TRUMP SPOKESMAN DECLINES TO BACK FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY

By Jerry Markon, Sari Horwitz and Elise Viebeck

The Washington Post
November 21, 2016

A spokesman for President-elect Donald Trump pointedly declined to back embattled FBI Director James B. Comey on Monday, saying Trump would meet with the nation’s top law enforcement officer “at some point.’’

“There hasn’t been any official statement with regard to Director Comey,’’ Trump spokesman Jason Miller said during the transition team’s daily briefing. Asked if Trump would seek the resignation of Comey, who played a controversial role in the presidential campaign’s final days, Miller said only: “I would imagine that at some point, the two will meet.”

Comey drew biting criticism at various points from Republicans and Democrats over the FBI’s handling of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Clinton has told donors she blamed her surprising loss on the FBI chief, who told Congress 11 days before the election that the bureau was reviewing further Clinton emails, then said two days before Election Day that the review had not changed his decision not to recommend charges against Clinton.

Trump, who at times assailed the FBI and called Comey corrupt during the campaign, told “60 Minutes” after his election victory that he had not decided whether to ask Comey to step down. “I haven’t made up my mind. I respect him a lot. I respect the FBI a lot,’’ said Trump, adding that he wanted to meet with Comey before deciding.

Comey is in the fourth year of a 10-year term that began in September 2013, and the FBI director typically does not change with a new president to preserve the job’s independence. But presidents can remove an FBI director, as Bill Clinton did in 1993, when he fired William S. Sessions halfway through Clinton’s first year in office over allegations of ethical issues.

Officials close to Comey have told The Washington Post that he has no plans to leave, despite the barrage of criticism he faced over his decisions on the Clinton probe. The FBI has declined to comment.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the 10-year term was meant by Congress to inhibit a president from removing a director for political reasons.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Comey should be replaced but Trump cannot force him to resign. I suspect though that he will leave if Trump asks him to do so.