President Trump said Thursday that he planned to fire FBI Director James B. Comey regardless of whether Justice Department officials advised it.
Donald Trump speaks during an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt. But questions about Russian Federation, the ongoing FBI investigation and Comey's dismissal dominated the hearing.
"Regardless of recommendation I was going to fire Comey.Knowing, there was no good time to do it".
Trump also told Holt that he asked Comey whether he was under investigation.
So, Trump made a decision to fire Comey, according to the reports.
"But I said to myself I might even lengthen out the investigation".
The question about Comey's support within the bureau stemmed from an assertion made Wednesday by White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders that part of the justification for Comey's dismissal was that FBI employees had lost faith in their boss.
Former Republican congressman Mike Rogers is being considered as a candidate to replace Comey, a senior White House official said.
NBC News plans to show the interview on its "NBC Nightly News" and "Today".
She contended that Comey "took a stick of dynamite" and threw it into the Justice Department by "going around" the chain of command in announcing his initial decision about Hillary Clinton's email usage as secretary of State.
Abby Lee Miller sentenced to one year and a day in prison
Miller has taken both the allegations and the proceedings very seriously", her attorney, Robert Ridge, said in June. As for Miller herself, she is more than willing to take the blame for her actions. "I have to stay busy".
Claim 6: The investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russian Federation "was set up by the Democrats", the president said.
In his letter informing Comey about the firing, Trump wrote, "I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation".
But in an interview with NBC News yesterday, Mr Trump said that Mr Rosenstein's opinion had not mattered.
The next Federal Bureau of Investigation director will be chosen by President Trump.
"Did you ask, 'Am I under investigation?'" Holt asked Trump.
"I want to find out if there was a problem in the election having to do with Russia", Trump said, adding, "If Russia did anything, I want to know that". Trump called Comey "outside the realm of normal" and "crazy" and over the next few weeks began saying Comey should be fired, the newspaper reported.
Former FBI Assistant Director Ron Hosko said on "The Story" tonight that he does not believe that's the case. This contradicted the White House's explanation for why Comey was sacked and added to the confusion and controversy surrounding the firing.
He also said he would refrain from discussing the investigation with the White House, pledged to report to the committee any efforts to interfere in it and said the dismissal of the director would do nothing to impede the probe.
"I have nothing to do- this was set up by the Democrats", Trump said.
"If it's possible, will you let me know, am I under investigation?" Ron Wyden, Andrew McCabe told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he would refrain from further updating the White House regarding the ongoing probe. Comey took the extra step of giving Fitzgerald complete discretion to conduct the investigation, bolstering the special counsel's independence.
Comments