Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- James Comey is out of a job. President Donald Trump fired the FBI Director Tuesday afternoon.
The announcement comes after the FBI had to send a letter correcting last week's testimony before Congress about Hillary Clinton's emails.
But many are questioning Trump's timing and the real motive behind the firing.
Comey was in the midst of an investigation into Trump's campaign and possible collusion with Russian officials during the election.
Several congressmen have called for a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation. Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison and senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken are just a few of a growing number.
"Deeply troubling," Franken tweeted, while Klobuchar said the move was "very suspect."
Ellison called it a "constitutional crisis."
Just a few ways Minnesota Democrats are sharply speaking out against President Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.
Republican Congressman John McCain said it only confirms the need to select a committee to investigate Russia's interference in the 2016 election.
The White House sent a statement saying the president was acting on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and cited the handling of the Clinton email investigation.
Trump sent a letter to Comey saying: "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."
Kellyanne Conway, counselor to Trump, explained the decision on CNN.
"This man is the president of the United States. He acted decisively today. He took the recommendation of his deputy attorney general who oversees the FBI director," Conway told Anderson Cooper. "It does make sense, Anderson … it makes complete sense because he has lost confidence in the FBI director and he took the recommendation of Rod Rosenstein, deputy attorney general to whom the FBI Director reports to."
Comey was only a few years into a 10 year term.
The last time this happened was 1993. Then President Bill Clinton dismissed the FBI director for alleged ethical improprieties.
