@Finn dAbuzz,
Finn dAbuzz wrote:
The president can order it around. It's part of the Executive branch, not a separate branch of the government. The president is the chief of the Executive branch.
Jim Comey took it upon himself to close the HRC case and it's questionable as to whether or not he had such discretion, but if he does and the Attorney General does, than so does the president who is their boss. His subordinates don't have greater powers than him.
And again, despite Comey's interpretation, the alleged comments made by Trump to him don't clearly constitute an order. Now you can allege that Trump very carefully chose his phrasing so he could deny he was issuing an order (and he quite possibly did) but that sort of goes against the cartoon of a blustering bully incapable of subtlety that you and your friends always wish to paint him as.
As much as you would like to think Comey nailed Trump, he didn't. He insulted him and portrayed him a very unflattering manner, but what else is new?
A strong argument can be made that the facts and reasonable inferences that can be drawn from the facts disclose that Trump endeavored to influence a criminal investigation.
Trump orchestrated private meetings and conversations with Comey making sure there were no witnesses to the pressure and abuse of power that Trump wielded in those meetings.
Trump threatened Comey's position as director of the FBI along the lines of do you like your job? would you like to keep your job?
Trump informed Comey that the Flynn/Russia criminal investigation was a cloud over his presidency.
Trump made it clear that he wanted Comey's loyalty and expected Comey's loyalty.
Trump made it clear that he wanted Flynn exonerated and the criminal investigation ended.
Trump was not required to "ORDER" Comey to do anything. A mere endeavor to influence the course criminal investigation is unlawful conduct.
When it became clear to Trump that he wasn't going to get what he wanted when he wanted it, he fired Comey.
To justify the firing, AG Sessions (who acted contrary to his recusal) and the Deputy AG fabricated an alleged (and utterly ridiculous) justification, re: Comey's handling of the investigation into Hillary's private email server controversy.
Trump then threw Sessions, et al., under the bus concerning the fabricated justification and admitted he had already decided to fire Comey because of the ongoing investigation into Russia meddling in our election.
We may reasonably find (beyond any reasonable doubt in our minds) that Trump's aim (intent) was to influence the investigation, and if Comey wouldn't do what he wanted (i.e., make the investigation go away), then the threat would become a reality (Comey loses his job and serves as an example to others who don't immediately give Trump what he wants. He can threaten the next guy in the same manner.
Trump has nailed himself. Whether he will be held accountable remains to be seen.
