"President Trump called me at 5:30 p.m. and indicated he would be removing Director Comey, saying the Federal Bureau of Investigation needed a change", she said in the statement. Will Republicans join Democrats in calling for the appointment of an independent counsel to continue the Russian Federation investigation? He said acting FBI directors have limited abilities to derail an ongoing investigation.
Still, Democrats immediately pushed to try to ensure the evidence collected so far was preserved. Warner said on the day of Comey's firing that the group had contacted the Treasury Department's criminal investigations department for any information it had on the president and his team. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) said he spent "several hours trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey's firing".
"It was an abuse of power", Mr Painter said, noting that the president does have the legal right to fire the FBI Director. "I for one salute Sen". Richard Burr, R-N.C. said in one of the strongest statements from a Republican.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) wants informatino only James Comey can give him. Nor was it much of a surprise to learn of the disapproval of Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate committee examining the Russian Federation ties. As a candidate, he cheered Comey's tough stance on Clinton's use of a personal email and private internet server during her tenure as secretary of state.
He later spoke with informal Trump adviser Roger Stone, who reportedly pushed Trump to dismiss Comey.
And President Trump thought it was a really, really good idea to remove Comey rather than investigate Trump.
Trump made an overt play to clear his own name as he ousted Comey. In public hearings, Comey has declined to answer when asked if Trump is under investigation, urging lawmakers not to read anything into that statement.
Many Republicans close to the administration embraced the Trump explanation for Mr. Comey's firing but Democrats were quick to call it a smokescreen - or to argue that there was even more smoke to this episode, smoke that inevitably would lead to fire in the Russian Federation investigation.
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The so-called UHF discount allows stations to count just 50 percent of its audience from UHF stations toward the audience cap. Ripley said if it has to sell any stations, he is believes that they will be "highly sought" by other broadcasters.
The White House said Trump had been considering firing Comey since the election. "It was spy versus spy", Montoya said.
Mostly this goes to the question of White House political sensitivity.
Earlier Wednesday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of NY urged Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his deputy, Rosenstein, to appear before the Senate to answer questions about the circumstances surrounding Trump's action. But Trump could have fired the man who had helped make him president at any point after being sworn in on January 20.
Democrats are escalating their calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation to dispel any impression of a cover-up.
The executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, Danielle Brian, said Trump's move - whether or not so intended - "undermines the independence and credibility of that investigation". The fundamental rule of law in this country is at stake.
"James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the Federal Bureau of Investigation", he said in early morning tweets.
That paragraph of attempted self-exoneration raised questions, especially in light of Comey's confirmation during a March 20 House hearing that the Trump campaign is under FBI investigation for possible collusion with Russian intelligence.
January 22, 2017: Two days after taking office, Trump appears to single out Comey at a White House reception to thank law enforcement officers and others that helped during the inauguration. With regard to a special prosecutor, I'm looking to see how that would impact the Senate investigation that's going on.
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