Adios James Comey

FBI Director James Comey was fired on Tuesday, 5/9/17, by President Trump. I have mixed emotions about this move. 

Comey certainly made a mess of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server. There were several missteps during that investigation. His press conference in the summer of 2016 stated that the FBI would not pursue criminal charges against Clinton and the case was closed. Then during that press conference and subsequent Congressional hearings, Comey went into great detail to chastise Clinton for her behavior. Unprecedented actions by an FBI Director.  The public revelation that the investigation was being reopened just a few days before the November Presidential election was also a first. This was because new evidence had been found yet the evidence had not even been read. It turned out that this new evidence was, in fact, the same old evidence so the case was again closed and Clinton was off the hook. Of course, the damage had already been done. Many people assumed Clinton's guilt because of the old adage, "where there's smoke, there's fire".

Comey again made a mess of his Senate testimony recently when he talked about the Clinton email investigation, his actions and the ongoing investigation into Russian influence and tampering of the 2016 Presidential campaigns and election. 

I agree that Comey has tarnished the reputation of the FBI and cast doubt on their non-partisan and non-political charter.

On the other hand, it is suspicious that Trump would fire Comey while there is an ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged contacts with Russia. The firing was recommended by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sessions was a member of the Trump campaign and is potentially under investigation himself. 

The official reasons for Comey's firing is that he strayed from established FBI and Justice Department procedures and traditions during the Clinton investigation. Somewhat ironic in that many think Comey's reopening of the Clinton case in late October 2016 hurt her campaign and helped Trump get elected.

We may never know the real reasons and timing for the dismissal. We now have to hope that Trump takes the stated reasons for the firing to heart and actually appoints a nonpartisan, nonpolitical, competent person to head the FBI. Will the Russian connection investigation be dropped? Will the Clinton email investigation be reopened? 

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