Sessions recused himself from the Russia ties inquiry, but recommended the firing of Comey, who was overseeing Russia ties investigation
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) May 9, 2017
Maybe you’re like me, staring at your newsfeeds in slack-jawed shock and rising terror at the ascent of an American autocracy. Or maybe you’re like several members of The Mary Sue staff, who have already decamped to bars to drown their despair. Wherever you are, I’ve got you covered with a compilation of the finest responses I’ve seen on social media to this horrifying debacle.
While I’ve made it clear in the past that I’m no fan of James Comey or how he handled the matter of the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation, the fact remains that Comey was overseeing the FBI’s probe into Trump/Russia collusion. He’s now been fired on the recommendation of Jeff Sessions, a racist cretin who had to recuse himself from the investigations … because of Trump/Russia collusion.
If you didn’t already have a reason to dislike Jeff Sessions, he also spent the day announcing that he would be reviewing Obama-era guidelines that instructed prosecutors not to seek mandatory minimum sentences in prison for low-level drug offenses. So while Trump and Sessions were getting ready to fire Comey and fiddle as democracy burned, they were also plotting to reinstate officious policies that help no one and hurt many people. Jeff Sessions makes me wish I believed in a hell so that he could burn in it.
Punitive and irrational sentences destroy lives and cost taxpayers money. Evidence shows they don’t make us safer. https://t.co/3qJ93MBNI4
— Eric Schneiderman (@AGSchneiderman) May 9, 2017
But the news about drug sentences was fast drowned out by what people are already calling Trump’s “Tuesday Night Massacre,” evoking Richard Nixon’s firing of independent prosecutor Archibald Cox. And here conveniently is a Richard Nixon biographer to tell us why Nixon took that unprecedented step:
Tuesday Night Massacre. We know why Richard Nixon fired Archibald Cox: the president was guilty of obstruction of justice.
— JohnAloysiusFarrell (@jaloysius) May 9, 2017
You might be shocked to hear that Fox News … isn’t exactly reporting the same story as the rest of the world:
Cmon Fox. At least try. pic.twitter.com/CXdmtdpecZ
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) May 9, 2017
When you’re arguing with friends and relatives, keep in mind that this is perhaps the most essential point:
Remember AG Sessions, who recused himself from Russia investigation, has fired the leader of that investigation, Director Comey
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 9, 2017
Once more for the people in the back:
The President of the United States just fired the man overseeing an investigation into the President of the United States.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) May 9, 2017
Ultimately, this is why Comey was fired, and it’s really, really scary. Democracies don’t dismiss and replace investigators into corruption with people who will do their bidding. This is the stuff of dictatorships.
Former senior FBI official tells me: “I believe the intent here is to replace him with someone who will close” the Russia probe.
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) May 9, 2017
I don’t know either anymore, Jeffrey.
CNN’s @JeffreyToobin goes off on Trump for Comey firing: “What kind of country is this?” https://t.co/5eUkarPRZ0
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) May 9, 2017
The firing upsets Edward Snowden, who Comey has been trying to jail.
This FBI Director has sought for years to jail me on account of my political activities. If I can oppose his firing, so can you. https://t.co/zUp5kquy8q
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) May 9, 2017
:chin hands thinking emoji:
What if someone had the complete moral bankruptcy of Nixon, but was unfettered by being even remotely informed about any topic?
— Anil Dash (@anildash) May 9, 2017
Meanwhile, the Nixon library is having a grand old time pointing out that even Nixon never went this low.
FUN FACT: President Nixon never fired the Director of the FBI #FBIDirector #notNixonian pic.twitter.com/PatArKOZlk
— RichardNixonLibrary (@NixonLibrary) May 9, 2017
Elizabeth Warren is not standing for this crap.
We need a real, independent prosecutor who @realDonaldTrump can’t fire, Sessions can’t intimidate, & Congress can’t muzzle. We need it now.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 9, 2017
Must be a fun day at the White House.
If anyone in the @WhiteHouse was feeling good about whatever loyalty they shared with Trump, he just fired the guy who won him the election.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) May 9, 2017
A less fun day at the FBI?
More: Senior Justice & FBI officials tell CNN they were unaware, shocked by Comey’s firing.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 9, 2017
The actual letter that actual President Donald Trump sent to actual James Comey actually defies belief.
We should all be focusing on the second paragraph. It’s disinformation aimed at the masses. This is what authoritarians do. https://t.co/uvqWNyYFUz
— Celeste P. (@Celeste_pewter) May 9, 2017
@POTUS‘ “you’re fired” letter to FBI Dir. Comey. The 2nd graph is unbelievable given Comey’s testimony confirming existence of an FBI probe. pic.twitter.com/UuidRCgMnp
— Javi Morgado (@javimorgado) May 9, 2017
Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll follow the rest of the Mary Sue staff and look for something to drink.
💧: please take some time to drink some water
— here’s your reminder (@tinycarebot) May 9, 2017
Oh, I think we’ve moved past water https://t.co/unMmH2ucy8
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) May 9, 2017
(original top image: Wikimedia Commons)
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