"Democrat calls for emergency hearings in Congress"

[suffragette]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/may/09/james-comey-fired-fbi-trump-white-house-live

Congressman Elijah Cummings, ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has called for “immediate emergency hearings” on Comey’s termination:

Congress needs to have immediate emergency hearings to obtain testimony directly from Attorney General Sessions, the deputy attorney general, and FBI Director Comey. The White House was already covering up for Michael Flynn by refusing to provide a single document to Congress, and now the President fired the one independent person who was doing the most to investigate President Trump and his campaign over allegations of coordination with Russia. It is mindboggling that the Attorney General – who claimed to have recused himself – was directly involved in the decision to fire Director Comey according to the White House itself. There is now a crisis of confidence at the Justice Department, and President Trump is not being held accountable because House Republicans refuse to work with us to do our job. Congress must restore credibility, accountability, and transparency to this investigation and finally pass legislation to create a truly independent commission.”

[uppityperson]

1. K&R

[suffragette]

5. Thanks uppity. Cummings made every word count there, all ringing loud and true.

[L. Coyote]

43. Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice. Comey investigating Trump/co-conspirators for Hatch Act violations.

Truth-suppressing acts by co-conspirators Sessions, Flynn, Kushner create liable for Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice. 18 U.S.C. §§ 1621 to 1623 -- Given perjury, subornation of perjury, false declarations, the assertion of a false affirmative statement by an individual testifying under oath accompanied by other obstructive, evasive testimony, such as a false denial of knowledge or memory, an offense may exist. 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 372--conspiracies to commit any offense against the United States, or to prevent or retaliate in response to the lawful discharge of the duties of Federal officers ...

18 U.S. Code § 1505 - Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees

..... Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress—

Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.

[suffragette]

44. Let's hope we see justice.

[furtheradu]

2. KICK! GO, Rep.Cummings!

Thanks for this post!
I'm for calling DC, any one with me?

[suffragette]

6. Great idea!

[gademocrat7]

3. K&R!

[Equinox Moon]

4. This is LBN

Glad to hear about this. Hope it happens.

[suffragette]

8. Good point about LBN. Had GD open in a tab so just posted it here.

I hope it happens, too.

[lindysalsagal]

7. Hell, yes!!!

[DK504]

9. OMG!

" It is mindboggling that the Attorney General – who claimed to have recused himself – was directly involved in the decision to fire Director Comey according to the White House itself."

There has to be a special prosecutor for both houses. One for the House and one for the Senate. Follow the money.

[suffragette]

24. Yes, independent prosecutor and follow the money.

[Hekate]

10. Kick

[suffragette]

25. Thanks Hekate.

[cannabis_flower]

11. Perhaps it's time

to get Trump himself before Congress for questioning.

[elmac]

15. Just read he hired a DC law firm

to send a certified letter to Lindsey Graham that he had no ties to russia. Bet the will really help him

[RainCaster]

35. Can his new lawyers be held liable for sending out such obvious BS?

Of course we know that the Cheeto Tweeter will stiff them when the bill comes due.

[SergeStorms]

22. Because tRump would.....

NEVER lie, right? tRump has shown a complete lack of respect for the law his entire life. There's no reason to think he'd start now.

[suffragette]

26. Imagine the tweet storm he'd unleash if that happened.he wouldn't be able to stop himself.

[Scarsdale]

50. Only if

he is hooked up to a lie detector machine!! The entire tRump clan is corrupt, money grubbing con artists.

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Everything is on the table, including

the Rule of Law, Western Civilization, British Jurisprudence honed over
800 years, our divided system of checks/balances, democracy itself.

If enough Republicans don't rise to the challenge, we are done like a
Thanksgiving turkey

[suffragette]

34. Yes, the question is what is the tipping point.

[FiveGoodMen]

55. Even if we manage to keep the dam from bursting in DC

There are quite literally millions of US citizens who support every bit of this evil.

They will rise again and again unless there's something we can to do educate or quell them.

[dchill]

13. K&R.

[secondwind]

14. we have a constitutional crisis on our hands

[BlancheSplanchnik]

16. and President Trump is not being held accountable because House Republicans refuse to work with us

"and President Trump is not being held accountable because House Republicans refuse to work with us to do our job."

goddammit. I fucking HATE republicans!!!!!

[bdamomma]

17. Crap something

needs to be done NOW!! An Independent Commission needs to be conducted. We have a POS in the WH he needs to be bodily removed, I only wish.

[suffragette]

27. Did you see this? "Grand jury subpoenas issued in FBI's Russia investigation"

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/09/politics/grand-jury-fbi-russia/index.html

Washington (CNN)Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas to associates of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn seeking business records, as part of the ongoing probe of Russian meddling in last year's election, according to people familiar with the matter. CNN learned of the subpoenas hours before President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey.

The subpoenas represent the first sign of a significant escalation of activity in the FBI's broader investigation begun last July into possible ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia.
The subpoenas issued in recent weeks by the US Attorney's Office in Alexandria, Virginia, were received by associates who worked with Flynn on contracts after he was forced out as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, according to the people familiar with the investigation.

Interesting timing, yes?

[bdamomma]

28. Very interesting

thanks for posting. There is so much stuff going on.

[Honeycombe8]

37. The timing was planned. It's a farce.

There will now be no real investigation, going forward. A puppet will be installed as the new Director, reporting to Sessions' assistant.

The fix is in.

Oh, well, Flynn is in trouble. That was out in public before Trump could fire the people responsible for catching Flynn. So Flynn is already caught. The rest is just show.

[CrispyQ]

54. This is what happens when the "opposing" party looks forward.

The dems are neutered & powerless, the repubs are corrupt to the core, & We the People are fucked. I think the repubs know that it goes deeper than Trump, and that's who they're really protecting.

[SergeStorms]

18. I hope they don't expect anything.......

from tRump's loyal dog, Sessions. He's up to his nasal cavities in this clusterfuck as well, so he isn't going to give anyone, anything.

I'm just wondering which tRump lap dog is going to turn on him first? You KNOW tRump would rat everyone of them out in a New York minute, and you KNOW there has to be someone who isn't going to go down with tRump's stinking, sinking ship. Who's going to be the first to "protect and defend our country" just so they won't join tRump on the gallows for treason?

[suffragette]

23. Pretty clear what Cummings' opinion of Sessions is from his statement.

That's why he wants him under oath.

[notdarkyet]

42. Sessions has already lied under oath once. He would lie again.

[JudyM]

53. Apparently he weasled out of that lie (since he's still in office) so this would be a chance to get

him for perjury again.

[Honeycombe8]

38. I don't think anyone's going to turn on Trump. Why would they?

They have those huge tax cuts coming their way. Deregulation. A healthcare plan. Lots of goodies coming. Why would they turn on their meal ticket?

[SergeStorms]

56. You're probably right..........

I guess I just expect too much from the human race. I'm doomed to be disappointed again, and again.

[Cha]

19. Elijah Cummings!

[suffragette]

31. Yes! He said EXACTLY what needed to be said.

[Cha]

46. Mahalo, suffragette

[suffragette]

47. ...

[spanone]

20. K&R...

[suffragette]

33. Thanks spanone.

[AngryAmish]

21. Never going to happen.

[LanternWaste]

52. Ahhhh.... the simple faith of the prophet.

Ahhhh.... the simple faith of the prophet.

[YOHABLO]

29. Wouldn't an independent commission be held behind closed doors?

There would be no open hearings for the public to witness. I'm a little skeptical that the independent commission would not be reporting to the public till they finished their investigation, and therefore could take months if not years to finish.

[suffragette]

58. Some skepticism is probably healthy, especially given Trump's cabal would try to subvert

In any way they could.

I don't think he could fire an independent commission, though, which would be a plus.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

30. K&R nt

[bora13]

32. but...

but obama...

by the way, where is kellyane conway?

"Kellyanne, why don't you turn off the gaslight.
The campaign is over, you don't have to sell it into the night."

[mzteaze]

45. Unfortunately...

She's got pressed into tv duty after WH under estimated backlash from Comey firing. She needs to crawl back under her rock.

[Honeycombe8]

36. I'm so PROUD of the various Dems actually DOING something about this crisis!

The big guys are speaking out and meeting and discussing different ways to proceed. Thank God.

[onetexan]

48. it is moments of crisis such as these times when

those in leadership are bound by duty, honor & country to do the right thing & rise to the occasion. They are at the helm of this ship we call the United States of America, where half he crew ( GOP) have mutineed. They need to steer it through these turbilent times & bring the ship safely to shore. Iron is tested by fire. I hope to God our Dems leaders all remain strong, steadfast & brave.

[Kingofalldems]

39. GOP is intimately involved.

Any hearings will be a sham.

My bet: No hearings

[titaniumsalute]

40. K & R

[Demtexan]

41. Do not ask demand.

Hold them anyway.
Rent a place if you have to.
The press will be there.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

49. K$R

[saidsimplesimon]

51. Thank you suffragette

Let's not forget, rump is meeting with the czar's minion today in our White House.

Russia's Lavrov to meet with Trump on Syria amid uproar
AFP via Yahoo
Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump will receive Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov at the White House on Wednesday, even as a political firestorm has put Moscow's alleged meddling in the US election back in the spotlight.
Lavrov's visit, confirmed by the White House late Tuesday, centers on a Russian proposal to de-escalate the violence in Syria's civil war.
But it comes just a day after the president stunned Washington by firing James Comey as director of the FBI amid an investigation into whether Trump campaign aides colluded with Russia to sway the November elections.
The sacking prompted angry Democrats to call for the Russia probe to be placed in the hands an independent prosecutor or commission.
The uproar seemed certain to complicate Lavrov's mission in search of US support for a Russian plan to create safe zones in Syria.
"Just as we do, the Americans need this meeting," Lavrov told Russian television.
In Moscow, meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Wednesday with his security council to discuss US-Russian relations in the context of Lavrov's meeting with Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the RIA Novosti news agency.
Lavrov first holds talks with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and then goes on to the White House to meet Trump.
…..snip

[nolabear]

57. K&R. I hope they listen.

[AgadorSparticus]

59. Everyone needs to be over the top up in arms over this!!

I feel like we are at that fork in the road where democracy hangs in the balance...based on this moment. Maybe I am overreacting? Please let me be wrong.