Question: What if FBI says there is not enough evidence to establish collusion or Russian

[Liberal In Red State]

interference in the election? If they can't prove anything legally, doesn't that leave the Dems with a problem? I mean Comey was willing to affect the election by stating publically that the HRC email investigation was reopened- but the FBI was investigating possible collusion with a foreign government and said nothing - makes no sense. Unless the FBI walks dRump out of the WH in handcuffs - which I don't believe will happen, then this is going to look as though the Dems are fussing about nothing.

And why aren't more GOP nervous about appearing as anti-American? Most GOP that I know are somewhat holding their breath but not willing to cast him out. Something is up - are we being played?

[MFM008]

1. They have already said

There was Russian interference in the election.

[NCTraveler]

4. There has been in past elections as well.

Just as we interfere with the elections in other countries.

It's only about how direct the connection to Trump and his people is.

We should expect our adversaries to meddle in our elections if they have the resources to do so.

[uponit7771]

9. In the past has there been direct hacks of the state and local electoral boards? I wish the IC would

...tell us how this time is different

[NCTraveler]

13. The reply was to interference.

Everyone knows other governments have interfered with our elections in the past. There was no magnitude of order as you are now putting out there. Please ready what I replied to.

[Liberal In Red State]

6. They have said that they tried to influence the election but it was pointed out that no votes

we're affected. Now I would argue that the vote was affected by Comey disclosing the reopening of the HRC email investigation and by not disclosing that dRump was under investigation. I know a lot of people who have said had they known they would never have voted for dRump. So if collusion can't be legally proven - a few minor characters are charged - we are left with dRump for 4 years? hobbled though he may be - this is turning into a no win situation.

[uponit7771]

10. Comey and Rogers said they did not have evidence votes were affected that's not the same as

... no votes were affected because there only has to be two.

[mythology]

15. By that logic, you would be able to say anybody could have hacked actual votes

The evidence from Wisconsin is damning for the side wanting to pretend votes were changed. Counties that recounted by hand showed no statistically significant difference except where voter error such as writing the candidate's name and filling in the bubble occurred.

Your position holds that Martians could have changed the vote tallies because there's no definitive evidence they didn't.

[uponit7771]

16. Wis is one state and there are plenty of ways to hack an election including altering voter regs

[vlyons]

2. Republicans are always playing us - 24x7x365

We may not have tapes of a Russian literally putting money in Trump's hand, but there is plenty of money laundering to go around. I believe that several Trump folks, such as Manafort and Flynn will flip and snitch to save their sorry asses. If you hear that either guy has left the USA to go abroad on "vacation," or to pursue "business interest," you'll know the FBI vice is closing.

[NCTraveler]

3. "then this is going to look as though the Dems are fussing about nothing."

Damn near all Trump does is fuss about nothing. It will be ok. Big picture.

It has left an image of Trump as a Putin Toady. Image is everything in politics. Clinton wasn't charged with anything yet the people to this day think her emails were a big problem. Compare apples to apples.

[haele]

5. There might not be enough evidence that can tidy up links, but apparently enough to establish links.

If they didn't have anything that was at least actionable, they'd stop investigating. The FBI is not necessarily good buddies with the CIA or other members of the IC, and it's pretty obvious that there's quite a few high level members who have no problems hanging out with Russian Mobsters or playing authoritarian hippie-punching political games under GOP cover.

This is a minimally corrupt FBI in a totally corrupt Administration. If there was not enough "there" there, they'd go back to the lucrative job of investigating Hillary's emails and trying to drag Democrats down in the mud. There's more advancement to be had playing the GOP game if the GOP couldn't be taken down.

Haele

[Thomas Hurt]

7. Interference is pretty much settled already

that happened. What affect that the interference had on the election we will probably never know.

If is also clear that this was to try to sway the election for Trump.

again whether it did or not, we may never know.

The Trump leg humpers seem to think that it is okay this happened as long it did not throw the election.

We have to investigate every instance of "illegal" voting to prove the popular vote count was really in favor of Trump, but there is no interest in Russian sabotage.

Collusion is a entirely new level, cuz you would have to some kind of planning or knowledge, pay offs in aiding the Russians, as opposed to be just being a rube and being used.

[uponit7771]

8. They will

[Juliusseizure]

11. Investigation by itself still harms Trump/Republicans

The FBI is independent. Comey is Republican. Republicans can't label this a partisan witch hunt.

Just thinking back on Bill Clinton's investigation by Ken Starr, his infidelity was unimportant, it was a witchhunt, but the cloud he was under and sheer fact it was on the news for a long time was politically damaging.

Similarly, Benghazi resulted in nothing, but it was still damaging and used as leverage.

[bettyellen]

12. They MUST see all his finanacial records. All of them.

[CajunBlazer]

14. Did the Republicans get in trouble for playing up that Hillary's emails were under investigation?

No. Even thought there was no there there, they went on to win the White House and both Houses of Congress.

Plus, there is a lot more smoke coming from Trump's campaign staff than every came out of Hillary's emails - so in my mind, there is a greater probability of fire. This possibility of collusion has to be investigated thoroughly, but I am depending on the FBI, not Congress to do the real investigating.

[Nitram]

17. We are looking for conspiratorial cooperation between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Judging by Comey's refusal to answer questions, they have pretty solid evidence of a crime involving Russia and the campaign. "interference in the election" is a much broader topic including fake news and disinformation. We are looking for a quid pro quo between Russia and the campaign for the benefit of the aims of both parties.