Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general in charge of overseeing the Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, wrote a letter to President Donald Trump recommending James Comey's removal from the FBI.
Rosenstein wrote, "Over the past year, however, the FBI's reputation and credibility have suffered substantial damage, and it has affected the entire Department of Justice." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Comey's firing was a "deeply troubling pattern from the Trump administration." He added, "They fired Sally Yates.
They fired Preet Bharara. And they fired James Comey, the very man leading the investigation. This does not seem to be a coincidence."
Facebook responds
I put this question to my followers: Why do you think Trump fired Comey and who, if anyone, influenced your decision?
Jenn N: Because he's either 1. Listening to a bunch of idiots like Bannon or 2. He's scared. I watch CNN mostly and read BBC news. I also go to conservative-leaning sites too to get my news.
Sheriann H: He needed firing! Simple. Stop trying to read into it!
Dottie T: He has idiots advising him, and he is scared. He's 70 and too old for federal prison.
All evidence points to some kind of collusion. Sally Yates and James Clapper both bowed out of questions yesterday, only days after Comey repeated his Trump-Russia investigation. If they really thought Comey was incompetent, why not fire him as soon as Trump took office?
Jane L: Because he's scared. He'll hire somebody new that he can strong-arm into shutting down the investigation and he (and Jeff Sessions) will continue to fire anybody who looks too closely at the Trump-Russia relationship. Remember Preet Bharara?
Luann B: Because Comey was closing in on him and he wants to stall the investigation. Flynn's attorney stated he has a story to tell but will only do so if he's given a deal. Trump is in panic mode.
Brian K: Trump appears to change his mind in a short time span. American politics is the laughing stock of the world. Comey or Comedy!
Sherry H: He, Trump, is totally unprepared to be President of the United States. He does not have an education, other than business. He has been living in his insular Trump world since he was a privileged young man. He does not read, has no knowledge of history, the United States Constitution, nor the basics of day to day governmental procedures. His mother is a McLeod and I am a McLeod from the Glasgow area..... it's so embarrassing! The Presidency is not a light weight reality show! God help us and God help the world!
The White House
The White House defended President Trump's decision to fire James Comey.
Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, back-up for Sean Spicer, Press Secretary was asked at the daily briefing why confidence was lost in Comey despite Spicer stating that President Trump had confidence in the director. She stated that the president had been contemplating firing him since "the day he was elected."
In today's Senate hearing, Andrew McCabe said in regards to the Russian inquiry, "There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date." He added, "It is my opinion and belief that the FBI will continue to pursue this investigation vigorously and completely."