President Trump plans to keep FBI Director James Comey in his current role, according to a report.
The New York Times reported Comey told top agents he had been asked to stay on. The two seemed friendly during a meeting this weekend where Trump called Comey “more famous than me.”
Comey has been a lightning rod for criticism on both sides of the aisle since the summer for his statements regarding the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server.
After making a lengthy statement about Clinton’s server but declining to press charges in the summer, Trump spent weeks on the campaign trail slamming Comey and his decision. But, after Comey sent a letter to Congress less than two weeks before the election announcing the investigation into Clinton was being reopened, he became the focus of Democratic ire and Clinton supporters widely believe he cost the former secretary of state the election.
The FBI is reportedly investigating several of Trump’s associates and their connections with the Russian government.
The director of the FBI serves for a 10-year term after being appointed, which is intended to give the director political independence from whatever administration happens to control the White House. Comey was appointed by President Obama in 2013.
The Times reported Clinton planned to fire Comey if she had been elected.
