Hanging on "hope"

I find it amusing to watch republican after republican try to sell the TV audience that trump is innocent and did nothing inappropriate in his meetings with Comey.

In short, what is and is not quid pro quo and what is and is not undo influence between a employer and employee is very clear:

You know it when you see it.

I can clearly state that, in the case of any republican that has had a career as a prosecutor, that to say what occurred between trump and Comey was not illegal, THEY ARE LYING.

If that interaction had occurred between any other two federal employees in a similar dynamic, the supervisor in that dynamic would have been fired and likely be in serious legal jeopardy depending of the circumstances.

There are many former federal employees, including former members of Congress, that are no longer employed for far less in some cases.

The rub hangs on the word "hope". It not a direct order to perform a specific act but it rarely is in a quid pro quo or undo influence situation. The statement that no one ordered anyone to do anything is a red herring.
When you analyze these situations, there several pieces you have to look at to make a determination.

First, you look at the hierarchical relationship between the parties involved. There is no greater disparity in a supervisory relationship than a president and anyone else employed in the federal government.

Next is situational, where did it happen and in what context. It happened in a position of total power for a president, the epicenter of power for a president, the White House itself.

Next, context, which was a meeting that went from a room full of senior WH officials, including Comey's direct supervisor's supervisor, all being asked to leave the room and leave Comey in the room alone.

Next is language. The word "hope" implies a desire for a specific outcome. The action of asking implies a specific intent.

Taken in its totality: relationship, situation, context and language, there is absolutely no doubt that this is a textbook definition of undo influence.

To say differently is lying and more importantly, by not being honest about what happened, could have a unbelievably chilling effect on sexual harassment and quid pro quo cases for years to come.