Trump: Didn’t ask for Flynn probe to end
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump plowed full tilt into the Michael Flynn controversy on Sunday, denying he had ever asked former FBI director James Comey to stop the probe into his former national security advisor’s Russia contacts, even as he launched an attack on the investigating agency.
In a string of morning tweets, the president also rubbished the appointment of a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent to a supervisory role in the Russia probe, after it turned out that he had sent political, anti-trump messages in the past. It emerged on Saturday that the agent, identified in media reports as Peter Strzok, was removed this summer by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is heading the investigation.
Strzok, as deputy head of counter-intelligence at the FBI, had also played a key role in the investigation of the use of a private email server by Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. And the president brought that up as well, calling him “tainted (no, very dishonest)” in a tweet.
He followed that with brutal criticism of the investigating agency: “After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running the FBI, its reputation is in Tatters - worst in History! But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness.”
Trump renewed a call to probe Clinton, saying on Saturday, “Many people in our Country are asking what t he “Justice” Department is going to do about the fact that totally Crooked Hillary, AFTER receiving a subpoena from the United States Congress, deleted and “acid washed” 33,000 Emails? No justice!”
The White House and the president have said Flynn was fired because he lied, but Trump continued to defend his former NSA saying in a tweet, “It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!”
While the White House have sought to distance themselves from Flynn, court documents and news reports have indicated he had looped in Trump transition team officials. A “senior official” and one “very senior official”, who is said to be the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, were mentioned in a court document filed by Mueller’s team.
But some media reports went too far. ABC News withdrew a news report that had wrongly claimed Flynn was prepared to testify he had been instructed to establish contacts with Russians by Trump himself while he was still a candidate. The network has since apologised and announced it had suspended the reporter.
The president sought vindication in his long-standing complaint that he was not treated fairly by media. He tweeted: “Congratulations to @ABC News for suspending Brian Ross (the reporter) for his horrendously inaccurate and dishonest report on the Russia, Russia, Russia Witch Hunt. More Networks and “papers” should do the same with their Fake News!” The term comes from England, where it was “a device for prosecuting great lords beyond the reach of the law courts.”
In the US , impeachment is a way for Congress to remove a president
First, a simple majority in the House of Representatives has to approve the motion for impeachment
Next, a trial will be held in the Senate, presided by the Supreme Court chief justice.
Third, a two-thirds vote in the Senate is needed to convict the president
Two-third Others Why: "High crimes" for attempting to replace his highly-popular secretary of war Verdict: Acquitted Why: Perjury and obstruction of justice stemming from a sexual harassment lawsuit Verdict: Acquitted
Richard Nixon seemingly headed for certain impeachment over the Watergate scandal but pre-emptively resigned
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