President Donald Trump previously said that former FBI Chief James Comey wanted to have a dinner with him in the White House. This was during the height of the investigation regarding the potential Russian collusion. However, former DNI James Clapper pointed out that it was the president who invited Comey and not the other way around. By doing this, the president appears to be interfering with the investigation, which might fall as an Obstruction Of Justice.
Is there a crime committed?
Rep. Adam Schiff, House Intel Committee ranking member, said that the tapes of conversations within the White House would be a substantial evidence to prove the President's innocence or guilt in the recent issue hurled against him.
The lawmaker insisted that obstruction of justice could not be proven by mere words from the president, because there is no basis to know whether he is lying or telling the truth. He goes on saying that the tapes previously mentioned by Trump will be the best evidence of what really happened during the dinner with Comey. As people close to Comey have been saying things in direct contrast to what Trump is claiming, the tape will tell who is lying.
The tale of the tape
According to Trump, Comey approached him and appealed to be reinstated as the bureau's director. However, Clapper is saying otherwise. He claimed that he has a conversation with Comey when he attended the farewell party of the outgoing FBI Director and learned that it was the president who invited him to the White House.
With several claims contrasting the previous statement of the US President, the general perception now is that he is trying to hide something for not telling the truth about his meeting with Comey.
Aside from that, his motives for inviting the then FBI Director in the White House in the midst of their Russia investigation is questionable.
It can be recalled that this issue is sensitive since it involves Trump and his potential collusion with Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Meanwhile, Rep. Schiff stated that the Congress should summon the tapes. If they will not be handed over by the White House voluntarily, a subpoena must be issued. The lawmaker's proposition sounds very convenient but Trump neither admits nor denies the existence of the tapes.
The US President always counterattacks, while this this time he appears to keep quiet, and so unlike himself. It is easier for President Donald Trump to say that there are no tapes, but right now, he chooses rather not to talk about it.
