We are just learning about the firing of FBI James Comey by President Trump based on the recommendations of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. It is fair to say that Comey had enemies on both sides over his handling of the Hillary Clinton email scandal. I myself have mixed feelings.
Prior to the emergence of the email investigation, I held a high opinion of Comey. It was my understanding that he was popular within the bureau as compared to his predecessor Robert Mueller. Comey was generally considered to be a straight shooter who had stood his ground against political interference in the bureau's operations.
Then came the email case, which became hotter and hotter as the presidential campaign was in progress. Not even J. Edger Hoover, with his secret files on anybody and everybody in Washington, had to deal with this type of situation. Then his boss, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, allowed herself to be placed in a compromising situation by meeting Bill Clinton an an airport tarmac in Phoenix. By his recent account before Congress, Comey lost confidence in the DOJ to handle the matter. He then decided to hold a press conference in July in which he first laid out a convincing case for prosecution then concluded by stating that no reasonable prosecutor would take such a case to court. By most accounts, this left many of his agents dumbfounded and feeling betrayed. In addition, he stepped into the role of the prosecutor's office (attorney general). The ultimate decision to prosecute or not to prosecute belongs to the prosecutor-not the investigator. Later, as the election drew near, he announced that the FBI was re-opening the investigation then announced that the matter was settled and the case closed again. Rightfully or wrongfully, it made the agency look foolish.
I don't think Comey is an evil man. He found himself in a unique situation full of complexities, and he handled it poorly. He overstepped his bounds and usurped the authority of the attorney general. This is the basis for Rosenstein's finding that Comey should go. I think it is a sound decision. Did the FBI investigation into Trump's alleged Russian ties have anything to do with it-or the failure to indict Mrs. Clinton? Who knows at this point?
What is now important is that the new director be a strong law enforcement professional with impeccable credentials and who will keep the bureau free of political interference. The FBI desperately needs such a director-one that all agents can believe in.
5 comments:
Nice synopsis Gary. You sais it: "he handled it poorly. He overstepped his bounds and usurped the authority of the attorney general." The President had no choice when the recommendation came down to dismiss Comey. I feel bad for him, but he had to go. It is the Democrats that are news now. They want to turn this into a Watergate, which is far from a Nixon scandal. Watch the Left push this for the next few weeks.
Squid
Good job Gary! IMHO, Comey stepped in it first when he held a news conference to discuss the case. He went down a list of HRC's felonies on the mishandling of classified documents and lying about the nature and handling of was then evidence. He then, inexplicably forgave them all because of the supposed absence of "intent". Try using that excuse the next time you get a traffic ticket. Two things then happened: It confirmed the previous impression that Hillary Clinton was a liar, purposely devious, and basically crooked. It put Comey in the story where he then felt obliged to go back and change sides back and forth as new developments occurred. He angered both parties at one time or another and politicized his role as FBI Director.
On the Russian involvement, it should be recalled that ALL countries have interests. Where and when they can, they try to influence events in other countries in their favor. God knows the USA has done this many times using more extreme measures occasionally. Although there has yet to be any actual evidence (allegations are not proofs, conversations and meetings are not conspiracies, payments are not collusios) of this. Nobody to date has said exactly what it is that the Russians have done. If it is claimed that they supplied Wikileaks with the news and content of HRC's personal email domain with classified emails on it then they did us a favor. American voters have the right to know about this, even if the libtards would like to cover it up. She was running for President and if she was extreme careless with classified documents even at the time, we should know. If she was giving favorite treatment to big donors as Secretary of State, we should know. Russia did not tell her to say that 10,000 emails were about her daughter's wedding and not work product, we should know. The underlying crimes are much worse than the way they were disclosed.
That's how I see it. Comey lost the confidence of the administration and I can see why.
What you tip toe around is that Trump invited Comey to a private dinner at the White House and asked Comey to pledge personal loyalty to Trump -- which carries echoes of personal loyalty to a political leader who happened, secondarily, to occupy the office of chancellor. You know what country I'm thinking of, its one of your favorite places to drink beer, even if there was a putsch in a beer hall once.
No, Trump is not Hitler. Trump is not smart enough, focused enough, or a sufficiently skilled propagandist to be Hitler. And our constitution is not a mere 13 years old, nor was it written by foreign powers after they won a war. So, last time as tragedy, this time as farce. But a pathetic farce it is.
Who knows what was said between Comey and Trump?
Well, Trump says there is a tape, and Comey is reported to have said, I hope there is.
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