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U.S. senators from North Dakota 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. Senators from North Dakota on the firing of James Comey

    Heidi Heitkamp

    U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp issued the following statement regarding Comey's firing on May 10, 2017:

    “ 'The president firing Director Comey raises far more questions than it answers,' said Heitkamp. 'We must make sure the FBI can do its job to effectively and independently protect our national security. And it’s critical that the American people know the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in our election is, and always will be, impartial. It’s time a special prosecutor is appointed to guarantee that happens. Additionally, after the U.S. Attorney General recused himself from the investigation following public pressure, he then recommended the president fire the person overseeing that same investigation. That is deeply troubling and unprecedented. Extreme partisanship is one of the greatest dangers our country faces, and we cannot let this investigation succumb to partisan division or Russian attempts to take advantage of us.'[5][6] ”

    John Hoeven

    U.S. Senator John Hoeven released the following statement regarding Comey's firing on May 10, 2017:

    “ While Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s letter made the case for the president to fire Director Comey, the timing of his dismissal raises questions. That’s why the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee needs to continue its investigation into all aspects of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, including any Russian interference. We look forward to reviewing their bipartisan findings and recommendations to determine if additional actions are necessary.[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. ↑ U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, "Heitkamp Statement on Firing of FBI Director 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. ↑ U.S. Senator John Hoeven, "HOEVEN STATEMENT ON DISMISSAL OF FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY," May 10, 2017
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