James Comey's Testimony

I got up early today (PST) to watch James Comey’s testimony in its entirety. I then went back to bed and am writing this without the benefit of listening to the pundits. Here is what I think about Comey’s testimony.

First of all, I thought Comey was extremely impressive. He came across as professional and honest. In other words, I think he spoke the truth. He didn’t attempt to embellish or add anything, and he admitted he could have been wrong about his impressions of what President Trump said to him.

I think Trump’s image in the eyes of the public will take a big hit as a result of  Comey’s words today. No doubt the President’s detractors in the Democratic party and the media will herald today as a decisive victory in their efforts to bring about impeachment. I don’t think so.

As I see it, Comey left a lot of room for Trump to say that he did not mean to order Comey to let Michael Flynn of the hook or shut down the Russian investigation. Is expressing a “hope” a way of giving an order? Yes and no but words have legal implications here.

Unless Trump admits everything Comey said was true and that he was indeed trying to force him to close the above two investigations, it becomes one man’s word and interpretation of the conversations against the word of the other man. While I believe Comey is speaking the truth, I cannot convict Trump in a legal sense (I am not a lawyer.) If there is no corroborative evidence  (like audiotape) of their conversations, then it is indeed, he said-he said. Comey’s notes, of course, should be produced just as police must preserve their notes for court. But even a liar can write down notes to support their lies, so they are not evidence per se.

For the most part, I think the senators on the committee on both sides were trying to get to the truth. The one embarrassment in my eyes was John McCain. It pains me to say it because while I don’t care for him as a senator, he is a military hero. I thought his line of questioning  about the Clinton emails was well, embarrassing. I think he really needs to retire.

I even think I can now more accept Comey’s rationale for stepping into the role of prosecutor when he made his July announcement  ( and subsequent announcements) on the email case. His testimony today was not very complimentary to Loretta Lynch and her performance. I still think, however, that Comey was wrong in his decision not to prosecute Mrs Clinton though there is no question that he was in a uniquely complex position given that the FBI was investigating a presidential candidate with the election drawing near. It was unprecedented. Nonetheless, Comey laid out a strong case against Mrs Clinton then said there was no case. It was bizarre. In addition, the “interview” of Mrs Clinton was a joke given the manner and circumstances in which it was carried out. For that, I can never excuse Comey.

To sum up, I think Comey badly damaged Trump’s public standing, but I don’t think he provided a strong case for impeachment. I do think that the President needs to take stock of how he is running things and start getting some good legal advice. Otherwise, he is on  a course to eventual impeachment. It is time to start acting presidential. There are things you can do as president of a business that you cannot do as president of the United States. He needs to understand that and understand it fast.