It feels like James Comey’s testimony happened two months ago.
- During a press conference today, President Donald Trump called James Comey a “leaker,” and insinuated that the former FBI Director had lied to Congress under oath. When asked, Trump also said that he would “100%” speak under oath to recently appointed special counsel Robert Mueller. He returned to Comey’s testimony on numerous occasions, simultaneously arguing that Comey had—rather impossibly—both lied and vindicated Trump’s story. “I hardly know the man, I’m not going to say, ‘I want you to pledge allegiance.’ Who would do that?,” Trump said about Comey’s claims that the president demanded loyalty on the issue of Michael Flynn and the ongoing investigation of possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. There’s more. Trump also indicated—again—that maybe there are recordings or tapes of the conversations between the two men (during his testimony, Comey said, “Lordy, I hope there are tapes”). Although maybe there aren’t. “I’m not hinting at anything,” Trump said. “I’ll tell you about it over a short period of time,” he added. If there’s any takeaway here, it’s simply that Trump is offering more of the same: evasion coupled with a petty attempt at intimidation. If this pattern holds, then there are no tapes and Trump will never meet with Mueller. [Washington Post/MSNBC]
- Regardless, the House Intelligence Committee has asked the White House to turn over any Comey-related tapes. [Politico]
- Honestly, why does Trump’s cabinet even bother? [Talking Points Memo]
- After Forbes reported on some shady practices at the Eric Trump Foundation, the New York Attorney General is investigating the non-profit. [Forbes]
- Since Americans love a sequel, the Senate Judiciary Committee might subpoena James Comey. [The Hill]
- As part of the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to target undocumented workers, it has begun reopening “cases of hundreds of illegal immigrants” who were given a reprieve by the Obama administration. [Reuters]
- Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff has raised $23 million for his campaign in what’s the most expensive House race in history. [New York Times]
- Ossoff currently has a seven-point lead over Republican candidate Karen Handel. [Politico]
- Here’s some baseless but fun speculation about California Senator Kamala Harris running in 2020. [Politico]
- Here’s a great piece about political conspiracy theories on the left. [The New Republic]
- Ducks dead. [McClatchy DC]
Here are some tweets the president was allowed to publish:
This has been Barf Bag.