Republicans Cave in to James Comey

 

At first glance, the Republicans got their way in their “demand” that James Comey testify privately before Congress. Big deal.

The House Judiciary Committee also agreed to release the transcript within 24 hours so that Comey can release all or part of it to the public.

Is this supposed to be a win? So the public won’t get to see all the histrionics on video, but I’m sure committee members will make up for the lack of visual display through their expressions of outrage and sympathy for Mr. Comey.

I know that Republicans were afraid that due to his court filing, Comey would delay the issue until the new Congress came in and the testimony request would disappear.

Also, won’t Comey again be able to refuse to answer questions due to “security reasons”?

Maybe someday Republicans will stand up for truth and transparency. But not on Tuesday.

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  1. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Was the Jim Comey Book Tour prophetic?

    • #1
  2. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Susan Quinn: Also, won’t Comey again be able to refuse to answer questions due to “security reasons”?

    Not in closed session. At least in theory.

    • #2
  3. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    @columbo— we can hope! But between the Dems’ and Comey’s stall tactics during the questioning and the number of questions that need to be answered just by Trey Gowdy, it might last into next year!

    • #3
  4. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Percival (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn: Also, won’t Comey again be able to refuse to answer questions due to “security reasons”?

    Not in closed session. At least in theory.

    Right. And he has control over which parts of the transcript will be released. He could choose to answer the Committee and then delete those parts from the transcript before it’s released. Or not.

    • #4
  5. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    When you reference releasing the transcript does that include all of his testimony, or his testimony that does not include classified matters?

    • #5
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    When you reference releasing the transcript does that include all of his testimony, or his testimony that does not include classified matters?

    The news reports I read didn’t make that distinction. I suspect the House will withhold that information it deems classified. If Comey doesn’t agree with their assessment (he’ll probably want even more withheld), he can choose to withhold it from the parts of the transcript he releases to the public.

    • #6
  7. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    When you reference releasing the transcript does that include all of his testimony, or his testimony that does not include classified matters?

    The news reports I read didn’t make that distinction. I suspect the House will withhold that information it deems classified. If Comey doesn’t agree with their assessment (he’ll probably want even more withheld), he can choose to withhold it from the parts of the transcript he releases to the public.

    That makes me feel better.  I was actually more worried they would not release the unclassified part of the transcript since that would allow Comey to pull a Sid Blumenthal move.  When Sid appeared in front of Ken Starr’s grand jury he emerged and told the press that he had been asked salacious questions about the Clinton’s sex lives which the press then ran with and castigated Starr.  It was only month later when the transcript of the testimony was released that it became clear Blumenthal made it all up!

    Now the burden is on House R’s to ask intelligent and probing questions.  And hopefully they have someone who can speak well in public to counter Comey’s spin after it is over.  Perhaps they can ask Lindsay Graham to sit in?

    • #7
  8. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    Perhaps I’ve just been living in a cave, but can somebody kindly remind me why it’s so important to interview Comey (especially while the Republicans still hold the House)?

    • #8
  9. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):
    Now the burden is on House R’s to ask intelligent and probing questions. And hopefully they have someone who can speak well in public to counter Comey’s spin after it is over. Perhaps they can ask Lindsay Graham to sit in?

    I think Trey Gowdy learned  lot from the disastrous hearing with Hillary Clinton. I’d like to see him do a Strozk-like questioning!

    • #9
  10. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Mendel (View Comment):

    Perhaps I’ve just been living in a cave, but can somebody kindly remind me why it’s so important to interview Comey (especially while the Republicans still hold the House)?

    If he tells the truth, a lot of heads could roll, including people connected to the Steele dossier and still in the FBI. Much of that help could also come from the IG report upcoming, but I’d like to see Comey sweat.

    • #10
  11. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    Mendel (View Comment):

    Perhaps I’ve just been living in a cave, but can somebody kindly remind me why it’s so important to interview Comey (especially while the Republicans still hold the House)?

    It’s the last chance to get him on the record and pin his story down, at least in the House.

    • #11
  12. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    So in other words, now that the Republicans have control over all three legislative bodies for only a few more days – in a lame duck period where they could get away with more than usual – they’ve decided that embarrassing a guy whose career is already over for deeds that are three years old is more important than trying to pass legislation (like the border wall) that might actually affect the future?

    • #12
  13. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    Mendel (View Comment):

    So in other words, now that the Republicans have control over all three legislative bodies for only a few more days – in a lame duck period where they could get away with more than usual – they’ve decided that embarrassing a guy whose career is already over for deeds that are three years old is more important than trying to pass legislation (like the border wall) that might actually affect the future?

    No, this is a committee of the House.  The House could, if it wanted, try to pass legislation.  I have no idea if it is going to try.  But then why would the House break with tradition and do something useful now?

    Getting Comey on the record when he cannot use the excuse of classified information to avoid answering may be helpful for several reasons, (1) it may help unravel some of the remaining mysteries such as how and why the infiltration of the Trump campaign began, (2) who was involved in the decision making, (3) the role of foreign intelligence services (specifically the UK), (4) the decisions that went into the contorted phrasing of the FISA warrants, and (5) build a record that may be helpful if the new House moves ahead on impeachment.

    • #13
  14. DonG Coolidge
    DonG
    @DonG

    Mendel (View Comment):
    Perhaps I’ve just been living in a cave, but can somebody kindly remind me why it’s so important to interview Comey (especially while the Republicans still hold the House)?

    Comey committed a bunch of crimes and these should be brought to light.  The crimes include fraud, treason, conspiracy, leaking classified information.  He is the swamp and sunshine is needed.

    • #14
  15. Matt Bartle Member
    Matt Bartle
    @MattBartle

    I’m beginning to despair of ever finding out the whole truth about anything.

    • #15
  16. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Matt Bartle (View Comment):

    I’m beginning to despair of ever finding out the whole truth about anything.

    Me too, @mattbartle. That’s why I don’t want to give up. Once the year ends, we might as well resign ourselves to never knowing. It is all so despicable.

    • #16
  17. DonG Coolidge
    DonG
    @DonG

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Matt Bartle (View Comment):

    I’m beginning to despair of ever finding out the whole truth about anything.

    Me too, @mattbartle. That’s why I don’t want to give up. Once the year ends, we might as well resign ourselves to never knowing. It is all so despicable.

    Dan Bongino thinks the Senate intelligence committee is anti-Trump and that we should not expect anything from them.  Mark Warner is in the pocket of Russia and Diane Feinstein is in the pocket of China.   Come January, that leaves it all on the shoulders of IG Horowitz. 

    • #17
  18. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    DonG (View Comment):
    Dan Bongino thinks the Senate intelligence committee is anti-Trump and that we should not expect anything from them.

    Do you mean the House Judiciary Committee? What role will the Senate Intelligence Comm. play in all this?

    • #18
  19. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    DonG (View Comment):
    Dan Bongino thinks the Senate intelligence committee is anti-Trump and that we should not expect anything from them.

    Do you mean the House Judiciary Committee? What role will the Senate Intelligence Comm. play in all this?

    Since it is still controlled by Republicans it could play a role in the investigation of the Russian collusion fraud, if it chose to do so.

    • #19
  20. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Mendel (View Comment):

    So in other words, now that the Republicans have control over all three legislative bodies for only a few more days – in a lame duck period where they could get away with more than usual – they’ve decided that embarrassing a guy whose career is already over for deeds that are three years old is more important than trying to pass legislation (like the border wall) that might actually affect the future?

    Hopefully they’re more interested in doing something about the corruption and abuse at the DOJ. I wouldn’t count on their having the right priorities, but they’re not going to get anywhere with that without dealing with Comey. 

    • #20
  21. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    When you reference releasing the transcript does that include all of his testimony, or his testimony that does not include classified matters?

    Classified Redacted. Wasn’t that the point? So they could freely ask, and he could answer. It is to be scrubbed of classified before release. 

    Can’t remember where I read that…

    • #21
  22. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    This is one of those “Don’t ask a question unless you already know the answer” situations. Which doesn’t mean Comey’s going to give that answer and drop any bombshells at the hearing. But if the hearing is mainly to do prep work to counter whatever the Democrats in the House try to throw at Trump after they take over next month, it would really help here if the GOP committee members don’t do any grandstanding and get to the point on questions about both what Comey knew or did/didn’t do in connection with both Hillary and the Russian probe, and what he knew about Strzok, Page and McCabe and their efforts to spur on the narrative with Trump and collusion with Putin.

    • #22
  23. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Comey won’t be interviewed until Friday. Stay tuned.

    • #23
  24. Duane Oyen Member
    Duane Oyen
    @DuaneOyen

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    When you reference releasing the transcript does that include all of his testimony, or his testimony that does not include classified matters?

    The news reports I read didn’t make that distinction. I suspect the House will withhold that information it deems classified. If Comey doesn’t agree with their assessment (he’ll probably want even more withheld), he can choose to withhold it from the parts of the transcript he releases to the public.

    Comey can release transcripts, but so can the Committee- at times and contexts of their choosing- so ultimate control is still with the Committee, unless Comey perjures himself.  The key here was to be able to ask questions without Comey having an excuse to grandstand and refuse- and Comey knew he had no choice.  His ability to release transcripts is just a face-saving PR announcement.

    Calm down.

    • #24
  25. Justin Hertog Inactive
    Justin Hertog
    @RooseveltGuck

    Maybe the President will declassify everything at some point.

    • #25
  26. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Dog bites man.

    Lyin’ Ryan “caves” again, in latest episode of failure theater.

    • #26
  27. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Matt Bartle (View Comment):

    I’m beginning to despair of ever finding out the whole truth about anything.

    Me too, @mattbartle. That’s why I don’t want to give up. Once the year ends, we might as well resign ourselves to never knowing. It is all so despicable.

    No. The change in the Senate members will create the opportunity for real hearings in the Senate. We will see dueling committees in the two chambers, if the Republicans want to keep the Senate.

    • #27
  28. Clifford A. Brown Member
    Clifford A. Brown
    @CliffordBrown

    DonG (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Matt Bartle (View Comment):

    I’m beginning to despair of ever finding out the whole truth about anything.

    Me too, @mattbartle. That’s why I don’t want to give up. Once the year ends, we might as well resign ourselves to never knowing. It is all so despicable.

    Dan Bongino thinks the Senate intelligence committee is anti-Trump and that we should not expect anything from them. Mark Warner is in the pocket of Russia and Diane Feinstein is in the pocket of China. Come January, that leaves it all on the shoulders of IG Horowitz.

    No, because the members are changing with the new Congress. And the Senate Judiciary Committee will finally get rolling on the Clintons, DOJ and FBI.

    • #28
  29. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Republicans Cave in, This Time to James Comey

    FIFY

    • #29
  30. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    DonG (View Comment):
    Dan Bongino thinks the Senate intelligence committee is anti-Trump and that we should not expect anything from them.

    Do you mean the House Judiciary Committee? What role will the Senate Intelligence Comm. play in all this?

    Since it is still controlled by Republicans it could play a role in the investigation of the Russian collusion fraud, if it chose to do so.

    Sundance at CTH has written extensively on the idea that the SSCI is profoundly and bipartisanly corrupt and anti-Trump. For example,

    Corrupt Republican Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr Defending FISA Application, Trying to Hide SSCI Involvement in FISA “Spygate”

    Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty to Lying to SSCI…

    Senator Mark Warner: The SSCI is “Working Closely” With Robert Mueller…

     

    • #30
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