Chuck Schumer Calls for Special Prosecutor, Suggests Cover-Up in Response to Comey Firing

By Austin Wright and Seung Min Kim, Politico

10 May 17

 

Republicans largely rejected Democrats' demand and backed Trump's decision to fire Comey.

enate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and other Democrats ratcheted up calls for a special prosecutor to investigate the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia after FBI Director James Comey’s firing on Tuesday — an abrupt dismissal that also raised concerns from a stream of Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Without such an independent probe, “every American will rightly suspect that the decision to fire Director Comey was part of a cover-up,” Schumer told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday evening. He again urged Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing the federal Russia investigation, to appoint a special prosecutor instead.

“The American people’s trust in our criminal justice system is in Rosenstein’s hands,” Schumer added. “Mr. Rosenstein, America depends on you to restore faith in our criminal justice system, which is going to be badly shattered at the administration’s actions today.”

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois told a group of reporters that Comey's firing would "absolutely" strengthen the push for a special prosecutor.

"I don't think there's any alternative at this point," Durbin said. "I worry that they'll refuse the special prosecutor and we'll never hear again from the FBI investigation."

Though several influential Republicans defended Trump’s decision to fire Comey, other powerful GOP lawmakers, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain of Arizona and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina, expressed alarm. Comey, who was in the fourth year of a 10-year term as FBI chief, was overseeing the bureau’s investigation into allegations of collusion between Russia and Trump campaign aides.

Burr, who is leading one of the congressional investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election, said Comey has been “more forthcoming with information than any FBI director I can recall in my tenure on the congressional intelligence committees.”

“I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination,” Burr said. “I have found Director Comey to be a public servant of the highest order, and his dismissal further confuses an already difficult investigation by the committee.”

McCain reiterated his calls for a special congressional committee to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election, while Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) added that Comey’s removal “will raise questions." Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said he has asked Rosenstein for more information on why he recommended to Trump that he dismiss Comey.

"Regardless of how you think Director Comey handled the unprecedented complexities of the 2016 election cycle, the timing of this firing is very troubling," Sasse said. "Jim Comey is an honorable public servant, and in the midst of a crisis of public trust that goes well beyond who you voted for in the presidential election, the loss of an honorable public servant is a loss for the nation."

Comey’s firing sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill on an otherwise quiet Tuesday afternoon, with senators having wrapped up work for the day and the House out of session. Trump notified a handful of senators — including Schumer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) — but other senior lawmakers and senators on the relevant committees were stunned by the news.

The sudden firing also tosses another high-profile confirmation fight before the Senate, which has been embroiled in partisan fights since the first day of Trump’s presidency over controversial executive branch nominees. The White House said the search for Comey’s replacement, who will need a simple majority of senators to be confirmed, will begin “immediately.”

The issue of Comey's successor will almost surely be raised at a special Democratic caucus meeting on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., a huddle called by Schumer so Democrats can discuss the fallout from the FBI director's dismissal. Schumer has also asked Democrats to sit at their desks inside the chamber when the Senate convenes Wednesday morning as McConnell delivers the opening remarks "to hear what, if anything, McConnell has to say about Comey's firing," according to one senior Senate Democratic aide.

McConnell kept his public statement short on Tuesday night, saying “once the Senate receives a nomination, we look forward to a full, fair, and timely confirmation process to fill the director position."

“This is a critical role that is especially important as America faces serious threats at home and abroad," McConnell said.

But on the most immediate of the Democratic demands — a special prosecutor — senior Republicans dismissed the calls. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas said Rosenstein is “competent to lead that effort.”

“I believe any investigation, if there is one, will go on under the successor,” Cornyn said. “I thought [Comey] was a good man but obviously lost the president’s confidence. So I don’t think he would have any impact going forward on any investigation that exists or any facts that may exist.”

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also said suggestions that Comey’s firing was an attempt to halt the federal Russia investigation were “misplaced.”

“The president did not fire the entire FBI; he fired the director,” Collins said. “I have every confidence that the FBI will continue to pursue its investigation.”

Some senators said they couldn't believe the news.

"I'm speechless right now," Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said immediately after being informed by an aide in a Senate hallway. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a leading Russia hawk who has been critical of Trump, said he learned the news while presiding over the Senate and that he was "surprised."

"It certainly wasn't something that had been speculated about," he said.

In a statement, Feinstein said she got a call from Trump at 5:30 p.m. to inform her of the news. She urged Trump to appoint a successor who is "strong and independent."

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who chairs the Judiciary panel that will oversee the nomination process for Comey's successor, said public trust and confidence in the FBI had been lost under Comey because of his handling of controversial matters, including the Hillary Clinton email probe.

"The FBI director serves at the pleasure of the president," Grassley said. "Under these circumstances, President Trump accepted the recommendation of the Justice Department that the director lacked the confidence needed to carry out his important duties."

Graham said he appreciated Comey's service but that he backed Trump's decision.

"Given the recent controversies surrounding the director, I believe a fresh start will serve the FBI and the nation well," he said. "I encourage the president to select the most qualified professional available who will serve our nation's interests."

But a number of Democrats said the firing raised major concerns.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said that "now it is more clear than ever that we need an independent commission to get to the truth of Russia's interference with our election."

"Donald Trump's decision to fire him now, in the midst of an investigation into Trump associates and their ties to Russia, is outrageous," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "There can be no question that a fully independent special counsel must be appointed to lead this investigation. At this point, no one in Trump's chain of command can be trusted to carry out an impartial investigation."