Donald Trump fires FBI Director James Comey

WHEN the FBI Director first learned Donald Trump had fired him, he thought it was a particularly good practical joke.

Donald Trump has made a drastic move. Pic: AP

DONALD Trump’s decision to abruptly fire FBI Director James Comey has ignited a fearsome political firestorm in the United States.

“Today, President Donald J. Trump informed Mr Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office,” the White House revealed in a statement, which said Mr Trump had acted on the advice of his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions.

“The FBI is one of our nation’s most cherished and respected institutions and today will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement.

“A search for a new permanent FBI Director will begin immediately.”

The White House statement did not elaborate on the reason for Mr Comey’s dismissal, though Mr Sessions’ recommendation to the President stated the government needed to “reaffirm its commitment” to “the integrity and fairness of federal investigations and prosecutions”.

Sacked FBI Director James Comey. Pic: AP

In his termination letter to Mr Comey, obtained by the media, the President was strikingly blunt.

“You are hereby terminated and removed from office, effective immediately,” Mr Trump wrote.

“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.

“It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission. I wish you luck in your future endeavours.”

The termination letter sent to James Comey. Pic: AFP

HOW COMEY FOUND OUT

News of the firing apparently came as a surprise to Mr Comey, who according to the New York Times, first thought it was part of a prank.

Mr Comey was addressing FBI staff in Los Angeles when he noticed a television in the background announcing that he had been fired.

He initially laughed and said he thought it was a joke until he was told by staff to step into a nearby office where it was confirmed he had in fact been fired.

However, he had not heard from the White House prior to this and he only received Mr Trump’s letter, which had been delivered to the FBI headquarters, a short time later.

When James Comey first learned he had been fired, he thought it was a fairly funny prank https://t.co/cy1VYUKHJZ pic.twitter.com/QWqd8qNf5i

— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) May 10, 2017

‘POLITICAL SCANDAL’

In a stinging editorial, the New York Timessaid Mr Trump’s action drew obvious parallel’s with Richard Nixon’s ordering the firing of the special prosecutor investigating Watergate in 1973.

The so-called Saturday Night Massacre sparked the resignation of the attorney general and his deputy.

The Times also said the American people deserved a thorough investigation into the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

“By firing the FBI director, James Comey, late Tuesday afternoon, President Trump has cast grave doubt on the viability of any further investigation into what could be one of the biggest political scandals in the country’s history,” the editorial reads.

While acknowledging Mr Comey had bungled the investigation it stated this wasn’t the reason he was fired.

“Mr Comey was fired because he was leading an active investigation that could bring down a president,” it reads.

Mr Trump’s actions sparked reaction within the US. Picture: Evan Vucci/AP

SWIFT BACKLASH

Earlier this week, Mr Comey testified to Congress about the FBI’s investigation into potential links between Russia and Mr Trump’s campaign team. He first confirmed the existence of that investigation back in March.

During that appearance before Congress, Mr Comey also covered the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails, and misstated several facts.

The backlash against Mr Trump’s decision to fire Mr Comey has been swift and severe.

“It’s a grotesque abuse of power by the President of the United States,” said CNN’s senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin.

“This is the kind of thing that goes on in non-democracies. That when there is an investigation that reaches near the President of the United States or the leader of the non-democracy, they fire the people in charge of the investigation.

“I have not seen anything like this since October 1973, when President Nixon fired Archibald Cox, the Watergate special prosecutor ... that firing led indirectly, but certainly, to the resignation of President Nixon.

“This is something that is completely outside how American law is supposed to work.”

Strong words from Jeffrey Toobin: "a grotesque abuse of power by the president...This is the kind of thing that goes on in non-democracies" pic.twitter.com/IXc9rdLgHd

— David Mack (@davidmackau) May 9, 2017

As you’d expect, the President’s political opponents also raised the spectre of Richard Nixon, who resigned from office in disgrace during the 1970s.

“This is Nixonian,” said senior senator Bob Casey. “Trump firing Comey shows how frightened the administration is over the Russia investigation,” added Hillary Clinton’s vice-presidential nominee, Tim Kaine.

“The President’s action, and the way it has been handled, is shocking,” said Senator Patrick Leahy. “The President has removed the sitting FBI Director in the midst of one of the most critical national security situations in the history of our country - one that implicates senior officials in the Trump campaign and administration. This is nothing less than Nixonian.”

Edward Snowden — no friend of the FBI — also lined up to slam Mr Trump.

“This FBI Director has sought for years to jail me on account of my political activities. If I can oppose his firing, so can you,” Mr Snowden said. “Every American should condemn such political interference in the Bureau’s work.”

We need a real, independent prosecutor who @realDonaldTrump can't fire, Sessions can't intimidate, & Congress can't muzzle. We need it now.

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 9, 2017

On the other side of politics, Republicans have defended the sacking, saying Mr Comey’s position was no longer tenable.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said Mr Comey had lost the “public’s trust and confidence” and the FBI boss’s decisions had “prompted concern from across the political spectrum”.

In justifying the move, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein cited Mr Comey’s conduct in July of last year, when he announced Ms Clinton would not be charged over her mishandling of classified information.

“The Director was wrong to usurp the Attorney General’s authority on July 5, 2016, and announce his conclusion that the case should be closed without prosecution,” Mr Rosenstein said.

“The Director ignored another longstanding principle: we do not hold press conferences to release derogatory information about the subject of a declined criminal investigation.”

Cryin' Chuck Schumer stated recently, "I do not have confidence in him (James Comey) any longer." Then acts so indignant. #draintheswamp

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017

The dominant reaction to today’s news, however, was shock. Even the FBI’s employees were caught off guard by the sudden announcement. Some of them texted reporters to find out whether the news was real.

More: Senior Justice & FBI officials tell CNN they were unaware, shocked by Comey's firing.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 9, 2017

FLASH / NBC News' Pete Williams: FBI senior staff in shock. Senior staff was unaware of this happening.

— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) May 9, 2017

‘YOU’RE FIRED’

Mr Comey wouldn’t be the first to be fired by Mr Trump since taking office.

In January the President fired Attorney-General Sally Yates over her refusal to support a ban on Muslim immigration.

In a statement the White House labelled the Obama Administration appointee “weak” and said she had “betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.”

Her sacking was almost immediately followed by the dismissal of Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Daniel Ragsdale who was replaced by Thomas Homan.

In March a prominent prosecutor claimed the Trump administration fired him after he refused to quit.

New York US Attorney Preet Bharara’s defiant exit was announced over Twitter.

He said Mr Trump had asked him to stay in his post in November and he refused to resign when asked to do so by the Justice Department but was fired in March.

Mr Bharara is a political appointee who can be replaced when a new president takes office.

The Washington Post, citing sources, said the administration wanted a clean slate of federal prosecutors to assert the administration’s power.