Renowned journalists Maggie Haberman and Matt Apuzzo discuss President Trump's comments about James Comey, the impact of recent revelations on his first trip abroad, the connection between breaking news and Comey's firing, and the lack of acceptance of legal consequences in real life.
President Trump described James Comey as a 'nut job' and claimed that his firing relieved pressure related to Russia, which raises concerns of obstruction of justice.
The President's comments in the Oval Office suggest that he may have intentionally tried to impede or undermine the investigation into his campaign, adding to the accusations of obstructing justice.
Deep dives
President Trump's comments to Russian officials on firing Comey
In a meeting at the White House, President Trump informed the Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador that he had fired FBI Director James Comey. He described Comey as a 'nut job' and claimed that his firing relieved pressure related to Russia. This revelation provides ammunition to critics who argue that the President obstructed justice by firing Comey while he was leading the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
The significance of the President's comments
The President's remarks in the Oval Office raise concerns that he intentionally tried to impede or undermine the investigation into his campaign. This adds to the chorus of voices accusing the President of obstructing justice. The circulation of transcripts or summaries of such meetings is a common practice in documenting and informing policy decisions, though they are not meant to be made public.
Possible intentions behind the President's comments
According to defenders of the President, his comments were part of a strategy to guilt Russia into making concessions on strategic issues such as Ukraine and Syria. By bringing up the firing of Comey, the President may have aimed to demonstrate that he had depoliticized the investigation and hoped to extract concessions from Russia. However, it is unclear whether this was a tactical move or simply the President speaking off the cuff.
The day after President Trump fired James Comey, the president told top Russian officials that in dismissing the F.B.I. director, whom he called a “nut job,” the pressure was “taken off.” Guests: Maggie Haberman and Matt Apuzzo, who broke the story. For more information on today’s episode, visit http://nyti.ms/2q2jcD5.
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