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Trump fires FBI chief over handling of Clinton email investigation

President Trump has fired FBI Director James B. Comey, saying that the dramatic move was necessary to allow a "new beginning" at the FBI.

Comey has been supervising an investigation of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and the possibility of cooperation between people linked to Trump's campaign and Moscow.

The FBI director also has been widely criticized by people in both parties for his handling of investigations connected to the election -- the Russia investigation as well as the inquiry into Hillary Clinton's email practices while she was secretary of State.

In firing Comey, Trump said he had acted on the recommendation of Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, a career prosecutor who is overseeing the FBI's handling of the Russia investigation because Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions has stepped aside from any role in it.

In a memorandum to Sessions, which was released by the White House, Rosenstein harshly criticized Comey for his actions going to back to last July, when he held a news conference to announce that the FBI would not seek charges against Clinton in the email investigation but denounced her conduct.

That was a serious misjudgment, Rosenstein wrote, adding, "The goal of a federal criminal investigation is not to announce our thoughts at a press conference."

He went on to say that Comey had made the problems worse with his decision to disclose in late October - 11 days before the election - that the FBI had reopened its investigation of Clinton after finding State Department emails on a computer belonging to former Rep. Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Clinton's aide, Huma Abedin.

Clinton has blamed the Comey letter for contributing to her defeat, although polling evidence on that point is unclear.

Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee last week that he had no choice but to disclose the re-opened investigation and not "conceal" it. Rosenstein sharply disagreed.

Prosecutors don't disclose non-public information about investigations, he wrote: "Silence is not concealement."

Given Comey's actions and his refusal to admit that they were mistakes, "the FBI is unlikely to regain public and congressional trust until it has a director who understands the gravity of the mistakes and pledges never to repeat them," Rosenstein wrote.

Sessions, in a letter to Trump, said that he was recommending Comey's dismissal "for the reasons expressed" by the deputy attorney general and in order for the department to "clearly reaffirm its commitment to longstanding principles" of proper conduct by investigators.

Trump, in a letter to Comey informing him of his dismissal, said he had accepted the recommendation. He added that he "greatly appreciate[d] you informing me on three separate occasions that I am not under investigation."

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced the decision to reporters Tuesday evening, saying that Trump had "accepted the recommendation of the attorney general and the deputy attorney general regarding the dismissal of the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

In a statement, the White House quoted Trump as saying that “the FBI is one of our nation’s most cherished and respected institutions and today will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement."

A search for a new permanent FBI director will begin immediately, the statement said.

Comey was confirmed in 2013. Although the FBI director serves a fixed term, which is supposed to insulate him from political pressure, previous presidents of both parties have taken the position that as an officer of the executive branch, the director can be fired by the president.

The Latest: Timing of Comey firing troubles Intel chair

The Senate Republican leading the investigation into potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign says he's "troubled by the timing and reasoning" behind President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Sen. Richard Burr, who chairs the Intelligence committee, said he found Comey to a public servant of the highest order, and his dismissal "further confuses an already difficult investigation" by his panel.

Burr said Comey was the most forthcoming with information of any FBI director that Burr could recall.

The North Carolina senator called Comey's firing "a loss for the bureau and the nation."

Republican John McCain says Congress must form a special committee to investigate Russia's interference in the 2016 election following President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.

The Arizona senator said he has long called for a special congressional committee to investigate Russian interference in the election and said Trump's decision to remove Comey "only confirms the need and the urgency of such a committee."

McCain said he was disappointed in Trump's decision, calling Comey a man of honor and integrity who led the FBI well in extraordinary circumstances.

Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said Comey's dismissal "will raise questions" and said "it is essential that ongoing investigations are free of political interference until their completion."

He said Trump must nominate a well-respected person to replace Comey.

Ousted FBI director James Comey discovered he was fired from TV news reports

(KGTV)--Ousted FBI director James Comey found out he had been fired when television screens flashed the breaking news while he was speaking to FBI employees in Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon. [Gee, that must have been a little awkward... ]

ABC 7 reported Comey was scheduled to speak at an event in West Hollywood tonight and Los Angeles Police Department said that he is still expected to speak despite being fired only hours before.

"the FBI White House is unlikely to regain public and congressional trust until it has a director we have a president who understands the gravity of the his mistakes and pledges never to repeat them," Rosenstein wrote should have written.

(CNN)Former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired Tuesday by President Donald Trump, on Wednesday sent a letter to friends and agents. Here is the text of that letter, which was obtained by CNN.

To all:

I have long believed that a President can fire an FBI Director for any reason, or for no reason at all. I'm not going to spend time on the decision or the way it was executed. I hope you won't either. It is done, and I will be fine, although I will miss you and the mission deeply.

I have said to you before that, in times of turbulence, the American people should see the FBI as a rock of competence, honesty, and independence. What makes leaving the FBI hard is the nature and quality of its people, who together make it that rock for America.

It is very hard to leave a group of people who are committed only to doing the right thing. My hope is that you will continue to live our values and the mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution. If you do that, you too will be sad when you leave, and the American people will be safer.

Working with you has been one of the great joys of my life. Thank you for that gift.

Jim Comey

In the wake of FBI Director James Comey's departure, a Republican senator has told the White House he thinks Merrick Garland—the judge nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Obama, who never even received a hearing—would be perfect for the position. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) tweeted on Thursday, "Instead of a special prosecutor, @realDonaldTrump should nominate Merrick Garland to replace James Comey." His spokesman, Conn Carroll, repeated that desire to The Daily Beast. "He's been sharing this idea with other Senate staff, and communicated this to the White House. It's something we want the administration to take seriously," said Carroll. "There was some interest [from White House staff]." Sen. Amy Klochubar (D-MN) also tweeted her support for the idea on Thursday. “Good idea @SenMikeLee. Former prosecutor Merrick Garland for FBI Director is great idea,” she wrote. “Need special prosecutor too.”