Can FBI Director James Comey be tried for treason?

[Cyrano]

The head of the FBI, James Comey, put his finger on the scale days before the election.

I'm not sure how many ways treason can be defined. But I do know that a dangerous, ignorant man will be our president two weeks from today.

Hopefully, James Comey's name will appear alongside of Benedict Arnold's in history books to come.

In the meantime, I wish we could lock up this man for the rest of his life, after a fair trial for treason.

(Important: Please, please change your avatar (for now) to an inverted American flag. It's a signal of distress. Many of you know my avatar is the Eiffel Tower. But not right now. Imagine if all of us were displaying that on Inauguration Day.)

[Va Lefty]

1. He could but gop would never allow it

[Chasstev365]

2. Wishful Thinking

Never going to happen.

[Cyrano]

3. There's no time limit on being charged with murder

I wonder if the same is true about treason?

[Chasstev365]

5. I would LOVE it!

However, the GOP will never even consider it and a future Democratic President will want to "Move On." There is no doubt that James Comey tipped the election more than Putin.

[unblock]

4. violating the hatch act, sure. treason? no.

he abused his office to influence the election. i'm not a lawyer, but that could well be a violation of the hatch act.

treason? as much as we loathe his actions, no, it doesn't qualify as treason. he didn't overthrow our government, he didn't take up arms to destroy it, no. he simply supported one of the candidates in a highly slimy way.

the hatch act based on abuse of office is all we have against him, legally.

[herding cats]

6. I think he, and those who pushed him to do as he did, should be investigated.

The CIA needs to look long and hard for ties to Russia within those ranks.

[NightWatcher]

7. I'd love it if they found communication between Comey and Russians

Then yes.

[dumbcat]

8. Of course. Why not?

He would have to be charged first, of course, and prosecuted, which may be slightly problematic, but why not?

[trof]

9. What is treason?

"The Constitution does not itself create the offense; it only restricts the definition (the first paragraph), permits Congress to create the offense, and restricts any punishment for treason to only the convicted (the second paragraph).

The crime is prohibited by legislation passed by Congress. Therefore, the United States Code at 18 U.S.C. § 2381 states "whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States." The requirement of testimony of two witnesses was inherited from the British Treason Act 1695."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason#United_States

[Hortensis]

13. Comey knew the Russians were trying to throw our

elections to the Republicans and he knew his actions would help them. Proving it in court would depend on the results of investigation, but I think an excellent argument at least could be made that Comey knowingly gave aid to our enemies. Note that giving aid does not have to be a specific purpose to be treason.

I don't know what laws apply to misuse of power for subversive purposes, but no doubt we have some good ones, and there are very few honest people who don't very strong suspect Comey did egregiously betray his duty and intentionally seek to subvert our electoral process.

[Bettie]

10. More likely that he'll be given some kind of medal

for helping Dear Orange Emperor ascend to his throne.

[libtodeath]

11. He should be and if cheato plays out as bad as I think he will internationally tried too.

[doc03]

12. He should have been fired two months ago nt

[Motown_Johnny]

14. No, he can't.

Treason is very clearly defined in our Constitution (the only crime that is).


Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.



He did not levy war against the United States nor did he give aid and comfort to our enemy.