Rep. Krishnamoorthi Denounces President Trump’s Firing of FBI Director Comey

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi released the following statement in response to President Trump’s sudden firing of FBI Director James Comey:

“President Trump’s firing of FBI Director Comey is a nearly unprecedented action by an American president. It is extremely disturbing that the Chief Executive is interfering with an ongoing investigation into his Administration by firing the person charged with conducting it. One cannot help but be reminded of President Nixon’s Saturday Night Massacre. This action only raises further questions regarding the Administration's ties to Russia.

The White House has already engaged in misdirection about fired former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn’s misconduct by refusing to provide investigators with documents regarding his security clearance. Today, President Trump has fired the individual most central to all the investigations into any illicit involvement with the Russian Government.

Following revelations of his own contact with the Kremlin, Attorney General Sessions promised to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Today however, he endorsed the firing of the man leading it. FBI Director Comey was leading a counter-intelligence investigation of the President’s 2016 campaign and its ties to Russian agents. The credibility gap between the Trump Administration and the American people continues to grow each day with each new revelation.

As a member of the House Oversight Committee, I would welcome Director Comey’s public, sworn testimony on the status of the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference and the Kremlin’s interactions with Trump associates.

The need for an independent commission or fully independent prosecutor to investigate and bring to light the truth of these matters for the American people is now more clear than ever.”

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi represents the 8th District of Illinois, which includes Chicago’s west and northwest suburbs. He serves on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. In addition, Raja serves as the ranking member, and top Democrat, on the Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits, and Administrative Rules. Krishnamoorthi served as an Illinois Special Assistant Attorney General in the public corruption unit and as Illinois Deputy Treasurer before becoming president of small businesses in the Chicago area focused on the national security and renewable energy sectors. He and his wife, Priya, a physician, live in Schaumburg with their two sons and baby daughter.