Trump lawyer says James Comey made ‘unauthorized disclosures’ of privileged talks

Soon after James Comey (xFBI Director) testified in front of a Senate Committee today, Trump's own lawyer made a statement to the press and to the World !!

Marc Kasowitz had some interesting things to say and some rebuttals.

Today, Comey made history in more ways than one !!

Apparently Comey admitted he actually became a "Leaker" himself !!


Trump lawyer says James Comey made ‘unauthorized disclosures’ of privileged talks

While President Trump stayed unusually silent on James Comey, his lawyer stressed Thursday that Comey's testimony proved that Trump did not collude with Russia during last year's election nor try to obstruct justice in the FBI investigation — and went on to accuse the former FBI director of directing unauthorized news leaks designed to damage the president.

Comey’s testimony, attorney Marc Kasowitz said, "makes clear that the president never sought to impede the investigation into attempted Russian interference in the 2016 election."

"And in fact, according to Mr. Comey, the president told Mr. Comey 'it would be good to find out” in that investigation if there were “some ‘satellite’ associates of his who did something wrong.'"

In attacking Comey's testimony — as Trump surrogates did throughout the day — Kasowitz said the ex-director "admitted that he unilaterally and surreptitiously made unauthorized disclosures to the press of privileged communications with the president."

a reply to: xuenchen

At the very least, did Comey violate his Non Disclosure?
If he leaked while in office?

Comey's friend has gone into hiding...

Comey's freind Goes Into Hiding After Revelations!

No. Executive privilege is hazy at best. It's not codified in law anywhere so it's more of something that's understood and established through precedent.

However, Comey was no longer an employee of the federal government when he revealed the details and given the President's own yammering about their conversations, the actual chances of any legal blowback for Comey aren't significantly more than 0.

Trump's lawyer knows this I would assume so he was just spewing some empty talking points for the faithful.

a reply to: theantediluvian

But according to the New York Times, Comey
was leaking to his friends while in office.

Non Disclosure applies...

Turley writes, “Besides being subject to Nondisclosure Agreements, Comey falls under federal laws governing the disclosure of classified and non-classified information. Assuming that the memos were not classified (though it seems odd that it would not be classified even on the confidential level), there is 18 U.S.C. § 641 which makes it a crime to steal, sell, or convey ‘any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States or of any department or agency thereof.’”

dailycaller.com...

a reply to: theantediluvian

Comey's employment status with his government job is totally irrelevant to Comey's prior non-disclosure agreements. NDA's don't just expire when your job does. Comey has always been a wishy-washy whipping boy for Obama and Hillary, and this has been more than evident for a long time. It's the same play as Obama's picks for all of his Tzar posts. A club of defense lawyers without having to be a lawyer, just a high government official will suffice. They all follow the exact same pattern as if they were hand picked by Obama, oh wait, they were.

a reply to: theantediluvian

Okay, so lets say he DID leak them during office, does that still mean anything or no?

a reply to: theantediluvian

why is there even an idea that because Trump fired Comey, somehow that stopped/hindered the investigation?

Is the FBI unable to work without a guy in Comey's position? Trump likely did fire him because he thought doing so would make his life easier, but reality doesn't support that narrative any farther than Trumps imagination. Unless you have some wisdom to share on that.

a reply to: xuenchen

That's an excellent article.
Trump's lawyer totally makes sense and hit back on everything Comey did wrong.

a reply to: theantediluvian

I say that he violated his non disclosure agreement and This!

18 U.S. Code § 641 - Public money, property or records

Whoever embezzles, steals, purloins, or knowingly converts to his use or the use of another, or without authority, sells, conveys or disposes of any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, or any property made or being made under contract for the United States or any department or agency thereof; or Whoever receives, conceals, or retains the same with intent to convert it to his use or gain, knowing it to have been embezzled, stolen, purloined or converted— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; but if the value of such property in the aggregate, combining amounts from all the counts for which the defendant is convicted in a single case, does not exceed the sum of $1,000, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

His law professor buddy could be in trouble too.

Trumps lawyer hasn't filed anything so that means Trumps lawyer is just doing damage control for the public eye.

originally posted by: network dude
a reply to: theantediluvian

why is there even an idea that because Trump fired Comey, somehow that stopped/hindered the investigation?

Is the FBI unable to work without a guy in Comey's position? Trump likely did fire him because he thought doing so would make his life easier, but reality doesn't support that narrative any farther than Trumps imagination. Unless you have some wisdom to share on that.

Considering Trump's brand new administration was leaking classified info like crazy and that the FBI is the law enforcement agency charged with finding those leaks, and now the ex director admits to leaking, THAT firing sounds like a great idea.

a reply to: Grimpachi

Let's give Trump's lawyer at least a couple days.

a reply to: xuenchen

Charge his ass. All Comey did today and has done since before the election is prove Trump's instincts are spot on.. He felt the guy out, didn't like him, fired him and now here we are.

Are you not supposed to turn over all documents from your time in government after your dismissal ? He typed that stuff out on a FBI computer, while he worked at the FBI.

He also seems to have leaked it before Trump even tweeted.. Which would mean he lied today correct ?

a reply to: theantediluvian

Actually executive privilege was first invoked by President Washington. Several other Presidents invoked it over the years with a culmination in Supreme Court ruling in US vs. Nixon. Nixons argument of executive privilege wasnt rejected out of hand however their lawyer failed to convince the court because of how general their reasoning was.

It also deals with information needed for a criminal investigation however in Comeys case I dont think that would apply since he was trying to use privileged communications to "defend himself".

Finally Trump said he would not block comeys testimony before Congress so the implication is he waived executive privilege (and also answering the question about people no longer in the administration and if it applies to them - it does).

originally posted by: whywhynot
a reply to: Grimpachi

Let's give Trump's lawyer at least a couple days.

Then Comey's lawyer could ask to see all the tapes from the WH.

www.washingtonpost.com... d854b43e717a

Trump doesn't want that, believe me.

I hope they do drag this thru the courts. The American people have a right to know.

Keeping memos in secret is fine, but leaking it for the purpose of get a special counsel to investigate the president is sedition. Another swamp creature gone.

a reply to: olaru12

Trump doesn't want that, believe me.

Lol, of course you know.

The truth is out there.
The purely partisan Dems don't like the truth.
They are being decimated by the truth.

originally posted by: WhereAreTheGoodguys
a reply to: xuenchen

Charge his ass. All Comey did today and has done since before the election is prove Trump's instincts are spot on.. He felt the guy out, didn't like him, fired him and now here we are.

Are you not supposed to turn over all documents from your time in government after your dismissal ? He typed that stuff out on a FBI computer, while he worked at the FBI.

He also seems to have leaked it before Trump even tweeted.. Which would mean he lied today correct ?

Yup.

Perjury on the high hills.

originally posted by: olaru12

originally posted by: whywhynot
a reply to: Grimpachi

Let's give Trump's lawyer at least a couple days.

Then Comey's lawyer could ask to see all the tapes from the WH.

www.washingtonpost.com... d854b43e717a

Trump doesn't want that, believe me.

I hope they do drag this thru the courts. The American people have a right to know.

With it being said that nothing is a certainty in a trial, if Comey was charged with a violation of USC 18 namely that he conveyed memos that were the property of the US government to unauthorized persons I cannot see how his defense team could make a successful argument for any White House tapes. They would not be relevant. Comey admitted on national TV and under oath to doing it. Only thing to prove is that USC 18 is relevant and governing.