The biggest crisis of Donald Trump’s short presidency came to a head on Tuesday as former FBI director James Coney gave a devastating testimony in the US Senate about possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, and obstruction of justice by Trump himself. According to Comey, Trump had personally expressed the hope that the investigation into his former national security adviser Michael Flynn for lying about meetings with Russian officials would be brought to a halt. Comey believed that this ‘hope’ coming as it did from the president was essentially an order. Comey was then fired which in itself is a scandal since presidents usually do not remove FBI directors in the middle of their term. Trump denied ever giving such an order to Comey and essentially accused the former FBI director of lying himself. He had previously suggested he may have recorded his conversations with Comey and Congress has now asked to be handed over any tapes which, should they exist, could settle the matter. The Trump administration initially said Comey was fired for reasons unrelated to Russia but Trump himself said he fired Comey for his handling of the investigation.
There are now two different problems the American president faces. The first is that the firing constituted obstruction of justice – a serious felony and an impeachable offence. The second is whether Trump himself colluded with Russia. It is now established that Russia was responsible for hacking and leaking emails of the Democratic National Committee. The question is whether Trump had anything to do with that. Impeachment is still a distant possibility since it requires a simple majority in the House of Representatives and a two-thirds majority in the Senate. But Comey’s testimony is being seen as proof that Trump is unfit for office. An independent investigation led by former FBI director Robert Mueller is now handling the Russia investigation and there are many questions to be answered, foremost among them why Trump seems so attracted to Russia – a traditional adversary of the US. The answer may lie in his finances. A string of bankruptcies and failed ventures made it impossible for Trump to raise financing in the US. There have been rumours that he sought money from Kremlin-connected banks and Russian organised crime. Since Trump is the first US presidential candidate in recent history who did not release his income tax returns, it is difficult to establish the rumours. But Comey’s testimony and Trump’s erratic behaviour are not adding to what little support the American president might have left.