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

    Ann Kuster (D), New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District

    U.S. Representative Ann Kuster released the following statement regarding Comey's firing on May 10, 2017:

    “ I have serious concerns about the circumstances of James Comey’s firing. Mr. Comey has had multiple missteps in recent months that have politicized the Federal Bureau of Investigation but the timing of his dismissal raises red flags. The American people deserve a qualified successor who will restore public confidence in the FBI. Furthermore, this unprecedented firing underscores the need for an independent nonpartisan investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia's interference in the election.[5][6] ”

    Carol Shea-Porter (D), New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District

    U.S. Representative Carol Shea-Porter released the following statement regarding Comey's firing on May 9, 2017:

    “ I will demand an explanation for today's highly unusual action. While I vehemently disagreed with former Director Comey's decisions shortly before the 2016 election, the fact is that President Trump just fired the person leading the investigation into his Administration's ties to Russia. The credibility of that investigation is now in serious doubt, and the need for a Congressionally-ordered independent investigation into these matters is clearer than ever. Mr. Comey should also be called to testify immediately.[7][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. ↑ Congresswoman Annie Kuster, "Kuster Reaction to the Firing of FBI Director James Comey," May 10, 2017
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    7. ↑ Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, "Shea-Porter Statement on Firing of FBI Director Comey," May 9, 2017
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