“Trump's dismissal of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday was the third time he's fired someone involved in an investigation of him or his associates. The FBI has been investigating Russian involvement in the U.S. election and possible involvement of Trump associates since the summer.
“In each of these cases, the justifications for dismissal were inconsistent with prior actions, or immediately followed events related to investigations.
“Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his deputy Rod Rosenstein recommended Comey's removal largely based on his handling of the Clinton email investigation, which concluded months earlier. In Trump's letter removing Comey from office, however, the President says Comey told him that he was not under investigation, an apparent reference to the Russia investigation. Sessions had previously recused himself from both that investigation and the Russia probe,” — Bloomberg
Robert Reich’s comment:
So far, Trump has fired 3 investigators that were on his trail:
1.James Comey. Official reason given for firing: Comey’s handling of Clinton’s email investigation. But it’s nonsensical to believe Trump was upset by Comey’s handling of Clinton’s email. Far more likely reason: Just before he was fired, Comey asked for more resources for his investigation of Trump ties to Russian operatives during election.
2.Sally Yates. Official reason given for firing: She refused to defend Trump's first travel ban. But the responsibility of any Attorney General or Acting Attorney General is to advise a president on the constitutionality of his actions. Far more likely reason: Just before she was fired, Yates relayed to the White House the findings of her department's investigation into Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.
3. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. Official reason for the firing: Bharara was a holdover from the prior administration. But Trump had asked Bharara to stay on in his role. More likely reasons he was fired: Bharara was involved in an investigation of the Deutsche Bank, which has been accused of funneling funds of Russian oligarchs, and also was said to be investigating Tom Price, Trump’s Head of the Department of Health and Human Services and had jurisdiction over Manhattan, which includes many of Trump’s properties including his home at Trump Tower.”
By Michael Keller, Mira Rojanasakul and Blacki Migliozzi
