While some congressional Republicans signaled they supported President Trump’s Tuesday decision to fire FBI Director James Comey, at least a few have expressed discomfort with the decision, which took Capitol Hill off guard.
The Republican overseeing the Senate Intelligence Committee’s probe into Russian meddling in the presidential election — an issue the FBI, under Comey, was also investigating — said in a statement he was “troubled by the timing and the reasoning” of Trump’s removal of the FBI Director.
“His dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigation by the Committee,” Intel Committee Chair Richard Burr said (R-NC).
The FBI investigation into Russia’s influence in the presidential election is said to include an examination of Trump campaign contacts with Russia. Comey, in public comments, has stopped short of saying whether the Trump was also being investigated.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said he was “disappointed” by the Trump’s removal of Comey, whom McCain called a “man of honor and integrity”
“I have long called for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 election,” McCain said in a statement. “The president’s decision to remove the FBI Director only confirms the need and the urgency of such a committee.”
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said in a statement of his own that the timing of Trump’s decision “will raise questions.”
In a letter announcing Comey’s termination, Trump said he “greatly appreciate[d]” Comey informing him “on three separate occasions” that he was “not under investigation.”
Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), who is known for his independent streak, pointed to the “bizarre” sentence specifically, while hinting he could push a bill setting up an independent commission.
My staff and I are reviewing legislation to establish an independent commission on Russia. The second paragraph of this letter is bizarre. https://t.co/wXeDtVIQiP
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 9, 2017
The problem with an “independent commission” appointed by Republicans is that it won’t be independent. We need an Independent Prosecutor, stat!
Here’s another suggestion, all you GOP senators who are now tripping all over yourselves to show how concerned you are: Hold actual, meaningful hearings on, and don’t just rubber-stamp, Trump’s next nominee for FBI director. That’ll show us, the public, just how serious (or not) you are.
John M. needs to have a discussion with his buddy Lindsey G.
Is there kompromat on Lindsey? His tune seems to have changed, and not for the better, as worse stuff keeps coming out. Strange.
ETA - dude even if there is, who cares - do the right damn thing and people will respect you.
Independent investigation by an Independent Prosecutor. Otherwise it will only fester, worsen and weaken us. Vlad and his puppets are the only immediate benefactors of our decline. Patriots in Congress and Senate need to stand up now, before people start taking to the streets in even greater numbers than seen to date.