- US president fires FBI director
- Trump said Comey ‘not able to effectively lead’
Donald Trump last night fired James Comey, the FBI director, over his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails.
The US president said in a letter to Mr Comey that he was “not able to effectively lead the bureau”.
The Trump campaign is currently being investigated by the FBI over allegations that it colluded with Russia to influence the outcome of the election.
“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,” Mr Trump said.
“It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.”
Mr Comey played a controversial role in the 2016 presidential election, announcing days before the vote that Mrs Clinton was under renewed investigation for her use of a private email server – a move that the Democratic candidate said contributed to her defeat by Mr Trump.
Rod Rosenstein, the newly sworn-in deputy attorney general, recommended yesterday that Mr Comey be sacked over how he disclosed the investigation into Mrs Clinton.
Earlier yesterday, the FBI corrected Mr Comey’s sworn testimony made last week at a Senate inquiry into Russia’s role in the presidential election.
Mr Comey said that Huma Abedin, a top aide to Mrs Clinton, had sent “hundreds and thousands” of emails to her husband’s laptop, including some with classified information.
The FBI said yesterday that only “a small number” of the thousands of emails found on the laptop had been forwarded.
Comey had lost ‘public trust’
Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley says dismissed FBI Director James Comey had lost the “public trust and confidence.”
Grassley said Comey’s decisions on controversial matters “have prompted concern from across the political spectrum” and from career law enforcement experts.
Criticising Comey’s investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s email practices, Grassley said the FBI was slow to answer questions from his committee.
“The effectiveness of the FBI depends upon the public trust and confidence. Unfortunately, this has clearly been lost.”
Source: Donald Trump fires FBI director James Comey after he misled Senate over Hillary Clinton emails
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