Rep. Keith Ellison: 'We Are Witnessing A Constitutional Crisis'

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat from Minneapolis, released the following statement after President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey: "We are witnessing a Constitutional crisis unfold before our very eyes. On March 20, FBI Director James Comey confirmed under oath that the FBI was investigating the Trump campaign for its involvement with Russian officials to influence our election. Today, President Trump fired him"

"The next FBI Director appointed by President Trump will not have the independence or confidence of the American people to continue this investigation," Ellison continued. "In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation and the government, we need a special prosecutor to probe the possible collusion between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russian government officials."

Comey is the third high-ranking law enforcement official to be fired by Trump. Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara were both terminated earlier in the year, and both were also reported to be investigating Trump officials at the time.

• Read more at White House Patch: FBI Director James Comey Fired; Memos Cite Clinton Email Probe

Image via Rich Girard, Flickr, used under Creative Commons