***** COMEY Testifies - Senate Judiciary - LIVE May 3 2017 *****

[L. Coyote]

Expect a partisan hearing, Republicans wanting to cyber lynch President Obama to politicize #TrumpRussia and Dems wanting to know more about the #TrumpRussia investigation.

Also on C-SPAN https://www.c-span.org/video/?427708-1/fbi-director-james-comey-face-renewed-questioning-russia-probe

Also on PBS Newshour http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/watch-live-fbi-director-comey-testify-senate-judiciary-committee/

Also on NY Times YouTube channel.

FBI Director James Comey will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing on FBI oversight on Wednesday, one day after both President Donald Trump and former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton criticized him.

The hearing before the Judiciary Committee, which is slated to start around 10 a.m., will not directly deal with the FBI's investigation of potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, though senators plan to ask the FBI director about it, the Associated Press reports.

[lamp_shade]

1. Thanks. Starts in 6 minutes.

[bdamomma]

2. thanks

[still_one]

3. My prediction is he will be as evasive as hell, and his testimony will be a nothing burger. Thanks

for the heads up though

[lamp_shade]

4. Senate Judiciary Committee members.......

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members

[ChoppinBroccoli]

5. Get Ready To Hear The Phrase, "I Can't Comment On An Ongoing Investigation" Ad Nauseum

Nothing of substance will come of this. The Republicans will spend all their time asking about Benghazi and the Democrats will get shut down on every question with Comey refusing to answer. Waste of time.

[MoonRiver]

47. He can't comment, per FBI protocol, UNLESS those comments are against a Democrat.

Then he can say whatever his partisan ass wants.

[malaise]

6. Will noun/verb/9/11 be implicated

you know the wannabe Sec of State?

[awesomerwb]

7. Not expecting much out of this but Al Franken

seems to be in a very good mood.

[L. Coyote]

8. TheHill: FBI Director Comey back in spotlight

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[malaise]

9. Grassley spinning away

Holy fugging shit

[bdamomma]

13. exactly.

geez, poo poo on dossier???? WTF?

[malaise]

17. Waiting for some one else to speak

Won't listen to this partisan fool

[L. Coyote]

10. Grassley "wild conspiracy theories" attack on Russia Dossier for his opening. What politics?

Sounds like we just started trump's criminal trial and this is his defense attorney's opening remarks.

[bdamomma]

11. I want to hear Senator Whitehouse

and Senator Franken on this.

[bigtree]

12. ridiculous Grassley speculating all over the place

...ask Comey a question, ffs.

[jpak]

15. and attacking Hillary

fuckwad

[Sculpin Beauregard]

20. I wish he would shut up instead of blathering. Not a

great speaker, either.

[L. Coyote]

31. The opening statement is the soundbite opportunity, making the political media.

Comey just swore to tell the truth and said he appreciates this "going to the dentist" experience opportunity.

[L. Coyote]

14. "We can't wait until this is all over." Grassley ... "partisan smear campaign"

Grassley is going after Clinton and AG Lynch now. Wow, the witch hunt has begun.

This is the offensive to take control of the #TrumpRussia narrative, for sure, before the Intelligence Committees' public hearings.

[L. Coyote]

21. Grassley: ISIS, Gays, Terrorists, bombs, violent crimes, threats,

Damn, scare mongering now.

[lamp_shade]

16. Feinstein can be brutal. I'm looking forward to her statement next.

[LOL Lib]

19. I'm going to die of boredom from Grassley before DF gets a turn.

[LOL Lib]

18. Fuck your obfuscation Grassley.

You old windbag piece of shit. STFU and ask the man a question.

[jpak]

22. And now it's TERRAH TERRAH TERRAH - go after them!

Russia?

[Kber]

23. I'm confused

I thought the hearing was supposed to be about the Russian interference in America's election??

[SticksnStones]

25. It's the annual over site meeting....

Dems will emphasize Russia, R's will dilute with everything they can think of...wouldn't be surprised if some R wants to spend his allotted time talking about the Kennedy assassination ~

[Kber]

28. Ah - thanks!

[LOL Lib]

29. Thanks for confirming my thoughts.

Maybe the R's will explain why Lincoln couldn't solve the Civil War problem with the help of Andrew Jackson's corpse.

[SticksnStones]

33. ..

[L. Coyote]

39. That's still classified and will only be discussed in a closed hearing.

[LOL Lib]

55. I love it.

[LOL Lib]

26. It's an ANNUAL oversight hearing of the FBI is how I understand it.

Supposed to help maintain integrity of FBI...not necessarily just about Russia. I thought the same as you, but that's clearly not the case. Hopefully something good will still come from it.

[L. Coyote]

27. This is the Judiciary Comm. Oversight hearing. All aspects of FBI under review.

[L. Coyote]

24. Feinstein, a voice of reason and a big jump in IQ too. "BIG October Surprise"

She is going after Comey on his election interference now.

[bigtree]

30. we'll need some intellect on our side today

...Comey is a sly fox.

[bdamomma]

32. here we go again

[jpak]

34. Comey - Mo' Betta Terrah and genital mutilation

Russia?

[L. Coyote]

35. Sounds like Comey has a really good caffeine dealer. He's quite animated. Questions begin.

Grassley can barely read the questions someone gave him.

"I don't want to answer that question ...." Here we go with keeping investigations hush hush. "I don't have authorization from the department ...."

[itcfish]

36. Republicans are more

concerned about leaks than anything else

[L. Coyote]

38. Flynn would still be the Russia's National Security Advisor if the evidence wasn't leaked.

[itcfish]

91. Of Course

What would have happened without "Deep Throat" during Nixon's time

[bdamomma]

37. I only wish Grassley

wasn't so long winded. All classified information cannot be disclosed so why have this hearing??? Crap.

[Botany]

40. ATTN Chuck Grassley

[The Blue Flower]

41. Comey looks and sounds nervous

My impression is that he's tap dancing as fast and as hard as he can.

[jpak]

42. Feinstein fingers Comey on email anouncement

Thousands of emails!!!!!

And a pathetic response - speak or conceal

[SticksnStones]

43. Is anyone buying this load of hooey?

On Comey's decision to announce conceal or reveal....


Never questioned HOW THE DUPLICATE EMAILS GOT THERE

What a putz

[L. Coyote]

57. I'm buying that he rehearsed this lame excuse burger over and over and over.

Lawye-like reasoning, knowing what you can get away with and how.

[SticksnStones]

61. Exactly!!! The earnestly raised eyebrows...

The "you must believe me!" look ~

Now look how his eyebrows relax when it's a non Clinton topic.

[L. Coyote]

124. It would be interesting to compare his first and second wringing of the hands. Verbatim?

I swear, I thought the video had gone to replay.

[nolabear]

44. Boy his speech is amazingly pressured. He's massively uncomfortable.

He knows he's fighting for his life here.

And, in my opinion, that he royally fucked up.

[bigtree]

45. phony-baloney story from Comey about his interference into the election

...worse, given that an investigation was started into Trump/Russia months earlier and not a peep from Comey about that... to anyone.


All of the fake tears about interfering while he went out of his way to do just that.

[SticksnStones]

53. Exactly! There's plenty that he CONCEALS

That's his damn job!

What a load of hooey ~ he looks uncomfortable because he's rehearsed this speech...knew he needed a reason so he created this dramatic: reveal or conceal.

Wow.

He comes across as compromised and partisan.

[bdamomma]

46. why all this rehash????

geez why all this red tape to get this POS trump out. I am getting very inpatient.

[yallerdawg]

48. Grassley is on the 'distraction and obfuscation' train.

The obvious partisan slant is the best argument for independent prosecutor.

[jpak]

49. Comey animated response - Feinstein now grilling about search warrant

Feinstein - there was no there there in the emails - and Comey's action affected the election.

[L. Coyote]

52. So much caffeine it seems like cocaine!

I'm taking bets on how soon he needs a pee break

[L. Coyote]

50. "Why was it necessary to announce 11 days before an election" you were bombing the election?

Comey: "might be" "if" "potentially" "honestly" "hugely significant"

"It makes me mildly nauseous to think we may have had some effect on the election." Comey. He had to know it would have a HUGE impact.

Feinstein: You didn't get a search warrant before you made the announcement. Yes it did effect the campaign. Why did you do it?

Comey: "I can't consider for a second whose political fortunes will be affected." What bullshit, it is mandatory to consider that and a tradition that it not be done!

[yallerdawg]

62. If so many independents and Democrats...

were "willing to hold their nose and vote for Hillary" - and then this reopening of an investigation came out from the FBI Director who had basically cleared her - will we ever know how many Rust Belt voters stayed home or went for an alternative - short of just looking at the outcome?

[Botany]

51. Mother fucker

So it was OK to release a big nothing burger on HRC but @ the same time
you (Comey) hid Trump's work with the Russians?

[jpak]

54. Yup

[Botany]

56. I can't watch anymore

Treason. "I didn't think about the political effects of my actions." (rough quote)

[SticksnStones]

58. DF: you didn't have a warrant for Weiner's laptop

Before you announced investigation to the world.

Comey: didn't think it mattered...


Wow.

First announce, tank Clinton before you even had a warrant ?!?

[flamingdem]

59. Comey's voice register indicates when he's lying

with DiFi it was as high as a school girls.

[L. Coyote]

68. I got the same impression, very rehearsed, retrospective rationalization and totally dishonest.

Basically, I can't consider political impact when it is mandatory to do so in a run up to an election. Total F***ing LIE.

[2naSalit]

75. I can't watch a stream...

but I noticed from a short clip that when he says certain words he glances off to the left... so who is sitting to the right of whomever he is speaking?

That look to the left indicates lying and it seems there's a double meaning in his action of looking to the left. I think it's not only indicative of lying but seeking approval from the ones who either orchestrated the lies or is a "minder" to make sure he uses the precise script he was given and/or approval from that individual on the panel.

[bdamomma]

60. crap

orin hatch

geez, can't we go back and stay on topic please.

[L. Coyote]

63. Orrin Hatch's job is to be sooo boring that everyone tunes out the hearing.

[SticksnStones]

64. That's soon to be President Hatch

If they impeach and remove all who seem implicated ~

[Goodheart]

65. Feinstein pathetically dropped the ball

Comey retreated behind a defense that he could not in good conscience or practice CONCEAL the matter of an investigation into Anthony Weiner's computer containing emails from Hillary Clinton.

The legitimate, logical response question would have been "then why didn't you apply the same standard to the Trump Russia investigation?" Feinstein failed to ask that, and it appears now that this hearing is moving forward without an answer.

Sorry that I repeated this same point in a separate thread... I was enraged at the ineptitude.

[Skidmore]

77. She introduced the lie of questionīng on her time

and Leahy finished it on his. I'm sure they considered and coordinated to maximize their use of time. Your cooncrn is noted.

[tavernier]

66. Comey's a really bad actor.

All that well rehearsed bullshit didn't come off the least bit believable.

[Botany]

67. Cell phones?

R you fucking kidding me? Fucking cell phones.

Good God in Butter are Hatch and Grassley trying to change the subject.

They all know that Trump was elected because of Russia but they are
putting party over country.

[L. Coyote]

69. Leahy "You said absolutely nothing on the Trump" ... "No question that had a great effect."

Leahy: "Both investigations were open and you only commented on one." "Giulliani had a pipeline to the FBI ...." "Either they are lying or there is a serious problem in the Bureau." "You are looking into it?"

Comey: "Correct."

[SticksnStones]

70. A Scorecard: here's who sits on this committee

And remember, they coordinate their questions for maximum time efficiency. So if one senator doesn't go there, another may be on deck with that question

[L. Coyote]

71. This is going to get a lot more interesting as they drill down. Also, more spin from Rs.

Can't wait for Franken. Whitehouse is a particularly effective as an attorney.

[nolabear]

72. Naturally they use this to lay out their agenda against her.

GOD I am sick of grandstanding while Rome burns.

[SticksnStones]

73. Can we just say Fuck You John Cornyn and leave it at that?

[jpak]

74. Cornyn attacking Hillary- apologizing for Comey's blabbermouth

[OliverQ]

76. Ugh, these Republicans are so revolting.

All of them are trying to cover this up.

[nolabear]

78. I hope Ms Klobuchar speaks some actual sense.

I'm sick of them using this to attack Hillary while do far nobody is even mentioning the current administration's many, many, MANY connections to Russia.

[Lint Head]

79. I am MAJORLY NAUSEOUS over Comey's evasiveness.

He needs to resign. He's throwing verbal flack to obscure the truth.

[Botany]

80. Oh christ Lindsey

The Russians planted that classiefed info on Weiner's lap top.

[L. Coyote]

82. Far more likely it was the Republicans doing the dirty tricks.

The Russians sure are a convenient way of avoiding the possibility the Republicans are guilty of dirty tricks.

[Botany]

85. no real difference between the republicans and russians

remember how happy Rudy was about the upcoming "breaking news"
last fall? Rudy was working with Eric Prince who was working w/the Russians.

[L. Coyote]

81. "There's no Anthony Weiner statute." "Maybe there should be."

Man, these republicans are wasting time on trivialities and avoiding the real problems undermining our government.

[yallerdawg]

83. Graham is all over the place!

But he definitely has an issue with Russia - and the White House flippancy on the issue has to be gnawing at him.

We should remember Trump made no friends (left) in the Senate during the Republican primary - "What goes around, comes around."

[iluvtennis]

92. Agree +100 nt

[dchill]

84. Almost seems like Sen. Whitehouse might have been...

a pretty good prosecutor at some point!

[SticksnStones]

86. Can't say it enough:

Sen Graham: is it fair to say the Russian government is still involved in U.S. Politics?

Comey: Yes.


How clearer does it need to be?

[iluvtennis]

93. Yep, but they want to talk about "leaks" and emails instead. GMAFB

[nolabear]

87. HellO Senator Franken.

Sic 'em!

[woodsprite]

88. Crap, my feed just cut out. Blue screen says "AP clients only". n/t

[L. Coyote]

90. OP already updatedwith new feed. See below too.

[L. Coyote]

89. One of the YouTube channels just cut out. PBS is still playing LIVE

[yallerdawg]

94. Sasse (R) made a pretty remarkable point supported by Comey.

American journalists do not commit criminal acts when they pursue, receive and publish classified information from sources. The source is responsible.

Assange and WikiLeaks are not American journalists. They push out classified material to damage America.

This is an astonishing circling around Trump's stated and tweeted "opinion!"

[L. Coyote]

95. Franken is doing a great job using his time, Comey "I can't answer."

"Is the sheer number of (#TrumpRussia) connections significant ....?" Comey again can't comment on that.

[mvd]

119. Let's hope he doesn't keep dragging his feet

I don't trust the guy even though there is a lot of Trump/Russia evidence.

[SticksnStones]

96. Flake just filling the time with airy questions

[L. Coyote]

97. Comey: "good troll armies" needed to push back. LOL. Oxymorons for Truth?

I might have to start a Twitter account under that banner. LOL

[LOL Lib]

98. This asshole John Kennedy...

What is his point about the torture question?

[L. Coyote]

99. Cruz bullshit line: "hundreds or thousands of classified e-mails" They just won't quit lying!

[L. Coyote]

100. Cruz: "Willful blindness of the Obama administration to radical Islamic terrorism." terror terror

Last edited Wed May 3, 2017, 03:20 PM - Edit history (1)

[WinkyDink]

123. Was that about the ignored PDB titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike US"? .....Oh, wait.

[LOL Lib]

102. I detest that crooked faced slime ball.

Edited to remove potential rules violation

[athena]

109. Welcome to DU.

I understand that you hate the guy, but your post can be read as advocating violence. Please be careful with your wording. In fact, it would be a good idea to edit your post.

[LOL Lib]

114. Thanks I will delete.

[yallerdawg]

101. Let's just skip over the previous admission by Comey...

that there is nothing supporting the assertion that anyone knowingly transmitted 'classified information.'

This absolutely goes to the Cruz question of 'willful criminal act.'

This is why the FBI cleared her!

[LOL Lib]

103. Still trying to crucify Clinton and also trying to make Comey look dirty.

Maybe the R's are trying to lay groundwork for whatever comes out regarding Trump. "Oh it's BS because the FBI and Comey are incompetent/biased."

I can't stand that slimeball, weasel, no spine having, lump of dog shit...AKA Ted Cruz.

[yallerdawg]

104. Comey and IRS.

Intent is everything!

It is the responsibility of the IRS to question tax exemption status of a social/charitable organization that identifies itself as a political party - "<Fill in the blank> Tea Party."

Kryst! They never give up on their twisted conspiracy theories.

[okieinpain]

105. any thoughts on huma abedin sending emails

to her hubbies laptop.

[L. Coyote]

107. She was using the laptop for her printer device. There were ZERO emails marked classified.

They keep saying "classified e-mails" as part of their propaganda but none were marked classified and none were classified at the time they were sent.

[okieinpain]

110. well they keep saying it so one of those senators on the panel

better get a brain and counter those statements.

[L. Coyote]

122. The idea is to not make this more partisan or politicize it, so no push back on Rs doing so.

Let them wring their soaked sheets all they want, and let them be the ones peeing themselves in panic mode.

[LOL Lib]

106. Grassley is so inept

He needs to be in a rocking chair on a front porch where he can do no damage other than rocking on the cat's tail. He is so addled he began to call Comey, Senator Comey.

[L. Coyote]

108. He's been called the most intellectually challenged member of congress.

Maybe true, but not the most corrupt or ethically challenged at least.

[dchill]

118. He's a genius where he comes from.

[L. Coyote]

111. Image comes to mind, Russian troops invade Washington while Republicans hold a new e-mail hearing.

And then they adjourn to watch the news, and then they start a new Benghazi hearing.

Comey "golden missing e-mail" reveals how delusionally partisan he is.

[SticksnStones]

112. Wow, ruining HRC's momentum to the Presidency was REALLY hard for Comey

I feel bad for him. I bet he had trouble getting a full 8 hours sleep after that decision which he claims he'd make again ~

[yallerdawg]

113. Eleven days before the election...

Comey is compelled to tell the American people the FBI might find some evidence?

Not one peep about the other candidate they are investigating after being presented evidence?

"No regrets?" Of course not.

[L. Coyote]

115. Now the trolls are trying to frame the FBI for working with the Russians to defeat trump LOL

Twitter is turning into a upside-down rabbit hole and Fox News is running with Grassley's bullshit.

[L. Coyote]

116. Leahy focusing on rise in hate crimes, R's focused on e-mails instead. Says it all.

Republicans are witch hunting, Trump and Republicans are creating divisiveness, hatred, and causing violence. Abuse of power!

[R B Garr]

117. Sounds like he was motivated to get revenge against Loretta Lynch for her "meeting"

on the tarmac with Bill Clinton. He said that was a tipping/breaking point for him.

[dchill]

120. That was the capper!

Let's face it, it WAS very ill advised.

[WinkyDink]

126. Yes, but so what? What did Comey see as a federal CRIME there, let alone one involving HRC?! He's a

partisan HACK.

[yallerdawg]

121. C-SPAN coverage ends with great photo-op...

for Dianne Feinstein with three of her constituents!

That's what it's all about!!

[WinkyDink]

125. Potential silver lining: If and when Comey brings down the hammer (and sickle) on Trump, nobody can

accuse Comey of being a shill for Hillary.