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Donald Trump fires FBI director Comey over handling of Clinton investigation Donald Trump fires FBI director Comey over handling of Clinton investigation
(about 2 hours later)
James Comey has been fired as director of the FBI over his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, the White House announced on Tuesday.James Comey has been fired as director of the FBI over his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, the White House announced on Tuesday.
The move was condemned by one Senate Democrat as “Nixonian” and raised concerns over the FBI’s investigation into alleged links between aides to Donald Trump and Russia.The move was condemned by one Senate Democrat as “Nixonian” and raised concerns over the FBI’s investigation into alleged links between aides to Donald Trump and Russia.
In a letter to Comey, the president wrote: “While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the bureau.In a letter to Comey, the president wrote: “While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the bureau.
“It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.”“It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.”
The dismissal of America’s top law enforcement official came days after he testified on Capitol Hill about Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state and the FBI’s investigation into Russian election interference.The dismissal of America’s top law enforcement official came days after he testified on Capitol Hill about Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state and the FBI’s investigation into Russian election interference.
Comey incorrectly testified that former Clinton aide Huma Abedin “forwarded hundreds and thousands” of emails to her husband’s laptop, including some with classified information.Comey incorrectly testified that former Clinton aide Huma Abedin “forwarded hundreds and thousands” of emails to her husband’s laptop, including some with classified information.
On Tuesday, the FBI said in a two-page letter to the Senate judiciary committee that only “a small number” of the thousands of emails found on the laptop had been forwarded there, while most had simply been backed up from electronic devices.On Tuesday, the FBI said in a two-page letter to the Senate judiciary committee that only “a small number” of the thousands of emails found on the laptop had been forwarded there, while most had simply been backed up from electronic devices.
In a recent interview, Clinton partly blamed Comey’s letter in late October, notifying Congress that the FBI was studying the emails on the laptop, for costing her the presidential election.In a recent interview, Clinton partly blamed Comey’s letter in late October, notifying Congress that the FBI was studying the emails on the laptop, for costing her the presidential election.
Comey had also been fiercely criticised for holding a press conference last July in which he said Clinton would not be charged but criticised her as “extremely careless”. The move was seen as infringing on the role of the justice department and attorney general.Comey had also been fiercely criticised for holding a press conference last July in which he said Clinton would not be charged but criticised her as “extremely careless”. The move was seen as infringing on the role of the justice department and attorney general.
The timing of Comey’s dismissal seemed to be related to the recent confirmation of Rod Rosenstein as deputy attorney general. In a memo released on Tuesday, Rosenstein wrote: “The director was wrong to usurp the attorney general’s authority on 5 July 2016, and announce his conclusion that the [Clinton] case should be closed without prosecution. It is not the function of the director to make such an announcement.”The timing of Comey’s dismissal seemed to be related to the recent confirmation of Rod Rosenstein as deputy attorney general. In a memo released on Tuesday, Rosenstein wrote: “The director was wrong to usurp the attorney general’s authority on 5 July 2016, and announce his conclusion that the [Clinton] case should be closed without prosecution. It is not the function of the director to make such an announcement.”
The memo added: “Compounding the error, the director ignored another longstanding principle: we do not hold press conferences to release derogatory information about the subject of a declined criminal investigation … the director laid out his version of the facts for the news media as if it were a closing argument, but without a trial.The memo added: “Compounding the error, the director ignored another longstanding principle: we do not hold press conferences to release derogatory information about the subject of a declined criminal investigation … the director laid out his version of the facts for the news media as if it were a closing argument, but without a trial.
“It is a textbook example of what federal prosecutors and agents are taught not to do … the way the director handled the conclusion of the email investigation was wrong.”“It is a textbook example of what federal prosecutors and agents are taught not to do … the way the director handled the conclusion of the email investigation was wrong.”
Comey, 56, was nominated by Barack Obama in 2013 to a 10-year term. A statement from the White House said: “Today, President Donald J Trump informed FBI director James Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office. President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.”Comey, 56, was nominated by Barack Obama in 2013 to a 10-year term. A statement from the White House said: “Today, President Donald J Trump informed FBI director James Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office. President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.”
The search for the next head of “our crown jewel of law enforcement” will begin immediately, the statement said.The search for the next head of “our crown jewel of law enforcement” will begin immediately, the statement said.
Comey’s dismissal raises questions over the future of the FBI’s investigation into alleged ties between Trump associates and Russia during the presidential election. In March, Sessions said he would recuse himself from that investigation, after revelations that he held two undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambassador last year. He has denied misleading senators by failing to mention those meetings in his confirmation hearing.Comey’s dismissal raises questions over the future of the FBI’s investigation into alleged ties between Trump associates and Russia during the presidential election. In March, Sessions said he would recuse himself from that investigation, after revelations that he held two undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambassador last year. He has denied misleading senators by failing to mention those meetings in his confirmation hearing.
Robby Mook, Clinton’s former campaign manager, tweeted: “Surprised I’m saying this, but I don’t see how this bodes well for the Russia investigation.” Comey reportedly found out he had been fired from breaking news alerts on TV screens as he delivered a speech to FBI staff in Los Angeles. He was “caught flat-footed” but carried on talking to the agents, the Los Angeles Times reported.
He added: “Twilight zone. I was as disappointed and frustrated as anyone at how the email investigation was handled. But this terrifies me.” Soon after, in another bizarre turn, a letter was hand delivered to FBI headquarters in Washington by Keith Schiller, Trump’s former bodyguard. Schiller, a former detective with the New York police department, worked for Trump’s security team for nearly two decades before joining the administration.
The last US president to fire an attorney general was Bill Clinton, who dismissed William Sessions 24 years ago over financial irregularities.
Most Republicans backed the president, including Senate judiciary committee chairman Chuck Grassley said: “The handling of the Clinton email investigation is a clear example of how Comey’s decisions have called into question the trust and political independence of the FBI. In my efforts to get answers, the FBI, under Comey’s leadership, has been slow or failed to provide information that Comey himself pledged to provide.”
But broad condemnation from Democrats and dissent from some Republicans is likely to intensify pressure for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
Justin Amash, a Republican congressman from Michigan, tweeted: “My staff and I are reviewing legislation to establish an independent commission on Russia.” He described the justification given in Trump’s letter to Comey as “bizarre”.
Richard Burr, a Republican leading the Senate intelligence committee investigation into Russia’s influence over the 2016 presidential election, said he was “troubled by the timing and reasoning” of the decision. “I have found director Comey to be a public servant of the highest order, and his dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigation by the committee.”
Democrat Adam Schiff, ranking member of the House intelligence committee, said: “The same president who has called the investigation into the Russian hacking of our democracy and the potential complicity of his campaign a ‘fake’ cannot pretend to have made such a decision uninfluenced by his concerns over Comey’s continued involvement in the investigation.
“It is more imperative than ever that an independent prosecutor be appointed.”
Chuck Schumer, Democratic minority leader in the Senate, said he told Trump, who called to notify him before making the firing public, “you’re making a very big mistake.”
Schumer added: “If deputy attorney general Rosenstein does not appoint an independent special prosecutor, every American will rightly suspect that the decision to fire director Comey was part of a cover-up.”
And congressman Keith Ellison, deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, warned: “We are witnessing a constitutional crisis unfold before our very eyes.”
Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said: “This is Nixonian. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein must immediately appoint a special counsel to continue the Trump/Russia investigation … this investigation must be independent and thorough in order to uphold our nation’s system of justice.”Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said: “This is Nixonian. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein must immediately appoint a special counsel to continue the Trump/Russia investigation … this investigation must be independent and thorough in order to uphold our nation’s system of justice.”
Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island and a member of the Senate judiciary committee, added: “While the White House is under investigation by the FBI, firing the head of the FBI raises massive questions, and the Senate should get to the bottom of it. Civil society groups also expressed alarm. Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said: “The independence of the FBI director is meant to ensure that the president does not operate above the law. For President Trump to fire the man responsible for investigating his own campaign’s ties to the Russians imperils that fundamental principle.”
“America needs to have confidence that the Department of Justice will fill its traditional role of following the facts fearlessly, and prosecuting whomever has violated the law no matter the office they hold.”
Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, called Trump’s move “a brazen and disgraceful abuse of power” and said justice department leaders were guilty of “manufacturing this joke of a rationale for Comey’s dismissal”.
Civil society groups expressed alarm. Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said: “The independence of the FBI director is meant to ensure that the president does not operate above the law. For President Trump to fire the man responsible for investigating his own campaign’s ties to the Russians imperils that fundamental principle.”
Most Republicans backed the president. Senate judiciary committee chairman Chuck Grassley said: “The handling of the Clinton email investigation is a clear example of how Comey’s decisions have called into question the trust and political independence of the FBI. In my efforts to get answers, the FBI, under Comey’s leadership, has been slow or failed to provide information that Comey himself pledged to provide.
“The effectiveness of the FBI depends upon the public trust and confidence. Unfortunately, this has clearly been lost.”
There was dissent from John McCain, the 2008 presidential nominee. The senator from Arizona said he was “disappointed in the president’s decision” and added: “James Comey is a man of honor and integrity and he has led the FBI well in extraordinary circumstances.
“I have long called for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. The president’s decision to remove the FBI director only confirms the need and the urgency of such a committee.”
During his testimony last week, Comey was pressed repeatedly about the contrast between his decision to break silence on the Clinton email case while concealing the existence of a counter-intelligence investigation into Trump campaign contacts with Russian officials during the presidential election.
He argued that one had been closed with no charges made, whereas the other was highly classified and was in its “very early stages”.