Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Comey’s Comeuppance Cometh
John Solomon is one plugged-in reporter. I started to see chatter on social media about DOJ IG Horowitz referring people, including Comey, for criminal prosecution and find that Solomon already has an article up on it. In the referral being reported, Comey leaked classified information for political purposes and personal gain, and then lied about it when interviewed, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute him.
Given that article says DOJ did not want to “make its first case against the Russia investigators with such thin margins” (not enough evidence of Comey’s intent to violate the law), sounds like they may have what they consider more serious, better case(s) on other charges … like FISA abuse maybe?
The Hill published a brief article back in May that outlined three likely inquiry streams for Barr’s various DOJ investigations to pursue:
1) whether there was sufficient justification under existing guidelines for the FBI to have started an investigation
2) whether Comey’s team obeyed long-established investigative guidelines while conducting the investigations and, specifically, if there was sufficient, truthful justification to legally conduct electronic surveillance of an American citizen (FISA abuse)
3) whether Comey was unduly influenced by political agendas of the previous administration’s DNI, CIA director, and attorney general. A particular area of concern: the use by the FBI of confidential human sources, either its own or the CIA’s.
Word on social media is that Horowitz is referring several of former bureau leadership.
Wonder how this will play out…fully expect Dems to trash Horowitz. Does Comey then play victim? Will the adverse findings of professionals put a dent in his public moralizing?
Published in General
First like. Yes, I like the idea of Tall Rabbit in the dock. My impression is that he’s of limited intelligence, but I’ve never really heard him speak. I look forward to hearing him squeal.
If there are finally going to be prosecutions of these Deep State goons for their attempted coup, there will be a large number of Americans caught completely by surprise, because the Press has spent the last three (or more) years presenting these traitors as paragons of virtue.
Alternatively, the Press will have an easier time selling it as the President going after his enemies without cause, because they’ve spent the last three (or more) years convincing the public that these coup-plotters are above reproach.
Have not been impressed by Comey’s personal ability or inclination to hold his tongue. Amazing that he has even had a security clearance. He thinks so much of himself that when pressure on him to implicate others builds, there will be a flood.
Here’s the problem. He lies at a level equal to Michael Cohen so that says his testimony in a court might not hold up. But let’s get the names of the crooks anyway.
Sadly, @drewinwisconsin is right. If the press covers it at all, it will just be Orange Man Bad finding a new (“UNPRECENDENTED!!”) way to destroy our democracy. And it will somehow be racist, as well.
This is a good reason to prosecute so that the reveal is by the judiciary not the executive.
I really hope that when it’s official President Trump’s remarks include some kind of reference to this is how a by the book, professional investigation should be conducted. No dawn raids in riot gear with guns drawn, CNN cameras recording, sweeping up all his lawyers’ stuff with no attorney/client privilege…just this:
People need to see how the law works, properly applied. No more, no less…just the law. As the Mueller investigation gets farther in the rear view mirror, President Trump would do himself and the country a big favor by increasing comments on doing what’s right – what our laws justly applied require – and decreasing them on being vindicated.
Thanks for this fine post, @mim526! From the articles and your comments, it looks like everyone is trying to make sure that all their work is thorough and convincing. Not going for the low-hanging fruit, but instead making sure they have their information well documented and organized, and that their conclusions are clear and appropriate. We’ve waited this long; I’m willing to wait until the IG and AG are ready to disclose their information.
Comey and the rest will be exonerated because of Trump.
I’m a cynic on this. I’ve watched the political class escape prosecution from their crimes my whole life. They’re getting bolder about it all the time. Comey admits to criminal leaks. Clapper commits blatant perjury. We know Clinton mishandled classified information. These would send any citizen to prison. But the political class can boldly commit crimes, and they know they’ll always escape prosecution. I wish it were different, but it’s not. I won’t believe anything will happen to them until I see them behind bars in orange jumpsuits. This is wishcasting. No question the law is applied unequally in this country. There’s punishment for you and me, and nothing but clear skies for the political class.
Great post title! I literally love alliteration.
You make legitimate points, @drewinwisconsin–except it would be nice to imagine that these people will finally pay a price as part of the swamp draining. Aren’t these kinds of despicable actions precisely (or at least one of the reasons) that Trump was elected?? Also, I believe in AG Barr. I assume that most of the steps he takes will not be subject to Congressional approval. The more the Dems and the media try to discredit him with the wealth of data, the more idiotic they will look. Are they really prepared to go that far to maintain the deep state? Maybe yes, but maybe no.
But the press and the Dems (no daylight between them) don’t even consider the election to be legitimate.
Yes. All that matters is the narrative whipped up by CNN, et al. That’s what the average citizen will hear. Facebook/Google/Twitter will ensure they hear nothing different. Most don’t actively seek out alternative news sources. They just absorb what the left dishes out to them through their official mouthpieces.
Sorry, I’m so cynical. But I’m soooooo cynical. None of these criminals will face consequences.
Andy McCarthy on his latest podcast guessed that there would be no prosecutions.
I’m thinking there will be only if they have a pretty airtight case with alot of irrefutable evidence. But, I do think Barr is going to do something because he knows he has to put the “Justice” back into DOJ for Americans. I keep going back to that declassification authority he has…and now Ratcliffe nominated for top intelligence position knowing where some of the bones are buried having seen some classified stuff himself with Gowdy. Could be a case of “let the documents speak for themselves” with as few redactions as possible.
Durham is doing due diligence far as I can tell and asking the difficult questions. Read the other day where he quietly contacted Mifsud’s attorney to question Mifsud.
Will there be any consequences at all? Firings? Demotions? Loss of classification levels?
Slap on the wrist, followed by lucrative “political analyst” positions at CNN.
Oh, and auto-hagiographies artificially boosted to best-seller lists.
Most of the ones we know are already gone from the FBI. The full truth needs full disclosure to the public. There are only two ways I can think of for that to happen. @bobthompson is right and the judiciary is the best way to handle this if they can make a good enough case. The other is declassify and publish documents. Barr is not going to do a Mueller and issue a non-exoneration report, and he’s right not to. Prosecutors should either put up or shut up.
I keep running across examples of how devious the last administration was. For example, in Obama’s second term they quietly submitted and got approved by FISA court changes that set the stage for broad sharing/receiving intel from foreign spying on Americans like what happened in 2016.
Another one: Obama changes longstanding DOJ succession rules before leaving office so that if (when) incoming AG recuses and before new nominations are approved, a US attorney loyal to him would be the one doing things like overseeing Special Counsel investigations.
Another one I recently read: Did you know Amazon (owned by owner of Washington Post) got a cloud contract with the govt so that their people have access to (and can move) NSA intelligence data to…say the CIA cloud…and who would know? BTW, some people think that’s how Brennan may have gotten some of the intelligence he was poring over in his secretive small groups.
I love the word “comeuppance.” Such a great word!
Comey will receive neither comeuppance nor reprimand. No member of the swamp will be punished despite the depth and breadth of their treasons.
I think Comey is going to walk. It’s sickening that the power who destroy everything, never serve time!
They tried to undo an election, and there is no consequence.
Sure it’s coming… sure. But it’s not.
Going to walk? Heck, he is going to monetize this and walk away with a bundle and as a hero.
One reason I refer to “if they can prove” is because from my perspective outside looking in it appears James Comey had his subordinates signing their names, taking action on alot of the nefarious activity.
People talk about Trump’s massive ego. And he most definitely has one: loud and proud, right out front. Rat finks like Comey hide theirs behind “Boy Scout” “rule of law” moralizing. I think one of his Achilles heel-type weaknesses is that ego, so whatever further monetary gain he gets if he avoids jail time, the guy is always gonna know that all his former employees in the FBI know a highly respected practitioner like Michael Horowitz has him pegged as maximum scum – a leaking liar who doesn’t know “rule of law” from a hole in the wall.
I want Comey, McCabe, Brennan, Clapper, the whole gang on trial for whatever laws the DOJ can make a good case for, and I want the maximum sentences if found guilty. I want it for justice; I want it for Flynn, Papadopoulos, Page, Manafort gag-ordered and months in solitary, Ted Stevens, Scooter Libby, 85,000 Arthur Andersen employees, and the many Americans whose lives were ruined by too aggressive federal prosecutors who left justice in the dust pursuing a win-at-any-cost. But I don’t think it’s chump change for their former peers/colleagues to see their old emperors have no clothes once their lying bubbles are officially burst.
Caveat: If they’re not going to prosecute for leaks, the leaks aren’t gonna stop. What better way to signal you’re serious than applying the rules at the top? Solomon’s article mentioned something about not wanting to seem petty…that kind of thinking has to stop. Follow. The. Law.
The leakers don’t want the leaks to stop. That is the source of their unregulated power. The “journalists” don’t want the leaks to stop. It beats working for a living.
Adding for the record this Twitter thread discussion about Comey’s defense/DOJ possible reason for not prosecuting Comey’s leaks. Comey’s clever about CYA in his dastardly deeds. This gives a small window of what DOJ faces prosecuting these high level people I view as straight up crooks. Law sure can get complicated in a hurry.
https://twitter.com/JohnWHuber/status/1157034985393668102
Since I think the Russia collusion effort against Trump and/or his campaign associates was a conspiracy in which Comey was a central figure, mainly the enabler not the mastermind, I hope that he will be charged with a serious felony for which he and his legal team sense a strong likelihood as provable and result in a plea deal with his testimony against other players.
Barr knows a future Democratic administration could go after him with trumped up charges.
Are we into the ‘Silver Rule’ here for those players with ‘skin in the game’?
I want that gig.
Friend: Hey dude, what are you up to these days?
Me: Ah, I’m working, pretty busy these days. I’m on a scrub team.
Friend: Like a toilet-cleaner?
Me: Kinda! Except I bring a hammer and a really, really strong magnet.
Friend: Huh?
Me: How ’bout them Red Sox!
By people placed in powerful posts?