Donald Trump has fired FBI's Director James Comey

[MusicMan]

"A photographer for a Russian state-owned news agency was allowed into the Oval Office on Wednesday during President Trump's meeting with Russian diplomats, a level of access that was criticized by former U.S. intelligence officials as a potential security breach."

"Former U.S. intelligence officials raised questions after photos of Trump's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were posted online by the Tass news agency."

"Among those commenting on the issue was former deputy CIA director David S. Cohen. Responding to a question posed online about whether it was a sound decision to allow the photographer into the Oval Office, Cohen replied on Twitter: "No it was not."

"The administration official also said the White House had been misled about the role of the Russian photographer. Russian officials had described the individual as Lavrov's official photographer without disclosing that he also worked for Tass.

"We were not informed by the Russians that their official photographer was dual-hatted and would be releasing the photographs on the state news agency," the administration official said."

"As a result, White House officials said they were surprised to see photos posted online showing Trump not only with Lavrov but also smiling and shaking hands with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak."

"Kislyak has figured prominently in a series of damaging stories for the administration. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was forced to resign in February over his contacts with Kislyak last year and over misleading statements about the nature of those conversations to Vice President Pence."

"U.S. intelligence agencies said they concluded with "high confidence" that Russia tried to affect the outcome of the 2016 election. Lavrov at turns characterized such allegations as "noise" and a "humiliation" for the American people."

From WaPo yesterday.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/presence-of-russian-photographer-in-oval-office-raises-alarms/ar-BBAYRJi?li=BBnb7Kz


Glad to know several "citizens" in Jax disagree with the opinion of former Deputy Director of CIA.

From the story :  "White House officials were surprised....." and "Administration officials had been misled ...."

Get used to hearing that.


From PEE: "As far as Russia goes, you seem like you're playing dumb (or just are). It's true they haven't been a full fledged 100% onboard all the time ally, but they haven't been an "enemy" either. Its been every new administration's goal for many years to have a good relationship with Russia (because they're better friends than enemies) & we've been allies for tons of things too long to name."

We've got plenty of time, please list the 'tons of things too long to name.'

Russia backs Bashar al Assad, a murderous thug/tyrannt. Very similar to V Putin. Russia annexed the Crimea, killing thousands of innocent people in the process. Russia is closely allied with Iran. Russia routinely threatens our allies in NATO. Russia has only Russia's interests in mind.

T Rump has tried for years to make money off the oligarchs in Russia.

At some point former T Rump campaign manager Paul Manafort will be held accountable for his relationships with Ukraine. By then T Rump will be saying, "Paul who? I never knew the guy."

Not sure why your mentioning Hillary. She has nothing to do with the disaster that is this administration.

[Adam White]

"A photographer for a Russian state-owned news agency was allowed into the Oval Office on Wednesday during President Trump's meeting with Russian diplomats, a level of access that was criticized by former U.S. intelligence officials as a potential security breach."

"Former U.S. intelligence officials raised questions after photos of Trump's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were posted online by the Tass news agency."

"Among those commenting on the issue was former deputy CIA director David S. Cohen. Responding to a question posed online about whether it was a sound decision to allow the photographer into the Oval Office, Cohen replied on Twitter: "No it was not."

"The administration official also said the White House had been misled about the role of the Russian photographer. Russian officials had described the individual as Lavrov's official photographer without disclosing that he also worked for Tass.

"We were not informed by the Russians that their official photographer was dual-hatted and would be releasing the photographs on the state news agency," the administration official said."

"As a result, White House officials said they were surprised to see photos posted online showing Trump not only with Lavrov but also smiling and shaking hands with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak."

"Kislyak has figured prominently in a series of damaging stories for the administration. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was forced to resign in February over his contacts with Kislyak last year and over misleading statements about the nature of those conversations to Vice President Pence."

"U.S. intelligence agencies said they concluded with "high confidence" that Russia tried to affect the outcome of the 2016 election. Lavrov at turns characterized such allegations as "noise" and a "humiliation" for the American people."

From WaPo yesterday.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/presence-of-russian-photographer-in-oval-office-raises-alarms/ar-BBAYRJi?li=BBnb7Kz


Glad to know several "citizens" in Jax disagree with the opinion of former Deputy Director of CIA.

From the story :  "White House officials were surprised....." and "Administration officials had been misled ...."

Get used to hearing that.

Well, neither Ben nor I are in Jax. However, yes - I do appear to disagree with the former Deputy Director of the CIA. I disagree with a lot of decisions and opinions of the CIA, though.

Also - I was disagreeing with YOUR statement, not the statement of the CIA guy. He just said he thought it was a bad idea and didn't elaborate. I don't know why he didn't think it was a good idea. As was pointed out in your article, the photog had to undergo the same security checks as everyone else.

Finally - why did you type "citizens" like that (with quotation marks)? Are you implying that Ben and I aren't citizens?

[MusicMan]

T Rump to staff: "Is there something we can do to divert attention away from this House-passed health care fiasco?"

Anonymous staff member whispers:"Fire Comey?"

T Rump: "YES!!!"

[Adam White]

T Rump to staff: "Is there something we can do to divert attention away from this House-passed health care fiasco?"

Anonymous staff member whispers:"Fire Comey?"

T Rump: "YES!!!"

Sounds like we should have been less worried about TASS bugging the Oval Office and spent more time keeping our eye on MusicMan!

[MusicMan]

Nope. I don't even have a microwave oven.


"Citizens" meaning non governmental types, like Deputy CIA Directors, whose job is to be security experts. But I could be wrong and if so I apologize. I assume you are a citizen, but value your input either way.

[Jim]

"Splain this one please?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/presence-of-russian-photographer-in-oval-office-raises-alarms/ar-BBAYRJi?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

Why the hell is a Russian photographer in the Oval office? Why?   Trump will sell anything he can to make a buck. He always has and always will.

Because the meeting was with a Russian diplomat?? Pretty common practice when other's countries are there. We do the same thing abroad. This is literally alarmist click bait, some would say fake, news.

So you are telling us that it's fine that Russia had full media access to the meeting but the United States press did not? 

[Adam White]

Nope. I don't even have a microwave oven.


"Citizens" meaning non governmental types, like Deputy CIA Directors, whose job is to be security experts. But I could be wrong and if so I apologize. I assume you are a citizen, but value your input either way.

I am a citizen. I thought it was funny that you put quotes around the word - seemed to imply that I wasn't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAcCbNEFUpQ

[peestandingup]

"Splain this one please?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/presence-of-russian-photographer-in-oval-office-raises-alarms/ar-BBAYRJi?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

Why the hell is a Russian photographer in the Oval office? Why?   Trump will sell anything he can to make a buck. He always has and always will.

Because the meeting was with a Russian diplomat?? Pretty common practice when other's countries are there. We do the same thing abroad. This is literally alarmist click bait, some would say fake, news.

So you are telling us that it's fine that Russia had full media access to the meeting but the United States press did not?

I'm saying that any foreign guests usually brings a photographer with them to display shots in their home country/media & its happened literally hundreds of times. Where do you think all those oval office meeting photos came from over the years? Spy cams implanted in the walls?

This was a foreign diplomat basically coming by to say hello, not some super secret thing. It really does seem like this is some of your all's first time paying attention to politics or baby's first election & you're mad you didn't get your way. Buckle up, kids. Life's full of disappointment.

Anyway, like I said, this is non-news click bait. You'd never have even heard about it if it wasn't Russia. But instead of questioning that part & seeing that other guests have done the exact same thing, you're jumping right on board like trained seals.

[Adam White]

I might bookmark this page for posterity - PSU and I agreed on something!

[Jim]

"Splain this one please?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/presence-of-russian-photographer-in-oval-office-raises-alarms/ar-BBAYRJi?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

Why the hell is a Russian photographer in the Oval office? Why?   Trump will sell anything he can to make a buck. He always has and always will.

Because the meeting was with a Russian diplomat?? Pretty common practice when other's countries are there. We do the same thing abroad. This is literally alarmist click bait, some would say fake, news.

So you are telling us that it's fine that Russia had full media access to the meeting but the United States press did not?

I'm saying that any foreign guests usually brings a photographer with them to display shots in their home country/media & its happened literally hundreds of times. Where do you think all those oval office meeting photos came from over the years? Spy cams implanted in the walls?

This was a foreign diplomat basically coming by to say hello, not some super secret thing. It really does seem like this is some of your all's first time paying attention to politics or baby's first election & you're mad you didn't get your way. Buckle up, kids. Life's full of disappointment.

Anyway, like I said, this is non-news click bait. You'd never have even heard about it if it wasn't Russia. But instead of questioning that part & seeing that other guests have done the exact same thing, you're jumping right on board like trained seals.

Did you miss the part where our own media was denied access?  Tell me, what part of normal and "happened literally hundreds of times" is this?

And your characterization of it being akin to a neighbor popping in for tea rather than a secret meeting seems odd.  If it wasn't secret, why no US media?  Doesn't that by definition make it a secret meeting?

And we'd appreciate you tone down the condescension.

[MusicMan]

You had to know Comey was in trouble when on Jan 22 2017 Trump said at a White House law enforcement reception:

"He's (Comey) become more famous than me."   


Acting Director McCabe on Comey's status with rank and file at FBI:


"Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe shot down claims on Thursday that his predecessor, James Comey, had suffered a loss of confidence inside the FBI before his firing.

"We've heard in the news that claims that Director Comey had lost the confidence of rank and file FBI employees," Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich noted to McCabe. "You've been there for 21 years. In your opinion, is it accurate that the rank and file no longer supported Director Comey?"

The acting FBI director bluntly replied, "No, sir. That is not accurate."

McCabe continued by singing the praises of the former director: "I can tell you that I hold Director Comey in the absolute highest regard. I have the highest respect for his considerable abilities and his integrity; and it has been the greatest privilege and honor of my professional life to work with him."

The acting FBI head then asserted that "Director Comey enjoyed broad support within the FBI, and still does to this day. We are a large organization....We have a diversity of opinions about many things. But I can confidently tell you that the majority — the vast majority of FBI employees — enjoyed a deep and positive connection to Director Comey."

[I-10east]

The Russia stuff is fabricated news. Ohhhh, the next Watergate, some pundits are saying... It's all partisan hackery, red vs blue stuff (yeah I know that some establishment Republicans hate Trump). The blue side went crazy when conservatives mentioned Benghazi, an actual event that caused actual lives, but when some unfounded hocus pocus Kremlin talk is mentioned, it's supposedly highly credible. Everyone wanted Comey outta there, including Dems (in the archives).   

[MusicMan]

No doubt you are better informed than a 21 year veteran of the FBI.

[Jim]

The Russia stuff is fabricated news. Ohhhh, the next Watergate, some pundits are saying... It's all partisan hackery, red vs blue stuff (yeah I know that some establishment Republicans hate Trump). The blue side went crazy when conservatives mentioned Benghazi, an actual event that caused actual lives, but when some unfounded hocus pocus Kremin talk is mentioned, it's supposedly highly credible. Everyone wanted Comey outta there, including Dems (in the archives).   

Prove it's fake.  We do have 3 investigations looking into it.  I suppose those are fake investigations too.

And I can't believe you're pulling a "But her emails" gag.  Especially given that Benghazi was investigated numerous times and none came back with anything.

[I-10east]

I obviously don't know what's going on behind the walls of the FBI concerning the morale of that organization when Comey was top brass, and I'm not gonna even speculate. I do know that many Democratic Senators hated Comey (Schumer, Waters, Pelosi, Reid and more).