Posted on 01/24/2017 7:03:40 AM PST by blam
January 24,2017
The F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, told his top agents from around the country that he had been asked by President Trump to stay on the job running the federal government’s top law enforcement agency, The New York Times reports, according to people familiar with the matter.
The political fallout from this decision will make the news cycle buzz today, since Hillary Clinton, the mainstream media, and many Democrats blame Mr. Comey for her defeat, and it is not clear whether she would have kept him on had she won.
But a decision to retain Mr. Comey would spare the president another potentially bruising confirmation battle. As The New York Times adds, it also would keep Mr. Comey at the center of the F.B.I.’s investigation into several Trump associates and their potential ties with the Russian government.
Retaining Mr. Comey could also help calm the bureau’s work force, which has been rattled after a tumultuous few months in which the F.B.I. and the director himself were sharply criticized for moves that many felt influenced the outcome of the presidential election.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at zerohedge.com ...
We really can’t say that for sure. We do know something very weird went down with all of that...
So now that Trump knows the full story..maybe he realizes things about Comey that we just can’t know.
I will give him a pass for now on Comey
Wait till Sessions gets in, then Comey misbehaves, then goodbye. The fact that this adds fuel to conspiracy theories... Our good Pres is doing some 1st class psyops on the donks in general, and Clintonia in particular
yes - Trump continues to make smart moves - what a contrast to the last 25 years of consistently dumb moves by Republicans. Brennan was the snake who had to go, Comey, despite his foibles, seems like he wants to do the right thing, so he stays. The Donald doesn’t need another confirmation battle.
I don’t trust Comey. He has made a career out of protecting the Clintons. So no, I don’t really trust him to go after the Foundation, or the 650,000 emails. Or the myriad and sundry scandals that would emerge from all of that.
I’ll believe he is serious about doing his job when I see the Clintons move to Qatar for their health.
Good. Being stuck in the past prevents you from going forward.
Machiavellian move by Trump. Comey is hopelessly compromised and has no friends in Congress. He admitted he had the dirt on Hillary so Dems hate him. He did nothing with it so Reps hate him. Sooner or later Trump will ask him to spill the beans on HRC.
Comey survives on Trump’s whim. He will follow orders or else freeze in the outer darkness.
I figured he would keep him.
Comey gets to take the hit for not investigating Clinton any further. The deal is done. Betcha. Sessions and Trump stay out of the fray.
I’ve said it from day one, I think the deal was made, Trump will not pursue Clinton. After all, she is a “goo person”. Damn, this makes me mad.
Wise decision. It’s not a hire since Comey’s term is through 2023 anyway. Can request his resignation later if he doesn’t do his job properly. Plenty of more needful things for the Administration to do right now.
1. Comey ultimately answers to Sessions (once confirmed). That will be where he gets his marching orders.
2. Let the media run with this night and day for a while, while Trump reascends Obama's EO's, and dismantles abortion funding and all his other promises.
I really doubt Trump will keep Comey for over a year.
Bad call. Pretty obvious Comey is very susceptible to political based decisions which is a very,very bad thing for a FBI Director. Trump has been pretty good with a few bad calls this being one of them.
The first rule of.....
Wow, never thought of all this. Very well done -- both by Trump, and your analysis.
I think you are on to something here.
Likely this is a short-term move by Trump which is essentially a psy-op against Hillary.
Exactly. Comet is about as trustworthy as a Fresno meth addict.
Chess.
Exactly. Trump has enough to worry about considering the delays with confirming his cabinet. Once the rest of his cabinet is confirmed, Trump can find a new FBI Director.
The MASTER of the ART OF THE DEAL has his reasons for COMEY.
Some in the media previously had said that FBI Directors can’t be fired and can serve out their 10 year term. But that is wrong.
But according to a 2014 report by the Congressional Research Service, “there are no statutory conditions on the President’s authority to remove the FBI Director.” In other words, the President can indeed fire the FBI director. An FBI director can also be removed by congress, through the impeachment process.
Only One FBI Director Has Ever Been Fired
— William S. Sessions who had been appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, but who was beset by allegations of ethics violations, such as disguising private vacations as law enforcement business, and using a chauffeured government limousine for personal transportation.
Because firing an FBI director is certain to bring accusations of playing politics with law enforcement against any president who chooses to do so, Clinton repeatedly asked Sessions to resign his post. But Sessions refused to step down.
So in July of 1993, saying that he had been advised by then-attorney general Janet Reno that Sessions “can no longer effectively lead the bureau and law enforcement community,” Clinton fired the FBI director — eventually appointing Freeh in his place.
Yes sir.
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