about psychological projection...

Holy crap... I am verklempt!

[sprinkleeninow]

22. I am ssssttttssshhh...I can't produce words intelligibly about this.

Heavenlies, you do hear this, DON'T YOU??!!

[wiggs]

7. !!!......this strikes me as damning, damnable, and deplorable. Lots of play in

the media please. This is not going to endear him with the FBI or with normal gop congresspersons.

[barbtries]

8. shooting himself in the foot

he should be toast. Mueller an anxious nation looks to you.

[hamsterjill]

42. Yeah, Trump did kind of screw himself, didn't he???!!! LOL

I should stop laughing. But I don't intend to do that.

[brooklynite]

9. 3 PM...the Times must be starting the weekend early.

[geek tragedy]

14. right after AF1 took off for the other side of the Atlantic nt

[moonscape]

10. Stunning. 45 said that and officials admitted it? n/t

[LiberalLoner]

11. News came out right as the plane lifted off, LOL!

Great timing!

[BumRushDaShow]

16. They (NYT & WaPO) gave him a Bon Voyage troll

and are probably ready for the am tweet storm!

[dalton99a]

24. Delicious.

[Grammy23]

36. Do we think this was coincidental?

A nice little tweak in the nuts...so he won't forget what's waiting on him when he gets back.....IF he comes back. I think he is gonna bail. Just go beg Putin to let him take up residence.

[dchill]

53. And what would Putin do with him?

Put him to work as a tea taster?

[sprinkleeninow]

67. Good answer! Good answer! (Family Feud.) They do fancy their chai from a samovar. Could also use him

as waitstaff in a Russian tea room. 😋😆

[CentralMass]

54. +1

[Xipe Totec]

15. Meanwhile in the FOX Alt Universe, all the news are about Anthony Weiner. nt

[nolabear]

19. Can we just create a SuperPulitzer for NYT and WaPo?

They are the hope of the nation right now.

In other news, that man is like the kid in the family who wants so badly to impress the bullies he lets them in to rob the house.

[countryjake]

31. Right? I was reading at the Times site, that news popped up

right above the piece I'd been reading, then, when I checked on the tab I had open to a Wash Post article...BREAKING NEWS!

It's dueling banjos, I tell ya! Loving every single minute of it. The Hope of the Nation!

[irisblue]

20. Political acumen and talent abounds in the orange man. nt

[MFM008]

21. maggot and the spawns

[SunSeeker]

26. Trump was bragging, again. He seems quite proud of being able to fire the FBI Director.

He thinks that impresses the Russians. Of course, Putin would not be impressed. Putin would have given Comey some lethal "tea," not stupid Twitter threats. Comey is still alive and will testify.

[Bleacher Creature]

28. Please let there be tape!!

[TNLib]

29. What's just bizarre is he said he's not under investigation anymore because he fired comey

Is he really that detached from reality? or was he trying to con the Russians too?

[montanto]

30. How long has he been gone? 20 minutes? Lol

[JHan]

32. lololololololol

[herding cats]

33. Can you imagine what it must be like to be trapped on that plane with Trump right now?

By mid flight they'll be fighting over the parachutes.

[Blue Idaho]

37. Any chance he'll make a run for a Russian embassy during his trip abroad

And ask for asylum?

[furtheradu]

39. Awww.. it's cute that he thinks that.

DA! it didn't "take the pressure off"..but thanks for confessing to Obstruction of JUSTICE! trump, you ain't seeen PRESSURE yet! YiiiHaaaa!

DumA$$!

[maddiemom]

40. It takes one (crazy nut job) to know---

absolutely NOTHING about anyone else's sanity.

[Marie Marie]

41. In other words:

Wink Wink - "Now we can go back to all our dirty deeds without interference". Just letting them know where his loyalties lie. This man is a Traitor.

[brooklynite]

44. White House response

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

71. Yeah sure Spicey, that's the real problem. Those damn leaks!

The lies are so blatant it's insulting.

[paleotn]

47. Yes, you most certainly are STILL under investigation.

twit!

[forgotmylogin]

52. "I'm not under investigation."

That's going to be the mantra he babbles over and over rocking in a straitjacket on the floor of a padded cell if this keeps up.

[onetexan]

48. pot calling the kettle black?

one gop nutjob calling another gop nutjob

[TomCADem]

50. You Just Can't Make This Up...

...no wonder the White House has not accepted Russia's offer of the transcripts.

[JuJuYoshida]

56. IS ANYONE REMOTELY SURPRISED HE'S AN ACTUAL FREAKING TRAITOR?

Yup and the White House is not saying that didn't happen (because there is probably a recording of it).

They're saying he was "joking".

Da.

Ryan was also "joking" about "no leaks", right? It's all smiles at the GOP these days.

In other news, Kushner is going down now.

[George II]

59. That's gonna endear Comey to trump when the testimony starts!

[BadGimp]

60. WE ARE SOOOOOOO SCREWED!

[deurbano]

61. McMaster also witnessed this? Does he consider this communication with Russian officials

"wholly appropriate," too? A lot of reputations going down with this ship... (The ones that weren't underwater to start with.)

[wishstar]

62. Russians heard true explanation of Comey firing before the American people knew

At time he told Russians, WH was trying to claim Rosenstein had recommended the firing based on the memo.

Outrageous that he would insult our top law enforcement official in that way to Russians.

[BumRushDaShow]

63. It's his braggadocious personality

He flips around like an exaggerating caricature of a big shot.

[dalton99a]

65. +1

[Raven123]

64. Hmmm, I wonder if the source of this is the Pence branch of the administration

The VP is probably salivating over possibilities.

[ginnyinWI]

69. this is how I see it:

Donnie is a little, lost, unloved boy who always wanted his daddy's approval and didn't get it. He now sees Putin (and maybe all those other autocrats) as his daddy who can finally give approval. So he chums up with the Russians and acts like he's one of them, the elites, and speaks down against his FBI director, who he sees as one of the "help". "See, boys, I can handle this annoying problem!" Always looking for approval and acceptance. Those pictures perfectly captured that.

Never mind that in reality it isn't his daddy, it is the Russians, our adversaries (yeah the same ones bombing Syria to smithereens).

[L. Coyote]

70. K & R

Trump's New Impeachable Offenses: Obstruction of Justice, Conspiracy, Abuse of Power

[ProudProgressiveNow]

72. K&R nt

[pansypoo53219]

73. WHEN YOU are not normal, normal is WEIRD.

too much time spent among other rich odd idiots.