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- James Comey details Trump's 'lies' and reaffirms belief of Russian meddling in election
- What is fuelling Islamic State's wave of Ramadan violence?
- 'There is no trust': Gulf states give up hope on Qatar
- Japan opens the door to debate on female succession to the Chrysanthemum throne
- Chief prosecutor urges Venezuelans to reject Maduro's constitution rewrite
- Icelandic band Sigur Rós pledge celebration of equality at Margaret Court Arena show
- US-backed forces fighting Islamic State enter Syria stronghold of Raqqa
- Isis claims to kill Chinese couple studying and teaching in Pakistan
- Roman Polanski's rape victim to ask LA court to end the case against him
- Member of Portland militia-style group helps police arrest anti-fascist protester
- Al-Shabaab fighters kill dozens in attack on military base in Somalia
- Uber executive 'had no reason to obtain rape victim's medical records'
- Kuwait steps up efforts to end Qatar blockade
- US shoots down pro-Assad drone that opened fire on coalition forces
- 'A place to call our own': Europe's first Roma cultural centre opens in Berlin
- Madrid tackles 'el manspreading' on public transport with new signs
- Catalonia calls independence referendum for October
- 'Yet another own goal' – EU points to Brexit breakdown after UK election
- Nine of world's biggest fishing firms sign up to protect oceans
- Man jailed for 35 years in Thailand for insulting monarchy on Facebook
- This Middle Eastern life and eco anxiety – podcasts of the week
- The schoolgirl thrash metal band smashing stereotypes in Indonesia
- London Bridge attack: man arrested in police raid in east London
- Who’s to blame for the savagery seen in Manchester and London? | Letters
- The Finkel review: Politics over science – video
- Friday briefing: Election leaves Britain with hung parliament
- Sweet success? New Zealand crowdfunding campaign raises millions in bid to save chocolate factory
- Ruff justice: Chinese city institutes 'one dog policy'
- Chimpanzees do not have same legal rights as humans, US appeals court rules
- Up to 1 in 20 babies born to mothers with Zika have birth defects, report says
- Bill Cosby said he gave accuser pills but said she didn't try to rebuff his advances
- All sides must work to revive hope for a just Israel-Palestine peace | Letters
- Dialogue is the only way to solve the Qatar dispute | Letters
- Ancient Aztec temple and ball court unearthed in heart of Mexico City
- Scottish Episcopal church votes to allow same-sex weddings
- Trump's pitch for making the Mexico border wall 'beautiful': add solar panels
- A promise on Paris agreement emerges as world 'wavers' on climate action
- James Comey punched back hard – and put Trump's truthfulness centre stage
- The Guardian view on James Comey: grace under pressure | Editorial
- Highlights from former FBI director Comey's testimony – video
- Comey: I was concerned Trump would lie about our meeting – video
| James Comey details Trump's 'lies' and reaffirms belief of Russian meddling in election Posted: 08 Jun 2017 03:21 PM PDT James Comey's Senate testimony asserted that the Trump administration lied to smear his reputation, and that he leaked details of Trump meetings to the press The scandal of Donald Trump's alleged ties to Russia deepened on Thursday when James Comey, the man he fired as director of the FBI, branded the US president a liar. Related: James Comey punched back hard – and put Trump's truthfulness centre stage Continue reading... |
| What is fuelling Islamic State's wave of Ramadan violence? Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:00 PM PDT Intensity and scope of onslaught has surprised many, but Isis has long favoured launching attacks over holy month The end of Ramadan is always eagerly anticipated. This year, for security officials in the Islamic world and the west, it cannot come fast enough. Even before the start of the Muslim holy month two weeks ago, attacks claimed by Islamic State (Isis) were bringing death and destruction. On 22 May, a suicide bomber outside a pop concert in Manchester killed 22 people. The bloodiest attack in the UK for 12 years, it marked only the beginning of a wave of violence stretching across half the planet. Continue reading... |
| 'There is no trust': Gulf states give up hope on Qatar Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:05 PM PDT United Arab Emirates ambassador says: 'We have reached the end of the line in discussing with Qataris how things can get better' The Gulf states have lost all trust in Qatar and have reached the end of the line in discussing how things can get better, one of the leading diplomats from the United Arab Emirates has said. Related: The Qatar spat exposes Britain's game of thrones in the Gulf | Paul Mason Continue reading... |
| Japan opens the door to debate on female succession to the Chrysanthemum throne Posted: 08 Jun 2017 09:01 PM PDT New law includes resolution calling on government to 'swiftly study' ways to secure a stable imperial succession including possibility of a future empress Japan's parliament has passed a law allowing emperor Akihito to become the country's first monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years, but left the door open to a debate over the possibility of allowing females to ascend the throne. The government was forced to devise a one-off law to enable Akihito, 83, to abdicate after he suggested last summer that his age and health problems were affecting his ability to carry out public duties. Continue reading... |
| Chief prosecutor urges Venezuelans to reject Maduro's constitution rewrite Posted: 08 Jun 2017 02:42 PM PDT
Venezuela's chief prosecutor has called the country's people to reject President Nicolás Maduro's push to rewrite the nation's constitution and urged the supreme court to annul the process immediately, further deepening her divide with the government. Grasping a copy of the blue constitution book in her hands on the steps of the supreme court, Luisa Ortega Díaz said she was acting to defend both the embattled nation's constitution and its very democracy. Continue reading... |
| Icelandic band Sigur Rós pledge celebration of equality at Margaret Court Arena show Posted: 08 Jun 2017 05:37 PM PDT Rockers will turn 27 July concert into protest against tennis legend and will sell T-shirt to raise funds for same-sex marriage advocacy group Icelandic band Sigur Rós have promised to make their upcoming show at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne "the most inclusive night ever" in a show of support for Australian marriage equality. Former tennis champion Margaret Court made headlines in May after a pledge to boycott Qantas over their support of same-sex marriage. In an interview with a Christian radio station, she said transgenderism was the work of the devil and compared a global plot to promote equal sexual rights to Hitler. Continue reading... |
| US-backed forces fighting Islamic State enter Syria stronghold of Raqqa Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:17 AM PDT Kurdish and Arab forces begin what could be a long campaign to reclaim Isis's de facto capital in Syria Kurdish and Arab forces backed by the US have entered Islamic State's de facto capital of Raqqa, setting the stage for what could be a months-long campaign to reclaim the militants' largest stronghold in Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, breached the outer city limits of Raqqa, seizing a 1,000-year-old fortress in the west and a neighbourhood on the eastern side of the city, two days after announcing the start of the offensive. Continue reading... |
| Isis claims to kill Chinese couple studying and teaching in Pakistan Posted: 08 Jun 2017 01:04 PM PDT
Islamic State claims to have killed two Chinese nationals who were abducted last month in Pakistan's Balochistan province, in the heart of a large-scale infrastructure project between the two countries. The claim, by the Isis news agency Amaq, came hours after the Pakistani military announced it had carried out a successful operation against Isis-affiliated militants in the same region. Continue reading... |
| Roman Polanski's rape victim to ask LA court to end the case against him Posted: 08 Jun 2017 06:33 PM PDT Samantha Geimer, who was 13 years old when director assaulted her in 1977, will help make case that he has served his time The woman whom fugitive movie director Roman Polanski admitted he raped 40 years ago will attend a court hearing in Los Angeles on Friday where she hopes to plead for an end to the case, Polanski's attorney said. Samantha Geimer was 13 years old when Polanski assaulted her in Los Angeles in 1977. In recent years, she has said repeatedly that she has forgiven Polanski, now 83, but Friday's appearance would make the first time Geimer has appeared publicly at a court hearing in the case. Continue reading... |
| Member of Portland militia-style group helps police arrest anti-fascist protester Posted: 08 Jun 2017 05:35 PM PDT Video footage and photos of the rightwing activist aiding officers fuel debate over the policing of a recent 'alt-right' demonstration A rightwing protester who was filmed helping law enforcement in Portland arrest an anti-fascist activist has been identified as a member of a "patriot movement" militia-style group. Todd Kelsay confirmed he was the man captured in photographs and video assisting three officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as they pinned down and apprehended the masked protester. Continue reading... |
| Al-Shabaab fighters kill dozens in attack on military base in Somalia Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:16 AM PDT Up to 70 people feared dead after Islamist militants storm Puntland army camp in one of deadliest attacks on security forces Hundreds of fighters from al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group that controls parts of Somalia, have stormed an army base, killing up to 70 people and wounding dozens more. Residents said some civilians were beheaded during the attack on the remote Af-Urur camp, in Somalia's semi-autonomous northern state of Puntland. |
| Uber executive 'had no reason to obtain rape victim's medical records' Posted: 08 Jun 2017 05:22 AM PDT Officer who ran investigation into rape of Delhi woman by Uber driver says he cannot understand how Eric Alexander got records An Uber executive who reportedly obtained the medical records of a Delhi woman who was sexually assaulted by one of the company's drivers would have had no legal reason to access the documents during the investigation or trial, according to the police officer who oversaw the case. Indian lawyers said Eric Alexander, the former president of Uber's Asia-Pacific division, could have applied for access to the woman's medical records after the verdict was delivered in 2015, but receiving permission would have been "highly unlikely" and strongly opposed by police. Continue reading... |
| Kuwait steps up efforts to end Qatar blockade Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:31 AM PDT Kuwaiti emir flies to Doha as Donald Trump also intervenes for second time in Gulf diplomatic crisis Kuwait has stepped up its efforts to mediate an end to the economic and diplomatic blockade of Qatar as other Gulf States set out more detailed demands for how Qatar should end its alleged funding and harbouring of terrorism. Kuwait's Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah flew to Qatar on Wednesday night and was met at the airport by Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Qatari foreign ministry said they held talks on how to "restore the normal relations" of the Gulf. Continue reading... |
| US shoots down pro-Assad drone that opened fire on coalition forces Posted: 08 Jun 2017 12:01 PM PDT
The United States has shot down a pro-Syrian government drone that opened fire on US-led coalition forces in Syria, a military spokesman said, in a major escalation of tensions between Washington and troops supporting Damascus. No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred near the coalition's At-Tanaf garrison, coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon told Pentagon reporters. Continue reading... |
| 'A place to call our own': Europe's first Roma cultural centre opens in Berlin Posted: 08 Jun 2017 08:11 AM PDT Groundbreaking institute to showcase and promote artistic and cultural contribution of Europe's 12 million Roma people As a boy facing bullying and discrimination for his Roma identity in his native Albania, Sead Kazanxhiu said he had harboured a simple dream: "To be considered equal to those around me. It was the same dream as our forefathers," he said. "To not have to hide our identity in order to survive." Related: Fighting Gypsy discrimination: 'What people ask me is insulting' Continue reading... |
| Madrid tackles 'el manspreading' on public transport with new signs Posted: 08 Jun 2017 04:02 AM PDT Transport authorities in Spanish capital want to encourage men to respect boundaries on bus seats and keep legs closed Madrid's transport authorities are taking a stand against seated male selfishness with a campaign to tackle the social scourge that is manspreading. Fed up with men whose thighs fail to respect the boundaries of bus seats, the Spanish capital's Municipal Transport Company (EMT) is to put up signs discouraging the practice. Continue reading... |
| Catalonia calls independence referendum for October Posted: 09 Jun 2017 01:48 AM PDT Spanish government has vowed to do everything it can to prevent long-awaited and highly controversial referendum from taking place Catalonia's long-awaited and bitterly controversial referendum on independence from Spain will be finally held on 1 October, the regional government announced on Friday, triggering yet another political and judicial showdown with Madrid. The Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, said that voters in the unilateral referendum would be asked the question: "Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state in the form of a republic?" Continue reading... |
| 'Yet another own goal' – EU points to Brexit breakdown after UK election Posted: 09 Jun 2017 01:21 AM PDT European diplomats and politicians fear hung parliament and weak prime minister are 'disaster' that threaten negotiations The EU will force a humiliated Theresa May to explain her intentions at a face-to-face meeting in Brussels as senior diplomats and politicians warned the hung parliament resulting from the UK election was an "own goal" and a "disaster" that hugely increases the chance of Brexit talks breaking down. The result is likely to delay the point at which Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, has someone with whom to negotiate. Sources said a meeting of the European council on 22 June was the EU27's new deadline for wanting to know the prime minister's plans. |
| Nine of world's biggest fishing firms sign up to protect oceans Posted: 09 Jun 2017 01:00 AM PDT Voluntary initiative marks first time companies from Asia, Europe and US have joined together to stop overfishing, illegal catch and use of slave labour Nine of the world's biggest fishing companies have signed up to protect the world's oceans, pledging to help stamp out illegal activities, including the use of slave labour, and prevent overfishing. The initiative will be announced on Friday, as part of the UN Ocean Conference this week in New York, the first conference of its kind at which member states are discussing how to meet the sustainable development goal on ocean health. Continue reading... |
| Man jailed for 35 years in Thailand for insulting monarchy on Facebook Posted: 09 Jun 2017 12:51 AM PDT Bangkok military court convicts 34-year-old in one of harshest sentences handed down for draconian royal defamation law A Thai man has been jailed for 35 years for Facebook posts deemed insulting to the royal family, a watchdog said, in one of the harshest sentences handed down for a crime that insulates Thailand's ultra-rich monarchy from criticism. A Bangkok military court convicted him of 10 counts of lese-majesty for posting photos and videos of the royal family on a Facebook account that purported to belong to a different user. Continue reading... |
| This Middle Eastern life and eco anxiety – podcasts of the week Posted: 08 Jun 2017 11:00 PM PDT A selection of podcasts from around the world, from the Middle East to Mallorca Hello from Turkey! Bet you weren't expecting that. Turkey is my new favourite place. I've explored ancient history, discovered new cultures, seen my first ever pod of dolphins and found new podcasts. It's truly an amazing place – you must visit immediately. One of the countless joys of podcasting is that it's international and portable. So just because I'm not at Guardian HQ it doesn't mean that you shouldn't be getting your weekly dose of new and exciting recommendations from your Guardian podcast queen. Continue reading... |
| The schoolgirl thrash metal band smashing stereotypes in Indonesia Posted: 08 Jun 2017 11:00 PM PDT Taking Rage Against the Machine and Slipknot as inspiration, three Muslim teenagers are blasting their way into the Asian music scene as Voice of Baceprot It was a dull day in music class that ignited a rebellion in three Indonesian teenage girls. Poring over their school teacher's music collection, the hijab-wearing schoolgirls from conservative West Java discovered a trove of heavy metal. |
| London Bridge attack: man arrested in police raid in east London Posted: 09 Jun 2017 01:47 AM PDT Arrest of man, 29, in Newham early Friday morning brings to four the number of men being held in connection with Saturday's attack Another suspect has been arrested in connection with the London Bridge attack. The 29-year-old was held during a raid at a residential address in Newham, east London, in the early hours of Friday, Scotland Yard said. Continue reading... |
| Who’s to blame for the savagery seen in Manchester and London? | Letters Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:58 AM PDT John Pilger and 56 others on the west's facilitation of terrorism; Steven Greer on the warped interpretation of Islam motivating jihadis; Ian Pollard and Dr Susan Juned on Wahhabism and Saudi Arabia; Peter Shadwell and Eric Goodyer on Theresa May's flawed proposals on sentencing and human rights laws Today, 16 years since 9/11 and with attacks now occurring across Europe and multiple wars in the Middle East and north Africa region, it is time for the west to reflect far more deeply on these matters. To date shortsighted policy responses like Prevent have not been evidence-based. Responses to the immediate problem of terrorist acts need to be much more intelligent and informed. At the same time, simplistic representations of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism versus the west are highly inaccurate. It is now clear that the initial US response to 9/11 sought to exploit this event in order to initiate operations against countries unconnected to al-Qaida. The Chilcot report cited a British embassy telegram saying that "regime-change hawks" in Washington were arguing that a coalition against international terrorism "could be used to clear up other problems in the region". The most notable outcome of this exploitation was the catastrophic Iraq invasion. Continue reading...This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The Finkel review: Politics over science – video Posted: 09 Jun 2017 01:25 AM PDT The highly anticipated Finkel review on the future of the national electricity market was released on Friday. Its weak emissions target breaks Australia's Paris commitments, but the review may well end the deadlock on carbon emissions that has plagued politics for over a decade Continue reading... |
| Friday briefing: Election leaves Britain with hung parliament Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:23 PM PDT Theresa May torches her Commons majority … Labour celebrating after gaining dozens of seats … and elsewhere, James Comey's devastating testimony on Trump-Russia Good morning – Warren Murray here to tell you how it all turned out. Continue reading... |
| Sweet success? New Zealand crowdfunding campaign raises millions in bid to save chocolate factory Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:15 PM PDT Closure of Dunedin Cadbury would put 350 employees out of work but locals hope to buy its equipment and start a new factory A crowdfunding campaign to save a chocolate factory in New Zealand has raised NZ$3.3 million in less than two days, prompting hopes that locals can continue the tradition of chocolate-making – and eating. Mondalez International announced in February it planned to close its 80-year-old Dunedin Cadbury factory next year, putting 350 employees out of work and shifting production to larger Australian plants. Continue reading... |
| Ruff justice: Chinese city institutes 'one dog policy' Posted: 08 Jun 2017 09:17 PM PDT Owners with more than one canine in Qingdao must give others to an adoption agency under controversial new law For decades, China harshly enforced its one-child policy through forced abortions and hefty fines. Now the government in one Chinese city is seeking to exert control over another segment of the population, limiting households to one dog each. The eastern city of Qingdao, a coastal beach town renowned as the home of Tsingtao beer, also banned 40 "ferocious" dog breeds for residents living the the downtown districts. Some of the restricted breeds include Tibetan mastiffs, akitas and German shepherds. Continue reading... |
| Chimpanzees do not have same legal rights as humans, US appeals court rules Posted: 08 Jun 2017 06:41 PM PDT Court in New York rules in case of caged adult male chimps Tommy and Kiko that there is no precedent for apes being considered people Two chimpanzees that were caged at a trailer lot and at a primate sanctuary don't have the legal rights of people in New York, an appeals court has ruled. Nonhuman Rights Project attorney Steven Wise had argued to the appeals court in March that adult male chimps Tommy and Kiko should be granted a writ of habeas corpus, which for people relates to whether someone is being unlawfully detained or imprisoned and should be taken to see a judge. Continue reading... |
| Up to 1 in 20 babies born to mothers with Zika have birth defects, report says Posted: 08 Jun 2017 12:15 PM PDT
As many as one in 20 babies born to mothers infected by Zika have birth defects, a new report from by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. The risk jumped to nearly one in 13 when mothers were found to have Zika in the first trimester, the CDC stated. Continue reading... |
| Bill Cosby said he gave accuser pills but said she didn't try to rebuff his advances Posted: 08 Jun 2017 11:54 AM PDT Comedian acknowledged to police more than a decade ago to giving Andrea Constand Benadryl but insisted that sexual encounter was consensual at his trial Bill Cosby acknowledged to police more than a decade ago that he fondled Andrea Constand after giving her what he said were cold-and-allergy pills to help her relax, according to a statement introduced on Thursday at the comedian's sexual assault trial. Related: Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand begins hours of testimony: 'I trusted him' Continue reading... |
| All sides must work to revive hope for a just Israel-Palestine peace | Letters Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:57 AM PDT The region's political leaders need to reopen themselves to dialogue, supported by the international community, writes Neil Thorns, Cafod's director of advocacy Peter Beaumont's article (UN urges end to Israeli occupation, 50 years on, 7 June) highlights the pressing need to restore hope in a viable peace process. Today, there are 4.7 million Palestinians living under occupation. The current situation is unsustainable, and is a principal cause of poverty, marginalisation and denial of rights in the occupied Palestine territory. Renewed violence continues to cause civilian deaths, both Israeli and Palestinian. Political leaders on both sides fail to protect the lives and livelihoods of their people. Hopes have risen and fallen with the fortunes of peace processes, most notably the Oslo peace accords. But the more time that passes, the more "facts on the ground" weaken prospects for peace, justice and equality. Those in positions of responsibility in the region need to reopen themselves to dialogue, reconciliation and peace. The international community and the UK government need to put their efforts into revitalising diplomatic engagement, supporting both sides to find a just peace, where human rights are assured for all peoples in the region. |
| Dialogue is the only way to solve the Qatar dispute | Letters Posted: 08 Jun 2017 10:56 AM PDT Doha's interfaith centre can foster a new spirit among the countries of the region, writes the Rev Donald Reeves There is no way the closing of borders will solve the disputes with Qatar (Diplomatic crisis as Gulf states cut links with Doha, 6 June). But the Qataris have an asset in their negotiations: the Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue is committed to spreading the culture of dialogue. The centre's annual conference attracts academics, activists and clerics from all over the world, Jewish, Christian and Muslim. The centre could be a useful resource in fostering a new spirit between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, and elsewhere in the region. I have taken part in seven of these conferences and I appreciate the wealth of experience they convey. |
| Ancient Aztec temple and ball court unearthed in heart of Mexico City Posted: 08 Jun 2017 09:47 AM PDT
The remains of a major Aztec temple and a ceremonial ball court have been discovered in downtown Mexico City, shedding new light on the sacred spaces of the metropolis that Spanish conquerors overran five centuries ago, archaeologists said on Wednesday. The discoveries were made on a nondescript side street just behind the city's colonial-era Roman Catholic cathedral off the main Zocalo plaza on the grounds of a 1950s-era hotel. Continue reading... |
| Scottish Episcopal church votes to allow same-sex weddings Posted: 08 Jun 2017 09:30 AM PDT Historic move hailed by gay rights activists could result in sanctions from 80 million-strong global Anglican communion Scottish Anglicans have voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry in church. The historic move sets the church on a potential collision course with the global Anglican communion and risks fracture within its own ranks. The vote at the Scottish Episcopal church general synod makes it the first Anglican church in the UK to allow same-sex weddings, with the first ceremony likely to take place this autumn. Continue reading... |
| Trump's pitch for making the Mexico border wall 'beautiful': add solar panels Posted: 08 Jun 2017 05:13 AM PDT The president's 'put a solar panel on it' policy to fund the wall may be expensive, impossible to build – and it's unclear what the energy would be used for The president this week proposed a radical way to fund his proposed Mexican border wall: covering it in solar panels. The same Donald Trump who has spent years criticizing renewable energy as uneconomical and who has pulled the US out of the Paris climate agreement has now floated the idea of adding solar panels to his proposed barrier along the the US–Mexico border. Continue reading... |
| A promise on Paris agreement emerges as world 'wavers' on climate action Posted: 08 Jun 2017 08:36 AM PDT EU's new consensus sets out vision for European development policy, reinforcing the global goals, but critics say commitments do not go far enough Major European countries have pledged to keep the Paris climate agreement on track amid "wavering" world commitment in a new development consensus agreed between the EU's member states and signed in Brussels on Wednesday. "These are challenging times," said Neven Mimica, European commissioner for international cooperation and development. "The global commitment to the sustainable development goals – to climate action, to solidarity – this seems to be wavering globally. The significance of this new European consensus on development becomes much bigger than the sum of its parts because of this global questioning of climate action and even the sustainable development goals." Continue reading... |
| James Comey punched back hard – and put Trump's truthfulness centre stage Posted: 08 Jun 2017 01:28 PM PDT Before Comey spoke, it seemed likely that firing the FBI director was one of Trump's poorer decisions. By the time the hearing was over, that was beyond doubt • Read the full report on Comey's testimony on Trump, Flynn and Russia The line started forming outside Room 216 of the Senate's Hart Building just after 4am and kept growing. By nine o'clock, it stretched out 50 yards along a long corridor. The crowd was made up mostly of young congressional interns, given leave from their posts to witness the event. But there were also local residents drawn by an overwhelming sense in Washington that something momentous was happening. Continue reading... |
| The Guardian view on James Comey: grace under pressure | Editorial Posted: 08 Jun 2017 12:08 PM PDT The devastating testimony of the former FBI director exposes the threats to American democracy President Donald Trump's dealings with James Comey, the former director of the FBI, make a story which demands the talents of one of the great American crime novelists. It would open with a scene beyond most fiction writers' imagination: a conversation between the director of the FBI and the director of national intelligence as to which of them would have to break to the president-elect the existence of an intelligence dossier setting out with unforgettable details all the blackmail material which the Russian government might have on him. Mr Comey drew the short straw. The conversation that followed – in which Mr Trump angrily denied everything, as he has done ever since – so shocked the very experienced FBI director that he emerged from it determined to record every detail he could remember. This was unprecedented. On Thursday he told the Senate why. "I knew there might come a day when I might need a record to defend not just myself but the FBI and our integrity and … independence." "I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting," Mr Comey told the Senate intelligence committee. It was what he came to know personally of the president's character which led him to write his notes of every meeting. Of all the shocking things to emerge, this willingness to use the verb "lie" is one of the most surprising. Mr Comey is not some startled fawn who has wandered into the tiger enclosure where real politicians work. He is himself a formidable bureaucratic politician. Such people have many more subtle ways to say an enemy is lying, most of which Mr Comey also deployed in his testimony. His repeated use of phrases like "I don't think I can answer that in an open session" is razor work worthy of Francis Urquhart. Continue reading... |
| Highlights from former FBI director Comey's testimony – video Posted: 08 Jun 2017 02:21 PM PDT Former FBI director James Comey testified before the Senate intelligence hearing on Thursday. Comey spoke of his shock at Donald Trump's suggestion to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn and of his need to document his conversations with the president Continue reading... |
| Comey: I was concerned Trump would lie about our meeting – video Posted: 08 Jun 2017 12:19 PM PDT Former FBI director James Comey tells a Senate intelligence committee how he was concerned that Donald Trump would lie about the nature of their meetings, which led to Comey taking detailed notes. Comey added that he believed there may come a day when he required a record to defend himself and the FBI Continue reading... |
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