Today during a news briefing, Press Secretary Sean Spicer informed reporters that, "The president has accepted the recommendation of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General regarding the dismissal of the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
Former Fbi Director James Comey himself allegedly learned of the dismissal while addressing FBI employees in L.A. by way of news reports being broadcasted on TVs in the background. Sources say that at first Comey thought it was a prank being played on him, but soon a letter was hand delivered to the FBI by President Trump’s longtime bodyguard, Keith Schiller, confirming this sudden termination.
In the letter, Trump wrote, “While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur in the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to actually lead the Bureau.”
Conflicting reasons
This occurred right in the midst of Comey's taking the lead in a criminal investigation into whether Trump’s advisers conspired with the Russian government to alter the outcome of the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor.
Trump insisted that his motivation behind firing Comey had to do with how he handled the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. However, many believe this to be a strategic move on the part of Trump and his administration to stave off the questions being asked about Russia’s alleged involvement in the past presidential election.
According to CNN, Democrats have been opposing the notion that Comey’s termination has anything to do with the Clinton investigation, instead “raising parallels to Watergate-era firings,” suggesting that “Comey was getting too close to the White House with the Russia probe.”
Further adding fuel to these beliefs is the fact that Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was named as one of the people behind Comey’s termination, was himself accused of having dealings with the Russian government.
Further backlash
People have voiced their disbelief and distrust regarding this decision. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked, "Were these investigations getting too close to home for the President?"
Republican Sen. Richard Burr, who himself is leading an investigation by the Senate into the supposed Russian hacking, also expressed his disapproval, calling the firing of Comey a "loss for the Bureau and the nation.” He added that he “found Director Comey to be a public servant of the highest order, and his dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigation by the Committee.”
Sen.
John McCain had this to say: "While the President has the legal authority to remove the director of the FBI, I am disappointed in the President's decision to remove James Comey from office."
CNN's senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin called Trump’s reason for firing Comey “absurd” and referred to the firing as a "grotesque abuse of power by the President of the United States."
Social media has also been a sounding board as many people have been voicing their outrage at Comey's dismissal.
The White House announced that it has already started looking for a new FBI director. In the meanwhile, Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has now taken the helm as FBI director.
