Trump Fires FBI Director Comey

Deputy attorney general: Comey mishandled Clinton email investigation

Here are some excerpts from deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein’s memo on Comey’s firing, which goes into great detail about the FBI’s handling of Hillary Clinton’s emails:

• “I cannot defend the Director’s handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton’s emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken.” 
• “The Director was wrong to usurp the Attorney General’s authority on July 5, 2016, and announce his conclusion that the case should be closed without prosecution.”
• “The Director ignored another longstanding principle: we do not hold press conferences to release derogatory information about the subject of a declined criminal investigation.

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Ben Jacobs 

✔@Bencjacobs

The Rosenstein letter is remarkable. Comey is being fired for his press statement in July 2016 about Clinton https://twitter.com/akarl_smith/status/862062661596479490 …

6:55 AM - 10 May 2017

 
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Donald Trump: 'You are not able to effectively lead'

Reporters have obtained copies of Trump’s letter to Comey, which states that the FBIdirector is “not able to effectively lead”:

While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgement of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.

In March, Comey confirmed for the first time that the FBI was investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to interfere with the results of the presidential election. Here’s the full letter.

Here are some initial high-profile reactions to the termination of Comey, a polarizing figure whose decision to disclose an inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s emails just before the election last year sparked widespread debate.

From a former Clinton manager:

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Robby Mook 

✔@RobbyMook

Twilight zone. I was as disappointed and frustrated as anyone at how the email investigation was handled. But this terrifies me.

7:02 AM - 10 May 2017

 
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Edward Snowden, who has been targeted by the FBI, criticized the firing, saying: “every American should condemn such political interference in the Bureau’s work.”

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Edward Snowden 

✔@Snowden

This FBI Director has sought for years to jail me on account of my political activities. If I can oppose his firing, so can you. https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/862067649748119553 …

7:17 AM - 10 May 2017

 
•  3,3293,329 Retweets
 
•  4,0074,007 likes

From Clinton’s former vice presidential candidate:

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Senator Tim Kaine 

✔@timkaine

Trump firing Comey shows how frightened the Admin is over Russia investigation

7:16 AM - 10 May 2017

 
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If Donald Trump would just apply those same standards to himself, America's 3 month nightmare of his complete inability to govern could come to an end.