Trump morally unfit to be prez, causing damage to US: Ex-FBI chief Comey

Donald Trump is "morally unfit" to be president, former FBI chief James Comey asserted on Monday as he claimed "it's possible" that Russia may have some information on him that Moscow could use to compromise him.

Comey, 57, who was unceremoniously fired by the US president in May last year, in a wide-ranging interview to ABC News warned that "The foundation of this country is in jeopardy when we stop measuring our leaders against that central value of the truth."

He also cautioned that if Trump ever tries to sack special counsel Robert Mueller, then it would be his "most serious attack yet on the rule of law" and causing "tremendous damage" to the country's institutions.

Mueller is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election and any potential ties between Trump campaign and Russia. Trump has repeatedly called the investigation a witch hunt and denied any collusion.

Comey led the federal probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election before he was fired by Trump

What James Comey's gripping Senate hearing told us about Donald Trump

On the surface, former FBI Director James Comey’s long-awaited Senate Intelligence Committee hearing was underwhelming, failing to turn up a clear smoking gun. A closer analysis of what Comey said, however, portrays a damning picture of the president’s behaviour and, in doing this, undermines several of the arguments used by both the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress. In particular, three main themes stood out.

First, from the outset, and in his answers to senators, Comey highlighted the reality and the gravity of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. He stated that there should be “no fuzz on [the issue] whatsoever”: the Russians interfered in the electoral process.

“It’s not a close call,” he added, “it’s about as unfake as you can possibly get” – a sure reference to Trump’s suggestion that the allegations regarding his campaign collusion with Russia was “fake news”.

More ominously yet, Comey also stressed that the Russian effort is clearly directed from the Kremlin and is a long-term strategy aimed at undermining future elections and the integrity and credibility of American democracy. This is made even more concerning by Comey’s admission that the president has never shown any interest in Russia’s behaviour and actions, nor in what measures could be taken to prevent future interference.

Second, while being very cautious in his account, Comey made unmistakably clear how poor an opinion he has of the president and the White House. In his opening statement, he accused the White House of lying about the FBI and, in particular, of lying regarding the reasons for Comey’s firing and, by doing so, discrediting the bureau. The administration decided to defame Comey and the FBI, saying that the bureau was in disarray and that it had lost confidence in Comey’s leadership. “Those,” said Comey, “were lies.”
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Enough evidence for case against Trump: Preet Bharara after Comey testimony

Preet Bharara, the former US Attorney who was fired by Donald Trump, has asserted strongly that there is "absolutely evidence" to initiate a lawsuit against the President of the United States.

A naturalised US citizen born in India, Bharara, who was a former US attorney in the southern district of New York, said in a Saturday television interview that "there is absolutely evidence to begin a case" of obstruction of justice against the President, reports Sputnik.

"It's very important to be clear that no one knows right now whether there is a provable case of obstruction," he said, while simultaneously claiming that "there is also no basis to say there is no obstruction".

This was Bharara's first public statement since he was fired by the Trump administration over unclear reasons.

Commenting on the recent testimony of former FBI Director James Comey, who was also fired by Trump, Bharara stated that he agreed with Comey, who also disputes the nature of conversations he had with the President.

"The President seems to have a reputation of saying things that are not true," Bharara said in regard of his "uncomfortable" conversations with Trump.

Terminated by the President after refusing to return a third and last phone call in almost 22 hours, Bharara stated that he still has "no idea why I was fired."

However, he said, "It doesn't bother me... I am living a great life very happily."
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