ALL TO DO ABOUT NOTHING 

I spent this morning listening to James Comey's testimony before the Senate.  He indicated that he worked at the pleasure of the President, and that he could be fired with or without cause at any time.  Further, he did not dwell on the firing itself, but the portrayal the President gave of him after it was over, and the contrast with what was told to him by the President himself prior to termination.  Water under the bridge.  Did President Trump handle the firing with great class and sensitivity?  In my estimation he did not, but that is not a crime, but rather a defect in personality which is not in any way a criminal offense.

Mr. Comey did say that on his first personal meeting with President elect Trump, he evaluated the President as potentially a big liar, and that was why he documented the meeting in a memo.  He also stated he did not document similar meetings with Presidents Obama or Bush, because he had a level of trust with them.  The President in that meeting indicated that he wished that the investigation of Flynn would go away because General Flynn was a "good guy".  Not an order or even a suggestion, but a wish.  No crime there.  Further, in conversation, Mr. Comey did make it clear that President Trump was not under investigation personally.  Nothing there at all.

Mr. Comey stated that at that first meeting he felt that the President elect was looking for something out of the exercise.  Mr. Comey stated that he felt that President elect Trump was looking for Mr. Comey to show some type of allegiance to him.  Mr. Comey, if retained would be operating as a highly placed member of the President's team, and for that relationship to work, there would have to be a level of mutual trust and respect.  Mr. Comey did not indicate that he was willing to go that far at that first meeting.  

Mr. Comey testified that on numerous occasions, the President did check in with him, had meetings with him, and repeatedly showed support by telling him that he was doing a great job and that he hoped that he would stay on.  Although not asked, it was apparent from the tone that Mr. Comey did not respond in kind, he just simply stated that he intended to continue to serve at his present post.  It appeared that the President was giving him every opportunity for Mr. Comey to voice his support and allegiance to the President, but that was never forthcoming.  

So what more do we have here than a disgruntled employee that was fired and resentful of that action?  Mr. Comey indicated in his testimony that he thought he was fired because of how he was handling the Russia investigation.  Maybe he was fired because the President didn't trust him.  Maybe the President used the Russia investigation as a reason for the firing, a reason he didn't need to fire him.  Maybe President Trump could have handled that in a more delicate way.  Still no high crime here, just once again a personality defect.