FBI Director James Comey is officially out of work. On Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump made the decision to fire one of his top lieutenants. The decision comes after Comey found himself in some hot water for comments made during testimony surrounding the probe into the administration's ties with Russia. The decision was perhaps a long time coming, but it's yet another vacant position now open in an administration full of them.
Out of work
Acting on the advice of his attorney general, President Trump fired Comey on Tuesday. The FBI director was in charge of the probe into the administration's ties to Russia, most famously exploited during the 2016 presidential election.
Both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions recommended the decision, according to press secretary Sean Spicer. The decision felt rather sudden, coming after an eventful week for Comey.
During testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Comey discussed the handling of the events leading up to last year's election. He claimed to have been conflicted about whether or not to reveal the reopening of an investigation into Hillary Clinton just days before the election.
Nevertheless, he said he would've handled the situation the same way, despite likely handing the election to Donald Trump in the process. His testimony quickly drew scrutiny, however, as people questioned the FBI leader's process and honesty.
Ultimately, his job became endangered in the process.
Tumultuous Tenure
Nothing has come particularly easy during Comey's time in charge of the FBI. His job security first became endangered back in July, when he publicly announced that the FBI would not recommend charges for Clinton following her use of a private email server as secretary of state under President Obama.
He did call out Clinton for being careless during a press conference, though, something the Trump campaign seized upon.
Trump has been an enemy of Comey's since the start, despite the FBI director virtually handing Trump the election in the weeks leading up to November. Trump claimed that Comey was an ally of Clinton for not recommending charges and having her thrown in jail. He'll no longer have the stress of working under an administration that doesn't accept him while the Russia probe somehow falls into a deeper state of chaos than ever believed possible at the onset.
