The Comey Memos, Donkey Kong Scandal

Take a Memo: The Justice Department has given Congress copies of memos former FBI Director James Comey wrote after his interactions with President Trump. The 15 pages of memos, redacted in places before they were delivered, could end up being part of an obstruction of justice case against the President.

Much of the contents have previously been reported and Comey put it in his just-published book.

Comey wrote that his dinner conversation with Trump was so fragmented and zigzagged in a way that made it hard to recall. He said that Trump asked about leaks and that he replied. “the entire government leaks like crazy.” That was when, according to Comey, Trump said, “he needed loyalty and expected loyalty.”

Comey didn’t write that the President said, “I need your loyalty.” It may turn out to be an important difference for Trump.

The President did repeatedly bring up the Russia investigation, according to Comey, and in two memos he describes how Trump said he had nothing to do with prostitutes in Russia and complained about the “cloud” the investigation put over his administration. It was more than a strong hint that he wanted the investigation ended and could be interpreted as obstruction of justice.

Trump tweeted last night, “James Comey Memos just out and show clearly that there was NO COLLUSION and NO OBSTRUCTION.”

No, they don’t show that.

Legal Eagle: After a couple of departures, President Trump has had a hard time filling vacancies on his legal team. Now, former New York mayor and US Attorney Rudy Giuliani is joining up with hopes of making the special counsel investigation go away.

“I’m doing it because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller,” Giuliani told The Washington Post.

As US Attorney in New York, Giuliani gained notoriety for going after the Mafia’s “Five Families” and putting away major Wall Street financial criminals. After the 2016 election Trump had considered Giuliani for attorney general but didn’t give him the job.

Frat Boys: Syracuse University has suspended its engineering fraternity, Theata Tau, after the exposure of a video revealing members taking part in a racist and sexually explicit video. One of the members is on his knees saying, “I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for niggers, spics and most importantly the fuckin’ kikes,” the kid repeats.

Evidently he didn’t say that in his admission essay.

The Penalty Box: Disgraced bicycle racer Lance Armstrong has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a claim that he defrauded the US Postal Service because they sponsored him while he was using performance-enhancing drugs. Armstrong’s racing team wore USPS jerseys for six of his seven Tour de France titles and his contract with the USPS had a no-doping policy. He was stripped of all his titles after admitting doping five years ago. — The federal government is set to fine Wells Fargo Bank $1 billion for shenanigans involving mortgage rates, car loans, and other stuff. This comes on top of the $4.25 billion the bank set aside to pay liabilities connected to its fake accounts scandal. — The Justice Department’s inspector general has referred to the case of  the fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe for prosecution. McCabe is accused of  misleading investigators about his dealings with the press.

The Gun Beat: Dick’s Sporting Goods says it will destroy the assault rifles and accessories it removed from its stores in February instead of returning them to manufacturers. After the Parkland, Fla. school shooting, the company stopped selling assault rifles at its 35 Field & Stream stores, and stopped selling guns and ammunition to anyone younger than 21.

Late Breaking: NPR reports on its website, “Missing Nazi Submarine Found Near Denmark; Spoiler: Hitler Is Probably Not Onboard.”

The Obit Page: Back when professional wrestling was on late night television, long before Hulk Hogan and The Rock, Bruno Sammartino was a star of the ring for 30 years. Sammartino has died at age 82.

His contemporaries were Killer Kowalski, Gorilla Monsoon and George “The Animal” Steele. Known as “The Italian Superman,” Sammartino held professional wrestling’s title from 1963 to 1971.

Only a Game: The world of the Donkey Kong video game is in an uproar after the first player to score a million points has been stripped of his title. Fifty-two year old Billy Mitchell, a hot-sauce entrepreneur, has been cut from the record books and barred for life from being listed on the leader board of Twin Galaxies, the official referee of game scores.

He’s the Lance Armstrong of Donkey Kong.

Donkey Kong was released in 1981 and it’s kind of a cult thing among enthusiasts. They made a documentary about it.

Mitchell is accused of reaching his three million-plus scores using circuit boards that were not original Donkey Kong equipment. Some even suspect he faked it.

This is what happens when adults get involved in a kids’ game.

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Sunday, May 5, 2024

Page Two

The Most Corrupt Justice

Monday, October 2, 2023

Democracy and Video in the Dark

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Page Two: Do the Right Thing

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Page Two: Sound Recall

Monday, September 13, 2021

Page Two: Cuomo Must Go

Friday, August 13, 2021

Trump and the Truth

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

The “Great” President

Monday, March 30, 2020

The Wright Stuff

Saturday, February 29, 2020

It's Been Said

"In my mind, I’ve never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn’t realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate, and I should have, no excuses."

-Andrew Cuomo, resigning as governor of New York after accusations of sexual harassment

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