jsteele wrote:It seems that you answered your own question and that we didn't come close to a Saturday night massacre. There is no indication that the President was involved which is pretty essential to the comparison and no indication of any orders being given.

Why are you trying to make a controversy out of the AG and Deputy AG's actions when the real oddity is the apparently violation by Comey of standard FBI procedures?

Anonymous wrote:Did Dems care that Comey broke FBI procedures when he announced the FBI would not recommend charges a few months ago? Or y'all only care now?

Anonymous wrote:Lynch did not have the moral standing to make any sort of demand.

She is a political hack as evidenced by her meeting with Bill Clinton for 40 minutes when they ostensibly discussed their grandchildren! This literally happened days before Hillary was interviewed by the FBI.

Given this, who is she to tell Comey anything about the ethics of how he should act?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
FWIW, I am inclined to agree with Carl Bernstein who said that something damning must have been discovered in the emails on Weiner's computer for Comey to have taken the step that he did.

Except that none of the information leaking out of the FBI since Comey sent the letter even remotely supports that assumption.

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:It seems that you answered your own question and that we didn't come close to a Saturday night massacre. There is no indication that the President was involved which is pretty essential to the comparison and no indication of any orders being given.
?
Why are you trying to make a controversy out of the AG and Deputy AG's actions when the real oddity is the apparently violation by Comey of standard FBI procedures?

Yes, there is no indication that Obama was involved but don't you think it is remarkable that Comey disregarded Lynch - who is his erstwhile boss - and proceeded to notify select members of Congress?

Are you aware of any other instances when a high ranking official in the federal government effectively challenged his superior on a matter of sensitivity and disregarded the superior's order?

I still think that you are trying to spin controversy where none exists (or where it actually exists you are ignoring it). There is no indication that the Justice officials did anything more than offer their opinions and allow Comey to proceed according to his own judgement. I'm sure that sort of thing happens all the time and doesn't get reported simply because it isn't newsworthy.

Traditionally, the FBI doesn't comment on investigations unless charges are recommended. Comey has twice violated that procedure. Both times it has created controversy. That think that is far more worth questioning.

The controversy based on news reports is that Lynch and Yates did not want Comey to send the letter - whether it was advisory or something more direct is not clear at this time though I am sure we will hear more about it down the line.

I think it is remarkable that Comey sent the letter contravening established procedure despite the views of his boss. I actually think it is quite stunning - and especially so if it was something more than a mere preference that Lynch expressed. Why he would have done so is a matter of speculation.

With regard to your comments about Comey's controversial actions, I think he felt an obligation to do so because of his prior statements before various committees. He was really in a no win situation. If he did not send the letter and the emails had incriminating information he would have been rightly accused by Republicans of having held back pertinent information.

FWIW, I am inclined to agree with Carl Bernstein who said that something damning must have been discovered in the emails on Weiner's computer for Comey to have taken the step that he did.

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:It seems that you answered your own question and that we didn't come close to a Saturday night massacre. There is no indication that the President was involved which is pretty essential to the comparison and no indication of any orders being given.
?
Why are you trying to make a controversy out of the AG and Deputy AG's actions when the real oddity is the apparently violation by Comey of standard FBI procedures?

Yes, there is no indication that Obama was involved but don't you think it is remarkable that Comey disregarded Lynch - who is his erstwhile boss - and proceeded to notify select members of Congress?

Are you aware of any other instances when a high ranking official in the federal government effectively challenged his superior on a matter of sensitivity and disregarded the superior's order?

I still think that you are trying to spin controversy where none exists (or where it actually exists you are ignoring it). There is no indication that the Justice officials did anything more than offer their opinions and allow Comey to proceed according to his own judgement. I'm sure that sort of thing happens all the time and doesn't get reported simply because it isn't newsworthy.

Traditionally, the FBI doesn't comment on investigations unless charges are recommended. Comey has twice violated that procedure. Both times it has created controversy. That think that is far more worth questioning.

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:It seems that you answered your own question and that we didn't come close to a Saturday night massacre. There is no indication that the President was involved which is pretty essential to the comparison and no indication of any orders being given.
?
Why are you trying to make a controversy out of the AG and Deputy AG's actions when the real oddity is the apparently violation by Comey of standard FBI procedures?

Yes, there is no indication that Obama was involved but don't you think it is remarkable that Comey disregarded Lynch - who is his erstwhile boss - and proceeded to notify select members of Congress?

Are you aware of any other instances when a high ranking official in the federal government effectively challenged his superior on a matter of sensitivity and disregarded the superior's order?

jsteele wrote:It seems that you answered your own question and that we didn't come close to a Saturday night massacre. There is no indication that the President was involved which is pretty essential to the comparison and no indication of any orders being given.
?
Why are you trying to make a controversy out of the AG and Deputy AG's actions when the real oddity is the apparently violation by Comey of standard FBI procedures?