Canned Comey!

[BoSoxGal]

Just fired by Cheeto!

[Lord Jim]

This looks like an act of supreme cynicism:

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.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/washing ... story.html

So Donald "Lock Her Up" Trump fired Comey because of his mishandling of the Clinton email investigation?

Really?

That's your story?

Not because Trump and his campaign are the focus of an ongoing FBI investigation run by Comey into their Russia connections...

Nay nay, not a bit of it...

[Joe Guy]

Let's see... the people being investigated by the FBI fired the Director of the FBI.

There's nothing suspicious about that.

Easy Comey, easy goey I guess...

[dales]

This would've never happened if The Gay Hoover was still in charge.

[Lord Jim]

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.

More:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStor ... y-47309981

[Lord Jim]

Trump acts with his usual classiness:

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.

http://www.10news.com/news/ousted-fbi-d ... ws-reports

[ex-khobar Andy]

This, more than the firing of Sally Yates in January, has overtones of Nixon, Cox and Bork. I think that Comey mishandled the communications around HRC's e-mail 'scandal,' but I also think he was at heart an honest man somewhere between a rock and a very hard place. Seems strange to think that Democrats are, on the whole supporting Comey, when the prevailing wisdom in some quarters is that he swung the election the tiny bit it needed to go for Trump where it counted. I dread to think what we will see next. What's that Arizona sheriff doing now - Joe Arpaio?

Edited to correct a typo.

[BoSoxGal]

Bite your tongue!

[Long Run]

You can chalk this up to a broken clock being right twice a day.

[Big RR]

I'm no fan of Comey, but Trump is digging himself a big hole here (I recall him singing Comey's praises early on, now when the investigation isn't going the way he likes he fires him) which I think he will only be able to get out of by appointing an independent prosecutor. Whoever Trump appoints (no matter how "well respected") will be seen as tainted by many (and probably rightly so), and there will be little trust in any investigation involving him/her and the AG. Just more proof that he's an ass.

[Burning Petard]

Remember our president's on-the-record statement to CBS on 'Face the Nation': "I stand by nothing." resoundingly supported by the Press Secretary's confirmation that the president stands by his statement that he stands by nothing

It is all fake news, everywhere, in all media, about everything. The president has said so. Stand by for the soon to be announced beautiful victory in Afghanistan as the reason for sending a new division of American troops there--and the Afghans will pay for it with the profits from their current record-breaking poppy harvest.

And please note that a broken but still running badly clock is not even right twice a day.

snailgate

[Big RR]

And he had to fire Comey because the Russian replaced him with a double so he would do their bidding--only Trump could tell the difference (like Harrison Ford in Blade Runner).

[Joe Guy]

"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.

[BoSoxGal]

[Econoline]

[Econoline]

[BoSoxGal]

(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

[BoSoxGal]

I'm conflicted. I hated the way Comey handled the public discussion of the email investigation, it was plain wrong.

But I do think he's an ethical person who just made a very bad mistake that likely influenced the election.

His investigation of Trump's Russia ties proves that he's above politics. Trump firing him is certainly self-interested and the reasons he gave are entirely disingenuous. I believe Comey's departure is a negative for the country at this moment.

Independent Senator Angus King of Maine suggested that Comey be appointed special prosecutor; I think that would be interesting, but I'm sure it won't happen.

[RayThom]

Inside the FBI Comey had the respect of almost everyone under him. I hope acting director Andrew G. McCabe is aware of this while he's busy kissing Lord Dampnut's ass.

It will be interesting to hear what Comey has to say at his upcoming appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday.

The Kingdom is crumbling.

[ex-khobar Andy]

And from the Daily Beast:

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.”

Now there's a Republican idea I can live with. But I am not taking bets on it . . .