“The difference is that Mr. Comey was fired. This fact, for reasons pertaining to governance, does not conclude any ongoing investigations whatsoever.”
Finally, it happened. After serving almost four years of a ten-year appointment, FBI Director James Comey was fired by President Donald Trump on May 09, 2017. Immediately, social media ignited and an inferno of reports pertaining to the ousting of Mr. Comey spread far and wide. Myriad news sources purport varying insights, paramount of which is Mr. Comey’s FBI investigation into Russia meddling with the American election process, as well as any connections tethering the Trump presidency to the Putin administration.
This is nothing new, just an ongoing witch hunt that has had mostly non-Republican fingers spearing the air and thundering voices equal to a sonic boom. Some Republicans may also require pruning; the call for deeper digging surrounding any Trump/Putin comradeship—or designees thereof—is being trumpeted. It is simply dizzying to see how politicos have multifaceted agendas, and when something transpires to rock their steady boat, blasts across the bow is the knee-jerk resort.
So be it! Get it all out there.
We came close with the Hillary Clinton email scandal debacle, its investigation involving several government entities, to include the FBI. Mr. Comey arose often and portrayed a law enforcement executive seemingly playing a game of chess, yet it was never his place to do so. Objectivity appeared to be diminishing. Using one’s oath to wipe the mouth which should not have been speaking of any investigatory proceedings became commonplace, which White House deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders cited as “atrocities.” The beginnings of the slippery slope crystalized in Mr. Comey’s inevitable ousting.
Confidentiality is a rudimentary tenet in law enforcement practices and protocols, and abiding by an oath of preservation and duty-bound integrity is paramount. Mr. Comey’s career transitioned from prosecutor to law enforcement official. Often, it appeared he communicated as the former.
Despite the resounding demand for a more acute and swift investigation into Russian roles and alliances with whomever, that ball was never not in play while Mr. Comey was at the FBI helm … nor will it simply vanish now that he is gone. Pointedly, those who believe President Trump fired Mr. Comey to throw him off the trail of any perceived Russian involvement will find their heartbeats racing needlessly.
No different than police detectives at any agency handling cases together, if Detective A gets sick then Detective B manifests the investigation. Nothing is bucketed merely because the players’ roster had a change. Mr. Comey’s successor will pick up the investigative ball and keep it in play until the scoreboard reflects an end game.
President Trump now faces allegations of shutting down Mr. Comey and the FBI, and that is absurd. Non-critical thinking only fuels discontent and serves no basis in reality. In short, does anyone actually think President Trump terminated Mr. Comey because he is worried about Russian musings?
If anything, firing Mr. Comey underscores the presidency and brings even more validation to the Oval Office and its workings. Does that sound like a nefarious player who has plenty at stake? If you were in President Trump’s position, would you want to bring more or less attention to any dubious situations in which you were deemed a potential target?
The notions of Russian collusion were put to rest recently when James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) appointed by the Obama administration, said on Meet the Press that no evidence exists that President Trump and President Putin colluded in any fashion, dispelling the wild accusations to the contrary. Mind you, that is from the mouth of an Obama cabinet member. Ostensibly, his message fell on many deaf ears.
The White House 1600 Daily memorandum released the following explanation for terminating Mr. Comey:
“In order to restore the public confidence in the FBI, President Donald J. Trump accepted the recommendation of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and removed FBI Director James Comey from his position yesterday. It was a necessary move to reinstitute faith in America’s crown jewel of law enforcement after a series of high profile and political missteps. The search for new leadership that restores public trust and confidence in the FBI’s vital law enforcement mission will begin immediately.”
President Trump is not concerned with the notions of others who accuse him of interrelations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It has gotten to the point that even the mere mention of Mr. Putin by anyone in the Trump camp elicits a stoning, as if vulgarity was spoken and fangs were flashed. The Aha! moments propagated by prejudice, and radicals hell bent on diminishing diplomacy with the Trump camp are foolhardy.
All the over-the-top need-to-know shenanigans, from politicos off all stripes, weakened the sanctity of justice by taking swipes at law enforcement legs. And Mr. Comey was all too happy to offer-up what his agents had regarding tempo of active investigations which is a definite no-no among policing policies. Confidentiality in law enforcement circles preserves an investigation’s integrity, and is never intended to shake out like laundry.
Speaking on any active investigative matter has the potential for targets to galvanize and insulate themselves, to strategize against lawful proceedings, and to become hostile when they feel investigators are gaining traction which increases peril to law enforcement. As if they are in control of the show, some sociopaths even exclaim loony and outrageous statements such as “What difference at this point does it make?”
The difference is that Mr. Comey was fired. This fact, for reasons pertaining to governance, does not conclude any ongoing investigations whatsoever. A different FBI driver will take over the justice wheels.
Meanwhile, political arms will take their swipes and resist all logic. The so-called “constitutional crisis” being suggested by the #resist movement is beckoning a mass rally at the White House. Compliments of Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D – NY), following is what I found in my email inbox:
“Last night, Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, compromising the only semi-credible and somewhat-resourced investigation into Trump and his administration’s ties to Russia.1 Trump fired Comey on the advice of Jeff Sessions, who was forced to recuse himself from Russia-focused investigations because he lied under oath about his own conversations with Russian officials.2 We now face a constitutional crisis. The security and integrity of our democracy is at stake.”
Oh? I’m busy being level-headed, so please count me out. Notice he wrote “semi-credible and somewhat-resourced investigation” followed by words making it sound as if corruption and collusion have been absolutely confirmed. Their own verbiage does not jibe, amounting to childish banter.
Congressman Nadler somehow sought my signature upon his petition to “Create a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate Donald Trump and his administration’s foreign entanglements, business conflicts of interest, and violations of federal ethics laws.” Sounds like he has convicted President Trump on all counts. Having graduated from Fordham Law School, the gentleman from New York knows full-well that American jurisprudence always applies. Incidentally, Rep. Nadler represents NYC, a so-called sanctuary city in opposition to Pres. Trump’s enforcement of illegal immigration and national security. How’s that for “entanglement”?
Again, the difference is that just because Mr. Comey is now unemployed does not mean all investigations in which he was involved disappear. Just as any police chief retirement does not mean the police agency folds its hand at the table, the FBI’s “Russia-focused” investigation continues despite severing Mr. Comey from the FBI helm. The difference is that we get it right!
The hyperbole festers while the Trump administration presses on with meeting the nation’s needs, including appointing a new FBI director to make a difference by facilitating the Russia-based allegations. Next!
