President Donald Trump hinted that he had tapes of conversations with ousted FBI Director James Comey. (WhiteHouse.gov)

National News 

Trump threatens Comey and media in tweet storm

Regina Holmes

President Donald Trump hinted that he had tapes of conversations with ousted FBI Director James Comey. (WhiteHouse.gov)

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump lashed out in six tweets within an hour Friday morning, threatening ousted FBI Director James Comey as well as the media.

One tweet said: “James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

In his Tuesday letter to Comey firing him, the president referred to three instances when Comey had assured him that he was not under investigation. Comey was overseeing the probe into whether there was any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

On Thursday, Trump told NBC’s Lester Holt in an exclusive interview that he was referring to a dinner and he and Comey had, a phone call that Comey initiated, and a phone call that the president initiated. Trump called Comey a “showboat and a “grandstander.”

Many legal analysts say it was inappropriate for the president to inquire if he was under investigation, and say it would be very unusual for an FBI director to reveal the status of a probe under such circumstances.

Trump’s barrage of tweets also railed at the media, in his continuing war against the fourth estate and what he considers “the opposition party” that produces “fake news.” He has threatened to cancel press briefings and distribute written responses to reporters’ queries.

“As a very active President with lots of things happening, it is not possible for my surrogates to stand at podium with perfect accuracy!…. …Maybe the best thing to do would be to cancel all future “press briefings” and hand out written responses for the sake of accuracy???”

The White House press office has come under fire for inconsistencies in their accounting of why Comey was terminated and who actually made the decision. On Tuesday the White House released a memo Deputy U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein sent to his boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, urging that Comey be fired. Sessions in turn sent Trump a letter reiterating that sentiment; the White House also released that letter on Tuesday, along with Trump’s curt letter to Comey firing him.

The press briefings this week have been handled by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Press Secretary Sean Spicer is fulfilling a National Guard commitment at the Pentagon.

On Thursday afternoon the president provoked his long-time nemesis, comedian Rosie O’Donnell. He retweeted a two-word tweet, “Fire Comey,” she wrote on Dec. 20 in reply to a tweet from former Hillary Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon, Trump wrote: “Finally we agree on something Rosie.”

In response, O’Donnell called Trump sadistic and told him he didn’t realize the trouble he is in.

The president is the subject of most of O’Donnell’s recent tweets and retweets.

This article was republished with permission from Talk Media News.