Gingrich: A president 'cannot obstruct justice'

[mystery-ak]

Gingrich: A president 'cannot obstruct justice'
By Sumner Park - 06/16/17 01:15 PM EDT

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), a staunch supporter of President Trump, said Friday that a "president cannot obstruct justice."

Gingrich said that as president, Trump was well within his authority to fire the head of the FBI.

“The president of the United States is the chief executive officer of the United States. If he wants to fire the FBI director, all he has to do is fire him,” said Gingrich in comments at the National Press Club, where he was promoting a new book.

more
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/338147-gingrich-a-president-cannot-obstruct-justice

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Tell that to Nixon. And his aides.

[jmyrlefuller]

Tell that to Nixon. And his aides.

Also tell that to 1998 Newt Gingrich, who led the impeachment of Clinton for—wait for it—obstruction of justice.

[Jazzhead]

Tell that to Nixon. And his aides.

There's a difference between grounds for obstruction of justice and grounds for impeachment.   Gingrich is correct - the President can fire the head of the FBI.   He is, after all, the head of the executive branch of government.   However,  the political fallout from such an act can be grounds for impeachment.

[INVAR]

Proof positive that "Republicans" have lost any and all credibility when it comes to upholding the rule of law, the Constitution or common sense.

[Jazzhead]

Also tell that to 1998 Newt Gingrich, who led the impeachment of Clinton for—wait for it—obstruction of justice.

Not that I recall all that clearly the Clinton days (I thought WJC was impeached for perjury, but perhaps I'm wrong),  but a President can certainly obstruct justice.  But firing the head of the FBI is, without more (e.g., perjury) within his authority.     

[libertybele]

There's a difference between grounds for obstruction of justice and grounds for impeachment.   Gingrich is correct - the President can fire the head of the FBI.   He is, after all, the head of the executive branch of government.   However,  the political fallout from such an act can be grounds for impeachment.

??? Not quite following.  If the President can fire the head of the FBI, what political fallout should there be (such as in Comey); what high crimes and misdemeanors has he committed?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

While Newt has certainly beclowned himself in recent days, I'm beginning to think this article is slander on him, as I cannot find his exact words of "the president cannot obstruct justice".

There are two different ideas here: The president has the right to fire whoever he wants (I agree with this), and the president cannot obstruct justice (I disagree with this). I cannot find Newt's comment about the latter in context. And context is everything in this case.