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

    Don Bacon (R), Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District

    According to the Omaha World-Herald, U.S. Representative Don Bacon made the following comments regarding Comey's firing:

    “ In an interview, Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said he personally liked Comey but thought the director had lost credibility. 'The Democrats did not have faith in him. I know some of the Republicans didn’t have faith in him.'

    Bacon added that he does think the administration should have handled the notification better so Comey did not learn of the firing from television reports.[5][6]

    		”

    Jeff Fortenberry (R), Nebraska's 1st Congressional District

    According to the Omaha World-Herald, U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry made the following comments regarding Comey's firing:

    “ Looking past the controversial investigations and public comments, I think part of the Comey story is that Comey became the story.[5][6] ”

    Adrian Smith (R), Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District

    According to the Omaha World-Herald, U.S. Representative Adrian Smith made the following comments regarding Comey's firing:

    “ I’m anxious to get more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, we need cooler heads to prevail and not get carried away with theories before we have the facts.[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. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Omaha World-Herald, "Nebraska, Iowa lawmakers have mixed reactions to Trump firing Comey," May 11, 2017
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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