Did it have no effect on the US election? For the record, I don't think it did (Comey's testimony likey changed the result) but there is a good argument to be made out of this.
Read the doc. It has a good overview of state-mandated propaganda and hacking attempts from Russia to undermine the election, how they targeted and gained access to DRC infrastructure since Jun 2015 and how information potentially damaging to Clinton was strategically leaked through Guccifer, DCLeaks.com, and WikiLeaks.
If you want more proof you'll have to wait for the original, highly classified assessment (sic) to be released.
Not if your plan is to position yourself on US assets - Russian billionaires in particular have been dropping shitloads of money on real state in the USA.
Getting leverage over the current POTUS is just a perk.
This. The reason that Trump is so condescending with Russia in general is not that he's in bed with the Kremlin but that it is in his best financial interests.
The problem arises when he ends up doing retarded stuff like asking Comey to drop an investigation on Flynn just because it might reflect poorly on him.
As an outsider i'm quite shocked that this isn't a bigger scandal than it is in the US. I think the only reason is a group of people are in flat-out denial when it comes to anything that might tarnish Trump's image.
From what I have seen and heard I don't think there was. If there was, you would think there would be other actions that POTUS would take to undermine the investigation.
Comey stated unequivocally, several times, that he inferred Trump was indeed asking him that. The number of euphemisms POTUS used over several conversations is quite staggering.
Comey did not state that there wasn't any obstruction. The guy was in fact super careful in that regard:
“I don't think it's for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct... I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning, but that's a conclusion I'm sure the special counsel will work towards to try and understand what the intention was there, and whether that's an offense.”
He also was exceedingly clear about Trump asking him to drop the Flynn investigation in more than one occasion.
Because what you think is obstruction of justice is not the definition of obstruction of justice. You are using words that you don't understand in a context you are completely unfamiliar with.
Funny, i never used that term. But i'll play: asking the head of the FBI to kill an open investigation into the NSA most definitely qualifies as obstruction of justice.
That this truthful information would help the president, and that Comey deliberately did not do it, are in my opinion why he was fired. It showed without a doubt that Comey's interests were at odds with those of the president and his administration.
Again, because i don't think this is clear enough. You do understand that the POTUS is not supposed to do this, right?
“I took it as a direction. It’s the President of the United States we me along, saying this is what he is hoping I’m going to do.”
Verbatim quote, after Comey explained how Trump repeatedly asked for the investigation into Flynn to be dropped. After "Let the Flynn matter go", "get rid off" or "lift this cloud" euphemisms run out quickly.
Slashdot Mirror
So, it is basically a cult of personality.
Did it have no effect on the US election? For the record, I don't think it did (Comey's testimony likey changed the result) but there is a good argument to be made out of this.
Read the doc. It has a good overview of state-mandated propaganda and hacking attempts from Russia to undermine the election, how they targeted and gained access to DRC infrastructure since Jun 2015 and how information potentially damaging to Clinton was strategically leaked through Guccifer, DCLeaks.com, and WikiLeaks.
If you want more proof you'll have to wait for the original, highly classified assessment (sic) to be released.
Not if your plan is to position yourself on US assets - Russian billionaires in particular have been dropping shitloads of money on real state in the USA.
Getting leverage over the current POTUS is just a perk.
What in the name of the good fuck are you talking about?
The ODNI went into some detail on the matter: https://www.nytimes.com/intera...
Never said it did; that doesn't mean that the attempt wasn't made. This is interference, not hacking.
This. The reason that Trump is so condescending with Russia in general is not that he's in bed with the Kremlin but that it is in his best financial interests.
The problem arises when he ends up doing retarded stuff like asking Comey to drop an investigation on Flynn just because it might reflect poorly on him.
As an outsider i'm quite shocked that this isn't a bigger scandal than it is in the US. I think the only reason is a group of people are in flat-out denial when it comes to anything that might tarnish Trump's image.
This is Cold War shit all over again.
See the email leak smear attempt just two days before the French presidential election for a more recent example.
That's a bit condescending of a position. Most cloud users do know that; you pay for the convenience not to fund and support a datacenter yourself.
No. Neither did Comey either, and he stressed this point several times over his testimony - that is a decision for Robert Mueller.
"Lack of loyalty"? The head of the FBI owes no "loyalty" to the goddamn POTUS. It works under the jurisdiction of the DOJ.
Ok, now i have no idea what the point you're trying to make is.
PS: Love the subtle shift from "undermine" to full "stop". Missed that the first time around. Well played.
No? No opinion then, thank you.
Ask Trump. He seems to believe it would: https://www.vox.com/2017/5/11/...
Oh, he can. Trump wouldn't last much as president though if he tries to pardon a staff member convicted for collusion with Russia though.
From what I have seen and heard I don't think there was. If there was, you would think there would be other actions that POTUS would take to undermine the investigation.
Like, dunno, firing the head of the FBI?
Yeah, we're all probably imagining things.
Comey stated unequivocally, several times, that he inferred Trump was indeed asking him that. The number of euphemisms POTUS used over several conversations is quite staggering.
Wow, you're definitely Fox News material.
Also: he did get fired.
Comey did not state that there wasn't any obstruction. The guy was in fact super careful in that regard:
“I don't think it's for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct... I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning, but that's a conclusion I'm sure the special counsel will work towards to try and understand what the intention was there, and whether that's an offense.”
He also was exceedingly clear about Trump asking him to drop the Flynn investigation in more than one occasion.
An impeachment will likely lead to President Ryan, not President Pence.
Awwww maaaaaaaaaaaan...
Because what you think is obstruction of justice is not the definition of obstruction of justice. You are using words that you don't understand in a context you are completely unfamiliar with.
Funny, i never used that term. But i'll play: asking the head of the FBI to kill an open investigation into the NSA most definitely qualifies as obstruction of justice.
That this truthful information would help the president, and that Comey deliberately did not do it, are in my opinion why he was fired. It showed without a doubt that Comey's interests were at odds with those of the president and his administration.
Again, because i don't think this is clear enough. You do understand that the POTUS is not supposed to do this, right?
“I took it as a direction. It’s the President of the United States we me along, saying this is what he is hoping I’m going to do.”
Verbatim quote, after Comey explained how Trump repeatedly asked for the investigation into Flynn to be dropped. After "Let the Flynn matter go", "get rid off" or "lift this cloud" euphemisms run out quickly.