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File photo of former FBI director James Comey, who was relieved of duty on Tuesday. AP Photo/Susan Walsh

'It is done, and I will be fine': Former FBI director writes farewell letter after Trump fires him

Comey was abruptly dismissed Tuesday by the Republican president, who said the issue was Comey’s inability to lead.

FORMER FBI DIRECTOR James Comey has said in a farewell letter to colleagues that he will “be fine,” and won’t dwell on how he was fired by President Donald Trump.

CNN reported the text of the letter sent by the former FBI director last night,

Comey was abruptly dismissed Tuesday by the Republican president, who said the issue was Comey’s inability to lead. But the decision surprised many since it was Comey himself leading the investigation of Trump’s campaign and Russia.

“I have long believed that a President can fire an FBI Director for any reason, or for no reason at all. I’m not going to spend time on the decision or the way it was executed,” Comey said in a letter to agents and colleagues.

I hope you won’t either. It is done, and I will be fine, although I will miss you and the mission deeply

“In times of turbulence, the American people should see the FBI as a rock of competence, honesty, and independence. What makes leaving the FBI hard is the nature and quality of its people, who together make it that rock for America,” Comey added.

Trump’s stunning sacking of Comey sparked a political firestorm in Washington and plunged his young presidency into turmoil.

Furious Democrats suggested the FBI’s work will now be hopelessly tainted and demanded a special prosecutor akin to those appointed during Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal or the run-up to Bill Clinton’s impeachment.

The White House rejected the idea.

“We don’t think it’s necessary,” said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Trump yesterday lashed out on Twitter against his critics over Comey’s sacking.

“The Democrats have said some of the worst things about James Comey, including the fact that he should be fired, but now they play so sad!” Trump said in a series of morning tweets.

He referred to Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as “cryin’ Schumer” late Tuesday.

Subpoenas

As the controversy continued, it emerged that the US Senate intelligence committee had subpoenaed former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn for documents related to the panel’s investigation into Russia’s alleged election meddling.

Senator Richard Burr, the Republican chairman, and Senator Mark Warner, the committee’s Democratic vice chairman, said the panel had first requested the documents from Flynn on 28 April. They say Flynn’s lawyer declined to cooperate with the request.

Flynn was fired by Trump after less than a month on the job. The White House said he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials about his communications with Russia’s ambassador to the United States.

Flynn’s Russia ties are also being scrutinised by the FBI as it investigates whether Trump’s campaign was involved in Russia’s election interference.

With AP reporting

© AFP 2017

Read: From ‘Lock her up’ to ‘You’re Fired’: The incredible timeline of Trump, Comey, Clinton and Russia

Read: ‘Nothing less than Nixonian’: Democrats hit out after Trump fires head of the FBI

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    Mute JR
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    Jun 26th 2014, 9:52 AM

    Like it or not, the statistics show that lower socioeconomic groups suffer from poorer health despite the fact they have free access to GPs while those in the middle class pay their way. Why is you ask? It’s education, diet and self responsibility. % of smokers is high and consumption of fast food also is high along with childhood obesity.. And who pays for this privilege?

    Help those who need help, the elderly, the disabled and the infirm.

    This ‘disaffected’ group who seem perfectly happy to receive welfare, housing, medical and financial and legal assistance from the state and contribute nothing can go wanting..

    We spend 35% of the budget on social protection, sadly those that actually need it are being effected by those who are happy to take it..

    End the welfare state now. The rest of us stand on our own two feet, so should you.

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    Mute Shay O'Reilly
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    Jun 26th 2014, 11:21 AM

    Jr, could it be , that their not as capable as the rest of us, not everyone can get a job, people are unemployed because there isn’t work for all,,
    Free. GP cards maybe not, if we are going to pay labour then pay enough to live on, and cut out the extras, same problem we have with politicians , but then again the private sector is full of bonus payments also, nothing is straight forward

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    Mute Joanne Allman
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    Jun 26th 2014, 11:32 AM

    When there was work for all a lot of these people weren’t working either! There is an element of ‘entitlement’ out there in a small section of our society unfortunately :-(

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    Mute Rubber Head
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    Jun 26th 2014, 12:13 PM

    well said JR, I am sick of those who won’t bother working sitting at home being paid as much as me, I break my bo**ox working to provide for my family, while neighbours of mine live in the same type house and have a great social life, sky sports, yearly holidays abroad and smoke. they drive better cars than me and receive free child care and yes, have medical cards. All paid for by Joan Burton who will not and has not cut the core rates. It pays to do f**k all in this country.

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    Mute JR
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    Jun 26th 2014, 12:53 PM

    We shouldn’t be providing a living wage to people end of. Those that need it, get it. Plenty of jobs out there, certain sectors were busy having teenage pregnancies and going down the bookies when they should have been studying. Industry moves on and markets make decisions. It’s not our fault they were ‘busy’…

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    Mute Em Ni Mhurchu
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    Jun 26th 2014, 9:33 AM

    ….and the other half are waiting in A & E departments throughout the country so couldn’t take part in the survey.

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    Mute Dave Harris
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    Jun 26th 2014, 9:42 AM

    It’s plain to see that the health system needs fixing – and not a piecemeal reform which is just putting bandaids over major problems –
    It Will Not Be Fixed By Cuts and empty promises
    Cutting the health budget like they have is incredibly short sighted and unfair and will end up costing the government far far more in the long run

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    Mute Joanne Allman
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    Jun 26th 2014, 11:20 AM

    I had to take an unpaid day of work yesterday to spend 8.5hrs in A & E just for an X ray. I felt so bad as there were people with broken bones waiting all day also and I was a very minor case. But this is what I had to do to get an X ray to eliminate worry of fractured bone. Only a vending machine with crisps and chocolate for food. I got one old lady a chocolate bar at 6 PM … 6.5 hours after she got there. This was the first bit of food she had all day. The A and E structure…. or lack thereof. … is a disgrace.

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    Mute The Animal
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    Jun 26th 2014, 9:41 AM

    We’re a nation of boozers & we all rate our health 8 out of 10… Good stuff!

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    Mute ed w
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    Jun 26th 2014, 12:04 PM

    Problem is the cuts are in front line care, sevices and staff. Not in the real difficult areas like management which seems ridiculously over staffed

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jun 26th 2014, 12:52 PM

    The headline to this story should have been: “Drug company survey finds outcome that backs its own self interest”

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    Mute Thierry Rat
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    Jun 26th 2014, 9:38 AM

    If the govt stopped taxing us for a medical system that is over used and abused, maybe people would have an interest in their health, would people smoke if they couldn’t afford operations and would they stay out of mc Donald’s etc. this country is getting fatter

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jun 26th 2014, 2:27 PM

    It’s a health system, not the frigging CAO.

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