The biggest story out of Washington, D.C., Tuesday evening is that President Trump has fired FBI director James B. Comey.
The second biggest story is the why of the termination: Comey was let go because of his handling of the FBI investigation of Hillary Clinton’s unauthorized private email server, particularly when he recommended in July 2016 that no charges should be brought against the former secretary of state.
At least, that’s the story the White House is going with, and they’re sticking to it.
Trump acted this week on the recommendations of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the latter of whom explained in a memo that the firing was over the 2016 presser, the White House said Tuesday.
“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 judgement that he was mistaken,” Rosenstein said in a memo to Sessions. “Almost everyone agrees that the Director made serious mistakes; it is one of the few issues that unites people of diverse perspectives.”
The memo continued, claiming Comey, “was wrong to usurp the Attorney General’s authority on July 5, 2016, and announce his conclusion that the [Clinton] case should be closed without prosecution.”
Sessions, who agreed with Rosenstein’s opinion, wrote a separate letter urging the president to begin the search for a new Director.
“[A] fresh start is needed at the leadership of the FBI,” wrote the Attorney General.
Sessions’ letter comes not long after he recused himself from involvement in the FBI’s investigation of Russia’s reported meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Until his abrupt firing, Comey headed the effort to examine allegations the Russians tried to sway the election in Trump’s favor.
Trump took the Justice Department’s recommendations to heart, according to the White House.
Comey was in Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon in the middle of a presentation to law enforcement officials when he found out he was fired. The former FBI director reportedly thought it was a joke at first.
An official letter of termination was hand-delivered to the FBI headquarters in the nation’s capital.
“While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau,” read Trump’s letter to Comey.
“It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission,” the president’s letter added.
The firing comes just a few days after Trump explicitly accused Comey, who served at the president’s pleasure, of giving Clinton a “free pass” in its investigation of her emails.
“FBI Director Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton in that he gave her a free pass for many bad deeds! The phony…” the president tweeted. “…Trump/Russia story was an excuse used by the Democrats as justification for losing the election. Perhaps Trump just ran a great campaign?”
White House press secretary Sean Spicer responded at the time by insisting the president had every confidence in Comey.
Spicer apparently didn’t account for Sessions’ and Rosenstein’s respective positions on the matter.
