Trump offered Kelly FBI director's job, demanded loyalty: report

[Judi Lynn]

BY ZACK BUDRYK - 08/31/20 07:31 AM EDT


President Trump offered the position of FBI director to then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly in exchange for a guarantee of personal loyalty, New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt writes in his upcoming book, “Donald Trump v. The United States.”

"Kelly immediately realized the problem with Trump's request for loyalty, and he pushed back on the president's demand," Schmidt writes, according to an excerpt obtained by Axios. "Kelly said that he would be loyal to the Constitution and the rule of law, but he refused to pledge his loyalty to Trump."

The incident reportedly occurred shortly after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who has claimed the president made a similar demand of him.

"In addition to illustrating how Trump viewed the role and independence of senior officials who work for him, the president's demand for loyalty tracked with Comey's experience with Trump," Schmidt writes, according to Axios.

More:
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/514369-trump-offered-kelly-fbi-directors-job-demanded-loyalty-report

[Renew Deal]

1. We should be happy he didn't offer it to kellyanne

What did Wray pledge go Trump?

[empedocles]

2. So all the trump appointees got on their knees before trump? Judges, including Scotus also?

[raging moderate]

4. Remember that odd Cabinet meeting Loyalty Ritual?

There was that Cabinet meeting that began with a lengthy ritual in which the camera went around the table of Cabinet officers. Each and every one of them recited a little statement extolling the virtues of Donald J. Trump, as he sat there nodding emphatically.

[LastDemocratInSC]

5. It was like the heads of the Five Families

gathering around a conference table in a social club in Queens, giving tribute to the Don, literally.

[raging moderate]

6. Yes, that was VERY Mafioso.

It was like a scene out of The Godfather.

[empedocles]

7. Seems that the mafia Dons had more self-respect than the abject submission of the trumpers.

Mafia don's protected their territory vigorously.

[Eugene]

3. *NOW* he speaks up about the flagrant corruption happening in front of him.