Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

senseandsensibility

(23,979 posts)
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:13 PM Thursday

Whether we like James Comey or not is not the point

I agree with Carol Leonnig on MSNBC that his indictment against the wishes of career prosecutors and the forced resignation of one is "chilling."

If we care about democracy and the rule of law, this should scare all of us. Selective prosecution is dangerous. If we shrug when they come for Comey, do you think they'll stop there?

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Whether we like James Comey or not is not the point (Original Post) senseandsensibility Thursday OP
I'm angry, not scared pfitz59 Thursday #1
I hope this stiffens the Dems' spine senseandsensibility Thursday #2
This! LuvLoogie Thursday #18
You can't lie to Congress. Groundhawg Thursday #3
Did I say you could? senseandsensibility Thursday #4
it's got NOTHING to do with lying to Congress Skittles Thursday #7
It has everything to do with lying to Congress Groundhawg Thursday #14
NOPE Skittles Thursday #22
No, it doesn't, MarineCombatEngineer Thursday #25
It hasn't a damn thing to do with lying to Congress. Ocelot II Yesterday #32
Only Republicans can lie to Congress Progressive dog Thursday #8
Comey being an interesting subversion mr715 Thursday #15
Comey is a Republican. Groundhawg 14 hrs ago #40
Good grief! What happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? hamsterjill Thursday #13
He didn't iemanja Thursday #16
Who, besides this illegitimate DoJ, says he did?. MarineCombatEngineer Thursday #24
Really? No shit? MarineCombatEngineer 21 hrs ago #36
One thing is clear. Whoever bronxiteforever Thursday #5
Trump might send his loser lawyer to an ICE prison newdeal2 Thursday #10
I think popsdenver Thursday #19
I can't get past "HILLARY'S EMAILS" but I get your point, and it's legit. Miles Archer Thursday #6
The most RIDICULOUS thing is Bondi accused Comey some_of_us_are_sane Thursday #9
We shouldn't be asked that question -- Comey should. W_HAMILTON Thursday #11
I don't want to hear another damn thing about Comey's mishandling of the Clinton investigation. Ocelot II Yesterday #33
I REPEAT: W_HAMILTON 7 hrs ago #41
K&R spanone Thursday #12
Authoritarianism thrives with the consent of the people. iemanja Thursday #17
Just wondering if Comey is now having any regrets for sabotaging Hillary? dlk Thursday #20
I don't care. Ocelot II Yesterday #34
Wasn't Jason Chaffetz the one who leaked Comey's "Hillary's emails" letter to the press? FakeNoose Thursday #21
I remember Comey breaking protocol soldierant Thursday #23
Regarding Comey dcmfox Thursday #26
Somehow or another we have to find a way to fix this shit - not sure how at this point. walkingman Thursday #27
I watched CNN Kaitlin Collins questioning a former DOJ official. SleeplessinSoCal Thursday #28
Exactly. I no longer give a single fuck about what Comey did wrt the 2016 election. Ocelot II Thursday #29
This is totally of control. The do nothing Congress needs to finally do something. OLDMDDEM Yesterday #31
of course you're right, but there's a karma element at play ecstatic Thursday #30
I have no use for Comey, who caused this whole shit show, but I agree. NNadir Yesterday #35
Absolutely, we must stand up to tyranny. Free speech applies to all or to none. Demsrule86 20 hrs ago #37
Yes, we are in chilling times. Aristus 20 hrs ago #38
Everything you said about Comey is true, but it's not about him. senseandsensibility 6 hrs ago #42
K&R UTUSN 19 hrs ago #39

Skittles

(167,691 posts)
7. it's got NOTHING to do with lying to Congress
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:37 PM
Thursday

it's all about Trump weaponizing the government to target whoever the fuck he wants

Skittles

(167,691 posts)
22. NOPE
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 10:25 PM
Thursday

IT IS BUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLSHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

MarineCombatEngineer

(16,020 posts)
25. No, it doesn't,
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 11:03 PM
Thursday

it's all about Been A Dick Donald's revenge tour, not lying to Congress and that you can't see that is quite interesting.

Ocelot II

(127,421 posts)
32. It hasn't a damn thing to do with lying to Congress.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 12:19 PM
Yesterday

Just aside from the fact that Comey didn't lie to Congress, this is all about intimidation and harassment. This prosecution will crash and burn, but not before Comey has to spend a lot of money on his defense and get dragged through the whole miserable process, with his and his family's lives thrown into chaos. Nobody wants to have to deal with that, and Comey is being made an example. The eventual outcome isn't the point of it all.

Progressive dog

(7,539 posts)
8. Only Republicans can lie to Congress
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:42 PM
Thursday

and only then if they tell the lies that Trump wants them to tell.

mr715

(1,995 posts)
15. Comey being an interesting subversion
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 09:31 PM
Thursday

given that his lies were what Trump wanted, but then he started being a bit more honest and he lost some appeal.

hamsterjill

(16,590 posts)
13. Good grief! What happened to "innocent until proven guilty"?
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 09:04 PM
Thursday

Even Comey is afforded that. The fact that the former prosecutors REFUSED to take this case forward until Trump appointment another "yes" idiot is quite telling in my opinion.

iemanja

(56,774 posts)
16. He didn't
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 09:41 PM
Thursday

He’s already been exonerated by the OIG. Why on God’s earth world you believe Trump?

MarineCombatEngineer

(16,020 posts)
36. Really? No shit?
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 10:57 PM
21 hrs ago

You really think that we didn't know that?
Bottom line is that this isn't about lying to Congress, it's all about Been A Dick Donald's thirst fpr revenge.

bronxiteforever

(10,786 posts)
5. One thing is clear. Whoever
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:21 PM
Thursday

tries the case for the US government better win. This is what we called in my last employment a “career decision”. Losing this case will most certainly bring license action, law suits and endless depositions. It will be interesting to see what schmuck gets stuck with the trial or appellate litigation because it won’t be any of TSF’s friends.

newdeal2

(4,203 posts)
10. Trump might send his loser lawyer to an ICE prison
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:46 PM
Thursday

If they win, they might get Pam’s job. Those are the stakes.

popsdenver

(528 posts)
19. I think
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 10:08 PM
Thursday

that every sub-human being that shows up to try to get in the Trump Cabal, better come dressed with a set of knee pads.........

AND, if you are a woman, you better get a TON of Lipo, Plastic Surgery from you face down, new hairstyle, and the pre-requisite Republican Women Silicone Rack" in a Double D........

Miles Archer

(20,303 posts)
6. I can't get past "HILLARY'S EMAILS" but I get your point, and it's legit.
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:36 PM
Thursday

The nature of this "indictment" and its Putin-esque, Kim Jong Un-esque stench transcends whether I like Comey or not.

I do not like Comey. That ****ing "emergency memo" days before the election about a NOTHINGBURGER was a deal-breaker on my ever "liking" Comey.

And, eventually, I'm confident Trump will choose a target we DO "like," and Bondi will leap into action, because SHE IS "Trump's Roy Cohn." He finally got what he wanted...a "top cop" who does not have the word "NO" in her vocabulary.

some_of_us_are_sane

(2,137 posts)
9. The most RIDICULOUS thing is Bondi accused Comey
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:43 PM
Thursday
of what TRUMP and his COHORTS DO THEMSELVES!

"holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people"


WHAT A CROCK OF SHIT!

W_HAMILTON

(9,553 posts)
11. We shouldn't be asked that question -- Comey should.
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:47 PM
Thursday

He personally overruled the black woman that was his superior, broke existing DOJ/FBI policy, chastised Hillary in a press conference announcing they WEREN'T charging her, buckled to MAGA subordinates that threatened to mutiny if he didn't pull the stunt he did just a few days before the election, etc.

We shouldnt be the ones answering those questions about Comey -- HIS ASS should be the one answering those questions about how he and his FBI treated Hillary.

We can both recognize that this is yet another of Trump's fascist strong-arm tactics while choosing to care about other victims that DIDN'T play a huge part in getting Trump elected in the first place.

Ocelot II

(127,421 posts)
33. I don't want to hear another damn thing about Comey's mishandling of the Clinton investigation.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 12:24 PM
Yesterday

That has nothing to do with the outrageous, Stalinist prosecution that is being done for no reason other than Trump wanting to punish someone who criticized him. If we don't come to Comey's defense regardless of his previous sins, the people we actually like and approve of will be next. There should be no distinction. I'm not a fan of either Comey or Bolton either, but I no longer give a single fuck about my own personal disapproval when people are being persecuted unjustly by a vengeful president and our Department of Justice is shitting on the law and the Constitution.

W_HAMILTON

(9,553 posts)
41. I REPEAT:
Sat Sep 27, 2025, 01:20 PM
7 hrs ago

We can both recognize that this is yet another of Trump's fascist strong-arm tactics while choosing to care about other victims that DIDN'T play a huge part in getting Trump elected in the first place.

dlk

(12,967 posts)
20. Just wondering if Comey is now having any regrets for sabotaging Hillary?
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 10:22 PM
Thursday

Is this what he really wanted?

FakeNoose

(38,753 posts)
21. Wasn't Jason Chaffetz the one who leaked Comey's "Hillary's emails" letter to the press?
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 10:22 PM
Thursday

What I remember was that Comey sent a private letter (or maybe a private email) to each member of Congress, letting them know he was re-opening the investigation. There was supposed to be no leaking to the press, but Chaffetz did leak it, 3 days before the election.

We all know what happened ... Chump won the election, and Chaffetz almost immediately resigned and took a cushy job somewhere outside of Washington.

soldierant

(8,958 posts)
23. I remember Comey breaking protocol
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 10:56 PM
Thursday

and spilling information i public about an "investigation in progress" - they they "were re-opening" because of "new evidence." I don't doubt that that was full of untruth, but in any case, it was presented so as to imply a boatload of untruth. But it wasn't to Congress - it was to the American people. I do not remember him lying to Congress specifically. Perhaps someone will refresh my memory.

If Trump's handpicked attorney tried three times to get an indictment from a grand jury and couldn't, it's because there is no case.

dcmfox

(533 posts)
26. Regarding Comey
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 11:08 PM
Thursday

I know the man is a patriot..period.

No I don't care for his views, but still a patriot

SleeplessinSoCal

(10,283 posts)
28. I watched CNN Kaitlin Collins questioning a former DOJ official.
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 11:25 PM
Thursday

Pretty sure from Trump DOJ. His defense of the indictment seemed to keep bringing up the "Sea Shells Incident". That was meant to show Comey's call for Trump's demise. If so waiters in restaurants around the country will be indicted.

Ocelot II

(127,421 posts)
29. Exactly. I no longer give a single fuck about what Comey did wrt the 2016 election.
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 11:34 PM
Thursday

It's absolutely irrelevant to the present situation. Trump's persecution of him - and that's what it is, persecution disguised as prosecution - is outrageous and unconscionable, and it won't stop with Comey. If I were still practicing law I'd be tempted to volunteer to help represent him (not that he'd want me). Next up? Adam Schiff, George Soros? Maybe Jack Smith? This has to stop, right now, and I only hope Comey can sue those bastards in the Department of Absolutely No Justice Whatsoever for malicious prosecution.

ecstatic

(34,940 posts)
30. of course you're right, but there's a karma element at play
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 11:41 PM
Thursday

that dims the outrage a little.

Believe me, I'm heartbroken about everything I'm seeing, including what's happening with comey.

However, I don't feel sorry for him. Thankfully, feeling sorry for comey isn't a necessary component for fighting trump's attempts to turn our country into a fascist dictatorship.

NNadir

(36,644 posts)
35. I have no use for Comey, who caused this whole shit show, but I agree.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 01:41 PM
Yesterday

It's not about him; it's about all of the Americans he fucked over with his irresponsibility.

Demsrule86

(71,235 posts)
37. Absolutely, we must stand up to tyranny. Free speech applies to all or to none.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 11:49 PM
20 hrs ago

The only saying... "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" is a principle that powerfully conveys the concept of freedom of speech. While it is widely and incorrectly attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire, the quote was actually written by English author Evelyn Beatrice Hall.

Aristus

(70,955 posts)
38. Yes, we are in chilling times.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 11:58 PM
20 hrs ago

And it’s Comey’s fucking fault. He and his “concerns” about Hillary Clinton. When karma bites you in the ass.

Whatever happens to him at the hands of the Trump Injustice Department, I hope he regrets reopening the ‘investigation’.

senseandsensibility

(23,979 posts)
42. Everything you said about Comey is true, but it's not about him.
Sat Sep 27, 2025, 02:00 PM
6 hrs ago

It's about the rule of law. Once it's gone, we are all at risk. We need to stand united against this.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Whether we like James Com...