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THE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN of the House oversight committee in the US has written to the FBI following reports that President Donald Trump had appealed to FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau’s investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Jason Chaffetz sent a letter to the FBI requesting that the organisation turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Comey and Trump. He said he would give the FBI a week and then “if we need a subpoena we’ll do it”.
The request follows an explosive report in the New York Times last night which said that Trump had asked former FBI director Comey to drop an investigation into Flynn over his Russian contacts.
The bombshell Comey news came as the beleaguered administration was still struggling mightily to explain Monday’s revelation that the president had disclosed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and the country’s ambassador to the United States.
The White House last night strongly defended the president, categorically denying that account reported in the Times.
Comey is reported to have written in a memo in February that Trump has asked him to stop his investigation.
The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year’s presidential election.
Comey’s memo, an apparent effort to create a paper trail of his contacts with the White House, would be the clearest evidence to date that the president has tried to influence the investigation.
Response
The House’s top Democrat Elijah Cummings of Maryland, a constant Trump critic, called the allegation of Trump pressure on Comey “explosive” and said “it appears like a textbook case of criminal obstruction of justice”.
Republicans weren’t going that far. But John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Trump-Russia reports were “deeply disturbing” and could impede allies’ willingness to share intelligence with the U.S.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said simply: “It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House”.
The White House vigorously denied all the reports.
“While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn,” a White House statement said.
Trump fired Flynn on 13 February, on grounds that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.
“Pay Trump bribes here”
Following on from the White House controversy, an artist last night projected the words “Pay Trump bribes here” on the entrance of the Trump International Hotel in Washington.
The display was apparently a reference to questions around Trump’s business affairs with foreign governments.
With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald
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What is the benefit to those applicants living outside the EU?
Nun!! You need a full passport to visit outside the EU. USA,Canada,Australia… etc etc
It’s useful as local ID (driving licence, at least the paper version, is laughed at in most places if you try to use it as ID) and saves carrying around your full passport.
A lot of countries require you to carry identification at all times, e.g. national ID card.
This I assume would fulfil that requirement and is a lot easier than carrying a full passport.
Take photo copy of passport will do in many countries ! Save you carry passport ! €40 euro for ID card rip off Ireland right !
Anybody know how much they are?
€35
€35 for most, €40 if you’re a whinging jauntis.
Hahaha colm galvin you legend
Gee, despite the fact that it’s no use for going to Thailand?
Though that’s what you went to Thailand for!!!
You are a very bold boy, Get Lost ……
Eircode jealous rashers
Ah it’s all about how you position something. middle aged men. No I not one of them yet so I don’t need it. If you told us it’s mainly business people and professionals who got them it’d be a difference response
I found it impossible to get the app the accept my photo.
Me too, I just gave up!
I had no problem. Followed the instructions and had it all done in about 5 mins.
The E.U. is on its death bed due to greedy politicians and banks, so what is the use of it then?
You have to buy a passport in order to buy this, it is like paying twice to have a passport, if they have money to burn then it is up to them but it is just more money for the government to waste?
Ho ho, people do not like the true about the E.U. propaganda machine, the BBC got 22 million over 5 years to be pro E.U. in their news stories and the E.U. spent 664 million in self propaganda in 2014.
http://www.thejournal.ie/eu-wasteful-spending-2435414-Nov2015/
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/british-tabloids-lash-out-eu-spending-childrens-books-316837
http://www.businesspost.ie/households-to-be-charged-for-refusing-smart-electricity-meters/?ref=yfp
I am worried about the following as well…
“Electricity customers will face fines if they do not allow smart meters to be installed in their homes. Smart meters are due to be installed in at least 80 per cent of homes by 2020, to comply with EU targets. The total cost of the project is estimated at €750 million. ”
Another thing from the E.U. for you all…
This is very useful if your hotel doesn’t have a room safe or if your are travelling on business and flying back the same day. Many countries are now accepting these for visa free travel not just in the EU/EEA/Switzerland. I believe that the passport card is valid ID in Canada and the USA except for entry at the border.
BREAKING NEWS: Because they travel more.
That woman on that card doesn’t look like a Lauren O’Sullivan, looks more like an Eastern European in a wig to me…
Do you have a link to the app I can’t find it
Remember the good old days, when passports were given to wealthy “investors” from the Middle East?
Not another scandal – selling passports !! What next? Which politician started selling Irish passports ?? Was it Bertie to the Arabs or to the Nigeriand?
have your say