The Trump administration has been persistent with its view that Leaks about the President's controversies that have led to fallout and chaos at the White House, should be reigned in. Republicans have fallen in line with the administration echoing the same concerns in order to take the focus off of the narrative that the Trump administration is being investigated for possible collusion with Russian officials.
Another bombshell before the weekend
Much of the fallout is the result of several bombshells dropped over the past few weeks with the firing of FBI director James Comey, the possible violation of recusal by the Department of Justice's Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the reports that the President gave Russian officials classified information and that a special prosecutor will be taking over the ongoing investigation.
On Friday, the New York Times reported that -- along with giving Russian officials classified information -- the President also told those same officials who were visiting the White House last week, that he had just fired Comey and that in doing so, revealed that he had relieved some pressure on him over Russia. Judging from the comment, there was nothing in what he said that clarified exactly what he meant, giving the perception to many that he was admitting that the FBI's investigation was weighing down on him and that he wanted to do something about it.
Attacks on Comey get personal
Press Secretary Sean Spicer released a statement on Friday claiming that the pressure the President was referring to was preventing them from diplomatically engaging with the Russians.
He further went on to echo Trump's sentiment about James Comey saying that the former FBI director had been "grandstanding" when he was talking about the investigation during his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in early May.
As the New York Times article reported, the President attacked Comey personally saying that he was a "nut job." Soon after he fired Comey, the President was on NBC News with Lester Holt where he said that the former FBI director was a "showboat" and "grandstanding" for bringing too much attention to the investigation.
It's been reported that James Comey agreed to an invitation by Congress for an open hearing after the article was published. Here is an article by the Washington Post that goes over PDonald Trump's personal attacks on others.
Continuous focus on leaks
Spicer also added that firing Comey would not have stopped the investigation but that they felt that firing him was necessary.
But Spicer continued to bring the focus back to leaks. Journalist Mark Mazzetti of the New York Times was on the PBS News Hour on Friday where he pointed to Spicer's characterization of the "pressure" being different from what can already be assumed from the President's own statement.
Blasting News reported soon after national security Advisor Gen. Michael Flynn resigned in February, that Republicans from the House Intelligence Committee grilled James Comey and director of the National Security Agency Mike Rogers for not doing something about leaking information. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, White House aides, surrogates, and Trump himself have targeted leaks as being the problem to try and deflect focus from the scandals.
Republicans have continued with this narrative, with many going as far as to say that those who are leaking information should be put in jail. Spicer also said in his statement that the "real" story was that their national security had been undermined by leaking conversations which he said are private and highly classified. Their national security clearly refers to that of the nation's but, consensus sees the administration as being too much in its own bubble to not make their statement more about their own security.
