why did comey not let attorney general decide

Did Comey blow through the Justice Department’s long-standing policies?

Plenty of Comey’s longtime admirers were appalled that he had spoken at all, because by doing so he blew through several of the Justice Department’s long-standing policies. “It was an unprecedented public announcement by a non-prosecutor that there would be no prosecution,” says someone who once worked for Comey.

Are Comey's actions legally justified?

Bradley P. Moss, a partner in the law office of Mark Zaid, argued that Comey's actions were legally justified by laws protecting whistleblowers from unjust persecution.

Why did Comey decide to reopen the investigation?

In late October 2016, Comey announced that the investigation was being re-opened because of additional documents that had been obtained. Two weeks later he announced that no new information had been discovered and the investigation was again being closed.

Did Trump accuse Comey of breaking the law?

"Trump accuses James Comey of breaking the law — based on a misleading Fox News report". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017. ^ "Comey hearing: 'I was fired because of the Russia investigation ' ". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2017.

What did the FBI think of James Comey?

Comey was generally well-liked within the FBI, and his sudden dismissal shocked many FBI agents, who admired Comey for his political independence. Agents were stunned that Comey was fired in the midst of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Who is James Comey and what did he do?

James Brien Comey Jr. Yonkers, New York, U.S. During the administration of President George W. Bush, Comey was the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York from January 2002 to December 2003 and later the United States deputy attorney general from December 2003 to August 2005.

What is Comey rule based on?

The Comey Rule is an American political drama television miniseries, based on the book A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by former FBI director James Comey. The miniseries stars Jeff Daniels as Comey and Brendan Gleeson as President Donald Trump.

How long is the Comey rule?

The Comey Rule is a two-part mini-series that was shown over two consecutive nights on Showtime in America in September last year. Despite the unusually short length of the series, the drama overall is around 210 minutes long.

What does Andrew McCabe do now?

In August 2020, George Mason University announced McCabe would be joining the faculty of the Schar School of Policy and Government as distinguished visiting professor. In October 2021, McCabe settled with the Justice Department a wrongful termination suit he had filed in August 2019.

How tall is FBI Comey?

6′ 8″James B. Comey / Height

Is The Comey Rule a good show?

“The Comey Rule” is not good drama; it's clunky, self-serious and melodramatic. But it makes an unsparing point amid our own election season.

Who is Rod in The Comey Rule?

Scoot McNairy as Rod Rosenstein After appearing in HBO Max's Love Life, McNairy portrays the politician, who succeeded Yates as the U.S. Deputy Attorney General and was cited as the basis for Comey's dismissal.

Will there be a season 2 of The Comey Rule?

It seems that there are no current plans for more entries to be ordered, and it doesn't seem like The Comey Rule season 2 will happen anytime soon. The series covered Comey's final days as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and there doesn't appear to be a need to produce any more episodes.

Is The Comey Rule on now TV?

Stream The Comey Rule instantly on NOW.

Why was James Comey criticized?

Comey had been criticized in 2016 for his handling of the FBI 's investigation of the Hillary Clinton email controversy and in 2017 for the FBI's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections as it related to alleged collusion with Trump's presidential campaign.

What did Comey say about the FBI?

Comey, in his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8, objected strongly to Trump's description of the FBI as "in disarray" and "poorly led". "The administration chose to defame me, and more importantly the FBI," Comey said. "Those were lies, plain and simple.".

How many memos did James Comey write?

Anonymous officials told The Hill that four of the seven memos contained information deemed "secret" or "classified". Comey testified that he deliberately wrote some memos without classified information so that they could be shared.

What did Rosenstein say about Comey?

On May 8, 2017, Trump directed Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein to provide advice and input in writing. On Trump's direction, on May 9, Rosenstein prepared and delivered a memorandum to Sessions relating to Comey (Sessions and Rosenstein had already begun considering whether to dismiss Comey months earlier). Rosenstein's memorandum said that the "reputation and credibility" of the FBI had been damaged under Comey's tenure, and the memo presented critical quotes from several former attorneys general in previously published op-eds; Rosenstein concluded that their "nearly unanimous opinions" were that Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation was "wrong." In his memo, Rosenstein asserted that the FBI must have "a Director who understands the gravity of the mistakes and pledges never to repeat them." He ended with an argument against keeping Comey as FBI director, on the grounds that he was given an opportunity to "admit his errors" but that there is no hope that he will "implement the necessary corrective actions." Rosenstein also criticized Comey on two other grounds: for usurping the prerogative of the Justice Department and the Attorney General in his July 2016 public statements announcing the closure of the investigation into Clinton's emails, and for making derogatory comments about Clinton in that same meeting. Both of these actions, he argued, were in conflict with longstanding FBI practice. To Comey's previous defense that Attorney General Loretta Lynch had a conflict of interest, Rosenstein argued that in such a case, it is the duty of the Attorney General to recuse herself, and that there is a process for another Justice Department official to take over her duties.

Why did Comey fire Trump?

On June 7, 2017, during an interview with MSNBC, House Speaker Paul Ryan stated that it's "obviously" inappropriate for the president to ask the FBI director for loyalty. According to sources, Comey's unwillingness to offer personal loyalty to Trump was one of the reasons for the firing.

Why did Rosenstein threaten to resign?

According to an anonymous source who spoke to The Washington Post, Rosenstein threatened to resign after his letter was cited as the primary reason for Comey's dismissal. Other media noted the disconnect between the dismissal and Trump's praise of Comey's actions in the campaign and throughout his presidency until a week beforehand.

When was James Comey fired?

Dismissal of James Comey. James Comey, the seventh Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was fired by U.S. President Donald Trump on May 9, 2017. Comey had been criticized in 2016 for his handling of the FBI 's investigation of the Hillary Clinton email controversy and in 2017 for the FBI's investigation ...

Why did Comey choose Washington?

Comey chose Washington because he wanted to be close enough to get daily updates, according to CNN, but he may also have been worried about leaks from New York. A former D.O.J. official says that, as early as 2015, a rumor was floating around that the F.B.I. agents in New York were cracking jokes about seeing Hillary Clinton in handcuffs. “It was widely understood that there was a faction in that office that couldn’t stand her and was out to get her,” this person says.

What was the true story of the Comey letter debate?

When F.B.I. director James Comey reopened the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s e-mails in the final days of the campaign, many saw it as a political move that cost Clinton the presidency. But some insiders suspect Comey had a more personal concern: his own legacy.

What did Bill Clinton say after Hillary lost?

After Hillary lost, Bill Clinton summed up what many Democrats and even some Republicans still believe: “James Comey cost her the election.”

What did Obama say about the Clinton email?

In the fall of 2015, President Obama told 60 Minutes that the Clinton e-mail issue was “not a situation in which America’s national security was endangered.” A former prosecutor who is close to the case says that the remarks sparked outrage in the F.B.I. “Disparaging the seriousness of something his A.G. is supposed to take responsibility for is not cool,” he says.

When did Comey send his letter to Congress?

Two days later, on October 28, just 11 days before the election, Comey sent his letter to Congress saying that “in connection with an unrelated case, the F.B.I. has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation” of Clinton.

Why are agents suspicious of Washington?

“Dreamland,” they called it in his day, because they believed those who weren’t on the ground investigating cases were clue less. “ [Agents] out in the field never want to give a case to D.C., because they believe headquarters is a hindrance to their investigations,” says the agent, who also notes there is a paranoia that politics might interfere at headquarters. New York has an especially dim view of Washington and a reputation for fierce independence. “There is a renegade quality to the New York F.B.I.,” says a former prosecutor, which, he claims, can take the form of agents leaking to the press to advance their own interests or to influence an investigation. “New York leaks like a sieve,” concurs another former prosecutor.

Who was the prosecutor for Marc Rich?

When Rudy Giuliani was the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, he brought the young Comey into the highly prestigious office, where from 1987 to 1993 he was in charge of the case against financier Marc Rich, who had fled the U.S. after being indicted for tax evasion and illegal dealings with Iran.

about the author

Phil Giraldi is a former CIA Case Officer and Army Intelligence Officer who spent twenty years overseas in Europe and the Middle East working terrorism cases. He holds a BA with honors from the University of Chicago and an MA and PhD in Modern History from the University of London.

leave a comment

We were unable to load Disqus Recommendations. If you are a moderator please see our troubleshooting guide.