U.S. senators from Arizona 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. Senators from Arizona on the firing of James Comey
John McCain (R)
U.S. Senator John McCain released the following statement regarding Comey's firing on May 9, 2017:
| “ | While the President has the legal authority to remove the Director of the FBI, I am disappointed in the President's decision to remove James Comey from office. James Comey is a man of honor and integrity, and he has led the FBI well in extraordinary circumstances. I have long called for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia's interference in the 2016 election. The president's decision to remove the FBI Director only confirms the need and the urgency of such a committee.[5][6] | ” |
According to ABC News, McCain 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:
| “ | 'The only thing I can say is I think we’ve seen this movie before. I think it's reaching the point where it's of Watergate size and scale,' McCain, R-Arizona, told CBS contributor Bob Schieffer during the International Republican Institute Freedoms Dinner on Tuesday night.
... 'It's a centipede where the shoe continues to drop. Every couple days, there is a new aspect of this really unhappy situation,' McCain said. Asked what he would advise President Trump to do now, McCain said, 'Get it all out.' 'It's not going to be over until every aspect of it is thoroughly examined and the American people have made a judgment,' McCain argued. 'And the longer you make a delay, the longer it's going to last.'[7][6] |
” |
Jeff Flake
According to The Hill, U.S. Senator Jeff Flake had the following response to Comey's firing:
| “ | Flake said in a tweet that 'I’ve spent the last several hours trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey's firing. I just can't do it.'[8][6] | ” |
According to ABC News, Flake 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:
| “ | Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, told ABC News that if the suspicions are true, 'Republicans can't be okay with this.'
Flake said that if the president pressured Comey to get rid of the investigation and then later fired him, Republicans should be concerned.[9][6] |
” |
See also
- 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. Senator John McCain, "STATEMENT BY SENATOR JOHN McCAIN ON DISMISSAL OF FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY," May 9, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 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
- ↑ The Hill, "GOP senators on Comey firing: Where they stand," May 10, 2017
- ↑ ABC News, "McCain compares Comey memo to Watergate, Ryan says he has confidence in Trump," May 17, 2017
