The stunning termination of Comey came at the recommendation of Department of Justice officials late Tuesday afternoon.
Taking to Twitter early Wednesday morning, the president slammed Democrat lawmakers' response to the ouster, saying "Democrats have said some of the worst things about Comey," but now are "playing sad."
The Democrats have said some of the worst things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they play so sad!
Mr. Trump went on to say Comey would be replaced by someone who will do a "far better job" and that Comey had "lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington."
James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI.
The president was also quick to retweet an article featured on Drudge Report, headlined "10 major FBI scandals on Comey's watch." However, CBS News Justice Reporter Paula Reid says many of the incidents on the list occurred prior to Comey taking over the FBI back in September of 2013.
Meanwhile, White House officials are adamant that the decision to fire Comey came from the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told CBSN's "Red & Blue" that Comey had "lost the confidence" of the "rank-and-file" FBI employees, "politicized" his role and become a "distraction" in explaining the timing of the former director's dismissal.
"Look, I think that there's been a long list of reasons that Director Comey isn't there," Sanders told CBSN.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer echoed Sanders statements by telling reporters Tuesday evening amid the fallout over Comey's termination that the president had made the right decision based on what a 30-year career prosecutor recommended to him.
Letter from President Trump firing FBI Director James Comey
Trump tweets lawmakers will soon "be thanking me" for firing Comey
By Emily Tillett
/ CBS News
President Donald Trump unleashed a Twitter storm in the fallout over his firing of FBI Director James Comey.
The stunning termination of Comey came at the recommendation of Department of Justice officials late Tuesday afternoon.
Taking to Twitter early Wednesday morning, the president slammed Democrat lawmakers' response to the ouster, saying "Democrats have said some of the worst things about Comey," but now are "playing sad."
Mr. Trump went on to say Comey would be replaced by someone who will do a "far better job" and that Comey had "lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington."
"When things calm down, they will be thanking me," added the president.
The president was also quick to retweet an article featured on Drudge Report, headlined "10 major FBI scandals on Comey's watch." However, CBS News Justice Reporter Paula Reid says many of the incidents on the list occurred prior to Comey taking over the FBI back in September of 2013.
Meanwhile, White House officials are adamant that the decision to fire Comey came from the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told CBSN's "Red & Blue" that Comey had "lost the confidence" of the "rank-and-file" FBI employees, "politicized" his role and become a "distraction" in explaining the timing of the former director's dismissal.
The FBI is investigating any ties between Russians and Mr. Trump's associates, so the timing of Comey's dismissal is raising the eyebrows of Democrats and even some Republicans.
"Look, I think that there's been a long list of reasons that Director Comey isn't there," Sanders told CBSN.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer echoed Sanders statements by telling reporters Tuesday evening amid the fallout over Comey's termination that the president had made the right decision based on what a 30-year career prosecutor recommended to him.
In:- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- James Comey
- Donald Trump
- Russia
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