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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSlate - "Trump Wanted a Public Execution"
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/05/trump_s_firing_of_james_comey_is_a_warning_shot_to_everyone_in_his_administration.htmlThe president fired James Comey via letter, while the FBI director was giving a speech.
By Phillip Carter
At this point, it should come as no surprise that President Donald Trump has fired someone hed spent the past few months praising. What should shock the conscience, and worry anyone concerned about the rule of law in America, is that Trump booted FBI Director James Comey for reasons relating to the octopus of an inquiry whose tentacles extend to the 2016 election, the administrations Russia ties, Michael Flynns ethical shenanigans, and more. The time has now come for Congress to compel the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the Trump administration and its Russia ties, whether by holding up nominees, impounding the Trump administration's budget, or some other combination of legislative pressure. And beyond the writ of that special counsel, Congress should begin its own broad bipartisan inquiry into the Trump administration's war on justice. For politicians on the left and right, May 9, 2017, should be a day of reckoning. There are no shoes left to drop.
In the pantheon of political appointees who serve the president, the FBI director stands apart. All effectively serve as at will employees who may be fired for any reason, at any time. But due to the jobs 10-year tenureone thats deliberately designed to cross presidential termsas well as the FBIs sensitive role in society, we think of the bureau director as someone whose integrity is beyond reproach. The person ensconced in the position is supposed to be both supremely competent and completely apolitical, something of a cross between a federal judge and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Of course, Comey was no mere FBI director. In 2016, he oversaw inquiries that affected both presidential candidates: one into Hillary Clinton for potential mishandling of classified information, the other into Trumps campaign for potential collusion with Russian intelligence agencies. Comey revealed details about the former, much to Clintons detriment, and in apparent violation of Justice Department norms regarding the release of derogatory information about the subject of a declined criminal investigation. It remains unclear whether Comeys disclosures affected the 2016 election outcome, though it would be surprising if it didnt. Since the election, Comey did not step back and cede the spotlight. Rather, he brought attention to himself via his statements regarding 2016, his continuing pursuit of Russia-related national security investigations, and his dust-ups with the White House over Trumps unsupported allegation that he was wiretapped during the 2016 campaign.
So, its a very big deal that Trump summarily fired Comey on Tuesday afternoon. In Washington, there are firings, and then there are firings. Although the Justice Departments memorandum recommending Comeys departure carries merit, the timing and tone of Trumps own termination letter makes Trumps intention clear: The president wanted this to be a public execution of the sort Voltaire described in Candide as something to encourage the others. Consider that Comey was dismissed by letter while he was speaking to FBI employees in Los Angeles. He learned of his own sacking by watching it on televisiona fitting outcome given the presidents employment history.
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Slate - "Trump Wanted a Public Execution" (Original Post)
NRaleighLiberal
May 2017
OP
Death by anti-aircraft gunnery, firing into a pit. Where have I read about that before? Hmm.
TheBlackAdder
May 2017
#2
dchill
(38,501 posts)1. Trump is about to get plenty of the spotlight he so...
jealously craves!
TheBlackAdder
(28,205 posts)2. Death by anti-aircraft gunnery, firing into a pit. Where have I read about that before? Hmm.
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)3. Trump is slimey. NT