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U.S. House members from Illinois on the firing of James Comey

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President Donald Trump (R) fired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey on May 9, 2017. Trump stated in a letter that he no longer had confidence in Comey's ability to lead the agency.[1]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • President Donald Trump (R) fired FBI Director James Comey on May 9, 2017.
  • Comey's firing occurred in the midst of the FBI's investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 presidential election.
  • According to the memo recommending his removal, Comey's firing stemmed from his handling of the investigation into former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's private email server.
  • On May 16, 2017, The New York Times reported that Comey had penned a memo documenting a conversation in which Trump allegedly asked Comey to halt an investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

    • Comey's dismissal occurred after Trump received a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to Attorney General Jeff Sessions recommending Comey's removal. According to the memo, Rosenstein recommended Comey's ouster due to what Rosenstein and his colleagues viewed as mistaken actions taken by Comey during the course of the investigation into former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's private email server. Trump later stated that he had lost confidence in Comey's ability to lead the agency and had made the decision to fire Comey prior to receiving the memo. According to White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the memo was the "final straw that pushed [Trump]" to remove Comey from the post.[2][3]

    Comey's dismissal sparked varying responses from congressional members. Many Democrats and Republicans expressed concern over the firing in light of the FBI's ongoing investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 presidential election. Others supported Trump's decision, stating that he had acted within his authority as president and citing many Democrats' prior condemnations of Comey during the course of the Clinton email investigation. Comey's removal also sparked calls from a number of Democrats to appoint a special prosecutor to lead the FBI's Russia investigation.[2][3]

    On May 16, 2017, The New York Times reported that Comey had penned a memo documenting a conversation in which Trump allegedly asked Comey to halt an investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. The report generated additional responses by congressional members.[4]

    U.S. House members from Illinois on the firing of James Comey

    Luis Gutierrez (D), Illinois' 4th Congressional District

    U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez made the following comments regarding Comey's firing via Twitter:

    Raja Krishnamoorthi (D), Illinois' 8th Congressional District

    U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi made the following comments regarding Comey's firing via Twitter:

    Adam Kinzinger (R), Illinois' 16th Congressional District

    According to ABC News, U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger made the following comments regarding reports that Comey had penned a memo documenting a conversation in which Trump allegedly asked Comey to halt an investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn:

    “ 'It is time that we look at the idea of whether it's an independent commission or a special prosecutor,' Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Illinois, said in an interview today on CNN's 'New Day.'

    Kinzinger went on to say, 'I'm not sure it's the best venue, but I think it is time that we do whatever is necessary so that when this is over, we give the American people the confidence that justice -- either way it goes -- has been served.'

    The Illinois congressman argued that people are drawing conclusions based on their political affiliations, 'not by the rule of law.'

    Kinzinger added that he has not lost faith in the congressional investigations into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, but stressed, 'We need honest, non-political answers.'[5][6]

    		”

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ The New York Times, "F.B.I. Director James Comey Is Fired by Trump," May 9, 2017
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 CNN, "Trump: I was going to fire Comey regardless of DOJ recommendation," May 11, 2017
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 NPR, "'I Will Be Fine,' Comey Reportedly Tells FBI Agents In Farewell Letter," May 10, 2017
    4. ↑ The Atlantic, "The House Demands to See the Comey Memos," May 16, 2017
    5. ↑ ABC News, "McCain compares Comey memo to Watergate, Ryan says he has confidence in Trump," May 17, 2017
    6. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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