Another alleged “bombshell” fell on Washington, D.C. Tuesday, this one in the form of a memo Comey supposedly left for himself in his Russia investigation file. According to The New York Times, who had the unclassified memo read to them by a Comey associate over the phone, it purported claims that Trump pressured Comey to end the FBI investigation into Mike Flynn. Every member of the Big Three Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) rushed to shout the claims, but none of them have actually seen the memo first hand.
“Tonight, breaking news as we come on, what could be a new bombshell. Did President Trump ask former FBI director James Comey -- to shut down the federal investigation into retired general Michael Flynn,” hyped ABC’s superficial Anchor David Muir during the opening tease for World News Tonight. He followed that up with: “Pierre, you’ve actually confirmed this evening that Comey did write a memo to document his interaction with President Trump.”
But according to Pierre Thomas’ own report to Muir, he did not see the memo himself. “The source said he's seen the Comey memo and he confirmed the quote to The New York Times specifically,” he told Muir in response. Of course, this important piece of information was reserved for near the end of their memo coverage.
On CBS Evening News, Anchor Scott Pelley declared in the opening tease that “A source tells CBS News that President Trump asked the FBI Director to end his investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.” “This story was first reported this evening by The New York Times, but our source has confirmed the contents of the memo,” Pelley added, admitting that CBS was getting their information from somewhere else.
NBC Nightly News also played up the dubious memo, but they were the only network to go out of their way to note that no one has actually seen it outside of the anonymous source. According to Justice Correspondent Pete Williams:
None of this comes from Mr. Comey directly. He has yet to say anything publicly since he was fired a week ago tonight, but he did tell friends and a few people at the FBI about what he wrote in that memo at the time and they're the ones describing it now … First is to try and get the actual Comey memo and not just rely just on people who can tell us what it said, to see what it said and then perhaps talk to Mr. Comey.
Despite their championing of a mysterious memo alleging impropriety by the President of the United States, it’s easily challenged by the simple fact that acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified to the Senate last week that there has been no interference in their investigations by the Trump administration.
On ABC, Senior White House Correspondent downplayed McCabe’s testimony as just some sort of defiant statement meant for the White House:
VEGA: The acting director coming to Comey's defense last week.
SENATOR: Is it the accurate that rank and file no longer supported director Comey.
ANDREW MCCABE: No sir, that is not accurate.
VEGA: But he said you can't stop the FBI from doing the right thing.
MCCABE: So, they has been no effort to impede our investigation to date.
ABC was the only network to mention that The New York Times never actually handled the memo themselves, but rather had a Comey associate read it to them.
After playing a clip of McCabe’s testimony, CBS Justice Correspondent Jeff Pegues dismissed it and instead relied on an anonymous source of his own who told him otherwise. “But a law enforcement source told CBS News there is a whole lot of interfering happening. Comey was fired last week, and the President said it was because of his handling of the Russia investigation,” he reported. In essence, Pegues is asserting that the acting FBI Director lied to the Senate.
Pegues’ remark about why Comey was fired was misleading as well. That narrative was damaged by ABC’s Jon Karl on Sunday. “I don't think that President Trump was saying ‘I fired him because of the Russia investigation,’” he told Clinton lackey George Stephanopoulos. “I think what he was really saying is: that on the idea that there would be massive blowback cause he was firing the guy in terms of the investigation, he was not worried about the blowback because he thinks the Russian investigation is nothing,”
In a rather ridiculous manner, NBC’s Chuck Todd painted a very dire future for the Republican Party because of this. “Well look, this is a gut check moment now for Congressional Republicans,” he opined to Anchor Lester Holt. “They've already been taking on a lot of water politically either having to defend or deflect actions by President Trump … This raises the stakes thought to a whole new level.”
Todd pointed to the firing of Comey as a problem that was causing the GOP to “take on a lot of water.” But according to NBC’s own polling data, the public is really up in the air about how they feel about it. Their data says 29 percent approve of the firing, 38 percent disapprove, and 32 percent didn’t know enough to say, while one percent were unsure.
Thomas also touted how the FBI was coming out in support of Comey. "David, what you're seeing as a lot of people coming to the defense of Comey who believe he's a man of integrity and honor, not perfect, but a man of integrity," he glorified. "[They] are extremely angry at the way Comey was fired. They also openly reject the White House claims that Comey did not have broad support in the Bureau."
This reporting by the Big Three Networks was highly disturbing, especially when it’s realized that all of their hyperventilating was over a memo that literally none of them have gotten their hands on. And they failed to ask the simple questions regarding the obvious red flags.
Why hasn’t anyone actually seen the unclassified memo? If the memo is in the hands of close Comey associates at the FBI as Williams claims, then why wasn’t McCabe (Comey’s deputy director) one of them? If these are associates of Comey's, do they have an ulterior motive?
The answer is because they don’t actually care. These are the same people who rushed to report that Comey had requested additional resources for the Russia investigation; rushed to link Comey’s firing to Russia; rushed to compare Trump to Nixon and Watergate. All of that turned out to either categorically false or biased liberal opinion passed off as news. They’re only interested in doing as much damage as they can, with the facts taking a back seat and wearing no seatbelt.
Transcripts below:
ABC
World News Tonight
May 16, 2017
6:30:16 PM EasternDAVID MUIR: Tonight, breaking news as we come on, what could be a new bombshell. Did President Trump ask former FBI director James Comey -- to shut down the federal investigation into retired general Michael Flynn, the national security adviser who survived just 24 days on the job? The New York Times reporting moments ago, the President said to Comey, "I hope you can let this go." Comey was fired last week.
…
6:31:23 PM Eastern
MUIR: Good evening. It's great to have you with us here on a Tuesday night. And we begin with that breaking headline as we come on the air. Tonight, our team now confirming a report late today in The New York Times that fired FBI director James Comey wrote a memo, documenting some of his interaction with President Trump. And tonight this question, did the President ask James Comey to, quote, “let this go” while talking about the investigation into this man, retired general Michael Flynn, and Russia. Flynn, or course, resigned a few days into the administration. Comey was fired one week ago tonight.
…
CECILIA VEGA: The New York Times, who first reported the memo, says it was part of a paper trail Comey wanted to leave behind as evidence of what he called improper influence into his investigation. The Times didn't view a copy of that memo. But says associates of Comey read it to a reporter. Tonight, the White House is disputing the story. Saying in statement: “The President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn… This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.”
…
VEGA: The acting director coming to Comey's defense last week.
SENATOR: Is it the accurate that rank and file no longer supported director Comey.
ANDREW MCCABE: No sir, that is not accurate.
VEGA: But he said you can't stop the FBI from doing the right thing.
MCCABE: So, they has been no effort to impede our investigation to date.
…
MUIR: Pierre, you’ve actually confirmed this evening that Comey did write a memo to document his interaction with President Trump. And the source telling you that the President allegedly asked him to essentially go easy on Flynn?
PIERRE THOMAS: David, the source said he's seen the Comey memo and he confirmed the quote to The New York Times specifically. President Trump allegedly saying, “I hope you can let this go. He's a good guy.” David, what you're seeing as a lot of people coming to the defense of Comey who believe he's a man of integrity and honor, not perfect, but a man of integrity.
In terms of the mood at the FBI they're professionals, they’re carrying on their work. But make no mistake, many inside the FBI and a number of former agents I heard from directly with are extremely angry at the way Comey was fired. They're also openly reject the White House claims that Comey did not have broad support in the Bureau. And they’re showing disdain for the President’s description of Comey not being competent. They’re now hoping for a new director who doesn't have any hint of partisan ship.
…
...
CBS Evening News
May 16, 2017
6:30:20 PM EasternSCOTT PELLEY [Tease] Breaking news: A source tells CBS News that President Trump asked the FBI Director to end his investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
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6:31:20 PM Eastern
PELLEY: The former FBI Director James Comey, fired last week by President Trump, wrote a memo claiming that the President tried to shut down the FBIs investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. This story was first reported this evening by The New York Times, but our source has confirmed the contents of the memo. Comey wrote the memo after meeting with the President. He notes that President Trump said that he hoped Comey would "let go" of the Flynn investigation. Presidents usually try not to influence FBI investigations of their administrations to avoid the appearance of obstruction of justice. Tonight the White House denies that the president tried to shut down the investigation, and our justice correspondent Jeff Pegues has more of the breaking news.
…
JEFF PEGUES: Comey wrote up a memo about the meeting with the President. In it he said that Mr. Trump had asked him to drop the Flynn investigation. "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go," he wrote. "He is a good guy." A senior White House official denied that account and said “the President never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.” Just last week acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe told congress there has been no interference in the Russia investigation.
ANDREW MCCABE: So there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date.
PEGUES: But a law enforcement source told CBS News there is a whole lot of interfering happening. Comey was fired last week, and the President said it was because of his handling of the Russia investigation.
…
...
NBC Nightly News
May 16, 2017
7:03:31 PM EasternPETE WILLIAMS: None of this comes from Mr. Comey directly. He has yet to say anything publicly since he was fired a week ago tonight, but he did tell friends and a few people at the FBI about what he wrote in that memo at the time and they're the ones describing it now. And people at the FBI strongly believe that Comey was fired because he wouldn't shut down the entire Russia investigation. Lester.
LESTER HOLT: Pete, I know you've been talking to legal experts and sources. What are they saying about possible criminal action here?
WILLIAMS: Well not surprisingly, they say it depends. First is to try and get the actual Comey memo and not just rely just on people who can tell us what it said, to see what it said and then perhaps talk to Mr. Comey. It all comes down to the person's intent, what did the President have in mind? Did he actually intend to try to shut down the investigation or was he just saying he hoped it would end, Lester.
…
CHUCK TOOD: Well look, this is a gut check moment now for Congressional Republicans. They've already been taking on a lot of water politically either having to defend or deflect actions by President Trump. You know, just today many Republicans were not wanting to see any cameras running around Capitol Hill, not wanting to comment on the story you're about to report on next, which is this issue of the President sharing classified information for the Russians.
This raises the stakes thought to a whole new level. This becomes this -- introduces this idea of obstruction of justice. If there’s a memo, now Congressional Republicans even though it's their own Party's president they will have no choice but to start issuing subpoenas.
…
