U.S. House members from Texas 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]
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 Texas on the firing of James Comey
Brian Babin (R), Texas' 36th Congressional District
U.S. Representative Brian Babin issued the following statement in response to Comey's firing on May 11, 2017:
| “ | Over the past year, the integrity and credibility of the FBI has been severely damaged under the leadership of Director Comey and his mishandling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server. This has been a criticism universally shared by members of both parties, including the Senate’s top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, who stated that he had lost confidence in Director Comey.
After reading the recommendation for dismissal laid forth by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein – who also served as a U.S. attorney under the Obama Administration – it was clear to me that Director Comey needed to go as he had lost confidence and respect from the men and women he was entrusted to lead and serve.[5][6] |
” |
Al Green (D), Texas' 9th Congressional District
According to ABC News, U.S. Representative Al Green 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:
| “ | Speaking on the House floor this morning, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, declared, 'The president must be impeached.'
'For those who do not know, impeachment does not mean that the president would be found guilty,' Green said. 'It simply means that the House of Representatives will bring charges against the president. It's similar to an indictment but not quite the same thing.'[7][6] |
” |
See also
- Donald Trump firing of FBI Director James Comey, 2017-2018
- Congressional responses to the firing of James Comey
- House Intelligence Committee investigation on Russian activity in 2016 presidential election
- Hillary Clinton email investigation
Footnotes
- ↑ The New York Times, "F.B.I. Director James Comey Is Fired by Trump," May 9, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 CNN, "Trump: I was going to fire Comey regardless of DOJ recommendation," May 11, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 NPR, "'I Will Be Fine,' Comey Reportedly Tells FBI Agents In Farewell Letter," May 10, 2017
- ↑ The Atlantic, "The House Demands to See the Comey Memos," May 16, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Representative Brian Babin, "Babin Statement on the Firing of FBI Director James Comey," May 11, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ ABC News, "McCain compares Comey memo to Watergate, Ryan says he has confidence in Trump," May 17, 2017
