(Article written on 5/23/17)
James M. Comey, former F.B.I. Director, was fired by President Trump on May 9, 2017.
The White House publicized that Comey’s release was due to recommendations from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
President Trump later contradicted this and stated that he was going to dismiss Comey “regardless of recommendation.”
Sessions and Rosenstein recommended Comey’s dismissal because of his management of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server.
President Trump’s decision to fire Comey was grounded in his negative view of Comey’s actions within the F.B.I. and his “showboat” personality.
There has additionally been disagreement over Comey and President Trump’s interactions regarding Michael Flynn, former National Security Advisor.
Flynn resigned in February for not telling the truth to Vice President Mike Pence, Press Secretary Sean Spicer, and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus about his engagements with a Russian Ambassador.
According to a memo found from a conversation between President Trump and Comey, one day after Flynn’s resignation, President Trump requested that Comey end the investigation into Flynn’s case with Russia.
The White House denied that this event took place, and the F.B.I. made no comment.
In a statement released by the White House, this memo is “not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.”
Acting Director of the F.B.I., Andrew McCabe stated that “the work of the men and women of the FBI continues despite any changes in circumstance, any decisions. There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date.”
Nonetheless, it is still unknown whether the investigation that McCabe was referencing was Comey’s release or President Trump’s associates’ potential contacts with Russia.
Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said that he is preparing to write a subpoena to obtain the memo.
Chaffetz sent a letter to McCabe requesting any documents, memos, summaries or recordings regarding Comey and President Trump’s interactions.
