The three people involved in effecting the termination of FBI director James Comey last week were President Donald Trump and the two highest officers in the Justice Department, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. The Constitution vests in Trump the executive power, which he employs in fulfilling his constitutional obligation to take care that the laws are faithfully executed. He works through subordinates in exercising his power, and only he may fire them.
Thus did Trump, in a brief letter to Comey, fire the director: “you are hereby terminated and removed from office.” Trump told Comey he was taking that action after receiving letters “recommending your dismissal” from Sessions and Rosenstein.
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