President Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey
President Donald Trump shocked the nation Tuesday night and abruptly fired FBI Director James Comey, ousting the nation's top law enforcement official in the middle of an investigation into Russia's suspected meddling in last year's election.
Just last week, Comey testified before Congress about the FBI's investigation of Russia's meddling in the United States election.
He also spoke about the agency's investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails.
In a letter to Comey, Trump said the decision was necessary to restore "public trust and confidence" in the FBI.
Comey has been the target of intense scrutiny for his role in an investigation into Clinton's emails that rocked November's elections.
Comey announced last year that while Clinton's actions surrounding her email raised concerns, he decided to close the case without prosecution.
The White House says the search for Comey's replacement will begin immediately.
"The FBI is one of our nation's most cherished an respected institutions and today will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement," Trump said.
Trump’s decision to sack the FBI director was based on a recommendation from Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions wrote President Trump stating,
"The director of the FBI must be someone who follows faithfully the rules and principles of the Department of Justice," Sessions wrote in a letter to the president. "Therefore, I must recommend that you remove Director James B. Comey Junior."
While a letter from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein applauds Comey for being "an articulate and persuasive public speaker about leadership" he adds that he "cannot defend the director's handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton's emails."
"Almost everyone agrees that the director made serious mistakes; it is one the few issues that unites people of diverse perspectives," Rosenstein wrote.
President Trump has been critical of Comey, suggesting that his actions during the Clinton email investigation helped his former rival. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton blamed the director for contributing to her loss of the presidency.
President Trump tweeted Wednesday morning "Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me!
However, not everyone agrees Comey should have been fired.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., believes the timing of Comey's firing is suspicious, considering he was supposed to lead the investigation into the Trump administration's alleged involvement in Russia.
"The only way the American people can have faith in this investigation is for it to be led by a fearless independent special prosecutor," Schumer told reporters at the Capitol.
SOURCE: CBN NEWS
