Trump Appears Unlikely to Hinder Comey's Testimony About Russia Inquiry

[GBizzle]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Trump does not plan to invoke executive privilege to try to prevent James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, from providing potentially damaging testimony to Congress on statements the president made about an investigation into his former national security adviser, two senior administration officials said Friday.

Mr. Trump could still move to block the testimony next week, given his history of changing his mind at the last minute about major decisions. But legal experts have said that Mr. Trump has a weak case to invoke executive privilege because he has publicly addressed his conversations with Mr. Comey, and any such move could carry serious political risks.

One of the administration officials said Friday evening that Mr. Trump wanted Mr. Comey to testify because the president had nothing to hide and wanted Mr. Comey’s statements to be publicly aired. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a decision that had not been announced.

A White House spokesman did not respond to a message seeking comment. Earlier on Friday, the White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, would not say what Mr. Trump planned to do.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/us/politics/trump-comey-russia.html

[NanceGreggs]

1. He has no choice ...

... but for Comey to testify - and he knows it.

Now that he has his own lawyer advising him, I am sure that lawyer explained how bad the optics would be. Many people would see any further attempt to silence Comey as pretty much an admission of guilt, and it would further establish a pattern of obstruction.

Baby's in the corner. Bigly.

[cstanleytech]

5. Well that and or it was also explained to him that whatever Comey says wont matter as the

Repugnants assured him that if it moves to impeachment they will arrange it to fall one or more votes short in the Senate to protect him.

[NCjack]

11. "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters,"

and that includes the Repugs the U.S. House of Representatives. The fact is, #45 is too valuable to Ryan and McConnell to impeach and convict on such a "trivial" matter.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

16. You are right, impeachment would not make it to consideration by a puke-controlled House committee.

[Egnever]

22. It would further the case for obstruction of justice no?

[SunSeeker]

2. Trump has already previewed his "defense": Comey is a "nutjob."

He will try to get the public to disregard what Comey says by portraying him as a deranged disgruntled employee.

[Adrahil]

23. Yup, and further....

By having a minion give the "he has nothing to hide" talking point, he can then claim that Comey is lying. No one with any critical thinking skills will believe Trump, but they are called Deplorables for a reason.

[truthisfreedom]

3. Mere mortals cannot predict what prezzident chucklenuts will do.

Articles like this are completely silly when it comes to the manboy who has no boundaries. He's a whimster.

[C Moon]

4. The GOP is a party of traitors. They've been trying to hide behind the red/white/blue...

But it's now more evident than ever, that they don't care about the U.S.
The GOP's only concern is money.
NOTHING stands before their money.
And if that's not obvious to those who vote Republican and are not in the 1%, then good fucking luck with your lives...boneheads.

[cstanleytech]

6. And power, dont forget the power as well as they care about that as well and they have proven

by their actions regarding their unwillingness to appoint an independent investigator to look into the Russian scandal to be willing to collude with a foreign government as long as it leads to them gaining more power.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. "They've been trying to hide behind the red/white/blue..."

Now they are hiding behind the white/blue/red...

[C Moon]

15. :D

[Roy Rolling]

7. Unlikely?

That makes it a sure bet Trump will invoke executive privilege. He will do it because it is a worthless strategy----exactly like every bumbling move he's made so far.

He will blame his attorney saying his lawyer advised him to do it, and it is the only delay tactic he has left. Delay, delay, delay. It's not just a disgraced Texas Congressman anymore.

[underpants]

9. Spot on. Many. Are the mistake of applying law, reason and civility to him.

You are dead on-a last minute change delays the impact of the testimony and they think sidetracks the whole thing. Suing or countersuing or just using the courts (or the threat of using them) has been part of his M. O. going back to Roy Cohn.

[Doug the Dem]

8. I hope the NYT is Right

I put NOTHING past Cheeto Jesus.

[ananda]

10. Legally, 45 cannot block Comey's testimony.

45 has already talked about the Comey issue publicly,
meaning that executive privilege has been waived.

[NastyRiffraff]

14. That's exactly right

but just because it's the law doesn't mean that Dump will follow it. I'm no Comey fan but I'm counting the hours to his testimony. We'll see what Dump the Bumbler does. I don't trust him to follow any law, let alone be concerned with the optics. This is a man who said he could shoot someone in broad daylight and get away with it. He really does believe he's above the law. And his Deplorables will support him whatever he does, including shooting someone (as long as they're black or brown, or a liberal).

[Turbineguy]

13. No doubt they are working on questions

to taint evidence and credibility of a key witness for future inquiries.

[bettyellen]

17. Unable, is more the truth. If he could, he would, but he opened the door for this and no judge

Would support him claiming privilege. He knows that but is playing games.

[TomCADem]

18. Only Reason Is Because It Would Put Republicans in Congress in Tough Spot

Comey would likely testify anyways, and Democrats would be happy to ask questions irrespective of Trump's claim of privilege. Thus, Republicans in Congress would then have to be in the awkward position of enforcing the President's claim of Executive Privilege by cancelling the hearings, which would make them look complicit in the cover-up. I think the delay was because Trump was feeling out whether Republicans in Congress were willing to save his ass like Nunes.

[Doitnow]

19. I think Dump is delaying saying he will block Comey from the hearing so that

a massive protest can't be mounted in the meantime. I'm surprised there were as many people the March for Truth across the world. I didn't hear about it till today.

[YOHABLO]

20. Much of his testimony will be: ''because of an on going investigation

... he won't be able to answer that question" What do you want to bet.

[Kool Kid]

21. Its over

Eventually with all the noise Trump will fall he can not hide for long

[madokie]

24. If I was a betting man

I'd bet good money that he'll try his damnedest to stop Comey