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Comey fired: Why might Trump have axed FBI chief? Comey fired: The shifting explanations
(about 17 hours later)
"You are hereby terminated.""You are hereby terminated."
With those words, President Donald J Trump became only the second commander-in-chief to fire his FBI director. With those words, President Donald J Trump became only the second US commander-in-chief to fire his FBI director.
He and officials from the department of justice were clear why they felt James Comey had to go - more on that later. And so a firestorm of shifting explanations, claims and counter-claims was unleashed.
Democrats, however, have their doubts over the timing. And reports in the meantime do indicate there was more going on. So what are the possible reasons for the sacking - and what has been said about them?
So what are the possible reasons for his departure? 1) The Clinton emails
1) The official reason - the Clinton emails This was the first official reason. The president opened his termination letter to Mr Comey by referring to letters by his Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Mr Sessions' deputy, Rod J Rosenstein, outlining what they saw as failures in Mr Comey's time in office.
President Trump was given letters by his Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Mr Sessions' deputy, Rod J Rosenstein, outlining what they saw as failures in Mr Comey's time in office.
Mr Rosenstein's letter says "the FBI's reputation and credibility have suffered substantial damage, and it has affected the entire department of justice".Mr Rosenstein's letter says "the FBI's reputation and credibility have suffered substantial damage, and it has affected the entire department of justice".
His letter focuses on the fallout from an FBI investigation, now closed, into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server to store sensitive information while secretary of state.His letter focuses on the fallout from an FBI investigation, now closed, into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server to store sensitive information while secretary of state.
"I cannot defend the director's handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton's emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken," Mr Rosenstein goes on to say."I cannot defend the director's handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton's emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken," Mr Rosenstein goes on to say.
So did Mr Comey act correctly?So did Mr Comey act correctly?
"The director was wrong to usurp the attorney general's authority on 5 July 2016, and announce his conclusion that the case should be closed without prosecution," Mr Rosenstein's letter says."The director was wrong to usurp the attorney general's authority on 5 July 2016, and announce his conclusion that the case should be closed without prosecution," Mr Rosenstein's letter says.
Mr Comey chose to announce there would be no investigation because, the letter says, "he believed Attorney General Loretta Lynch had a conflict".Mr Comey chose to announce there would be no investigation because, the letter says, "he believed Attorney General Loretta Lynch had a conflict".
While this was not customary, Mr Comey explained why he took the responsibility ahead of Ms Lynch. He said he did it because she had recently generated adverse headlines by having a meeting with ex-President Bill Clinton on an airport runway. They said it was a casual encounter but she was accused of a conflict of interest.While this was not customary, Mr Comey explained why he took the responsibility ahead of Ms Lynch. He said he did it because she had recently generated adverse headlines by having a meeting with ex-President Bill Clinton on an airport runway. They said it was a casual encounter but she was accused of a conflict of interest.
It is also unusual for the FBI to go public with an investigation, especially during an election campaign. Mr Comey did that not once but twice.It is also unusual for the FBI to go public with an investigation, especially during an election campaign. Mr Comey did that not once but twice.
He justified it by saying if he had not come forward, he could have been guilty of concealment.He justified it by saying if he had not come forward, he could have been guilty of concealment.
What was Clinton FBI probe about?What was Clinton FBI probe about?
Mrs Clinton's supporters cried foul when it emerged that the Trump election team was also under investigation by the FBI, but Mr Comey never divulged that until a long time after the election.Mrs Clinton's supporters cried foul when it emerged that the Trump election team was also under investigation by the FBI, but Mr Comey never divulged that until a long time after the election.
And as Mr Trump has pointed out, Democrats who said they had lost confidence in Mr Comey last year, are now angered over his abrupt firing. "Phony hypocrites", he called them.
One key question though - if this was indeed the real reason Mr Comey was fired, why did the White House wait until now? The Clinton investigation was closed in early November, and Mr Trump has been in office since 20 January.One key question though - if this was indeed the real reason Mr Comey was fired, why did the White House wait until now? The Clinton investigation was closed in early November, and Mr Trump has been in office since 20 January.
2) Russia When asked why he didn't fire him earlier, deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said "I believe the president wanted to give Director Comey a chance."
Mr Comey's public profile had risen recently in relation to the FBI's ongoing investigation into Russian influence on the 2016 election (as well as possible links between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia). 2) 'He wasn't doing a good job'
In fact, Mr Comey confirmed that such an investigation existed only on 20 March, when he spoke before a congressional intelligence committee. This was President Trump's first in-person explanation, given from the Oval Office on Wednesday.
It was reiterated in his Thursday NBC interview when he said the FBI had been "in turmoil... everybody knows that".
Obviously this overlaps with the criticisms over the Clinton emails, but Mr Trump's language has been broader and more sweeping.
On Wednesday, he tweeted that Mr Comey had "lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me!".
The same day, Ms Sanders and Vice-President Mike Pence said Mr Trump had fired Mr Comey on Mr Rosenstein's recommendation - which was mainly related to Mr Comey's handling of the Clinton emails probe.
But on Thursday, Mr Trump told NBC he had already decided to fire Mr Comey, "regardless of recommendation".
And Ms Sanders said he had been considering firing Mr Comey since he was elected in November, as there had been "an erosion of confidence" over the past year.
It's also notable that Mr Trump has not been entirely opposed to the way the emails investigation was handled.
Although he was highly critical when Mr Comey said the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails would be closed without prosecution last July, he later praised the FBI chief for reopening it less than a fortnight before the presidential election, saying the move "took guts".
Also controversial is Ms Huckabee Sanders's statement at a briefing on Wednesday that "the rank and file of the FBI had lost confidence in their director".
Mr Comey's successor, acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, pushed back against this on Thursday, telling the Senate intelligence committee that "that the vast majority of employees enjoyed a deep and positive connection to Director Comey".
The committee's chairman, Republican Senator Richard Burr also painted a contrasting picture, describing Mr Comey as "one of the most ethical, upright, straightforward individuals I've had the opportunity to work with."
"Sure there were FBI employees that disagreed with how he handled the Clinton email announcements," Mr Burr said. "The lion's share of FBI employees respect the former director and it shows the professionalism that he brought to the role that he was in," he he was quoted by NBC News as saying.
3) Russia
Democrats have been quick to assert that Mr Comey's role leading the FBI investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the election - and possible Russian links to the Trump campaign - was the real reason for the sudden dismissal.
Mr Comey confirmed that such an investigation existed only on 20 March, when he spoke before a congressional intelligence committee.
Nothing has come from this investigation yet; Mr Comey said it was "very complex" and that he could not give a timetable for its completion.Nothing has come from this investigation yet; Mr Comey said it was "very complex" and that he could not give a timetable for its completion.
But US intelligence agencies concluded in a January report that Russian President Vladimir Putin did order the hack against the DNC. And the Russia scandal has already claimed one Trump official - former national security adviser Mike Flynn, who was fired for not giving a correct account of his meetings with a Russian official.But US intelligence agencies concluded in a January report that Russian President Vladimir Putin did order the hack against the DNC. And the Russia scandal has already claimed one Trump official - former national security adviser Mike Flynn, who was fired for not giving a correct account of his meetings with a Russian official.
The White House has consistently denied having links with Russia. But after Mr Comey's dismissal, Politico reported that the president "had grown enraged by the Russia investigation" and was "frustrated by his inability to control the mushrooming narrative around Russia".The White House has consistently denied having links with Russia. But after Mr Comey's dismissal, Politico reported that the president "had grown enraged by the Russia investigation" and was "frustrated by his inability to control the mushrooming narrative around Russia".
"He repeatedly asked aides why the Russia investigation wouldn't disappear and demanded they speak out for him," Politico reported. "He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe, one adviser said.""He repeatedly asked aides why the Russia investigation wouldn't disappear and demanded they speak out for him," Politico reported. "He would sometimes scream at television clips about the probe, one adviser said."
Mr Comey had been due to appear before the Senate intelligence committee to speak on Russia on Thursday - its chairman, Richard Burr, said he was "troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey's termination". Mr Comey had been due to appear before the Senate intelligence committee to speak on Russia on Thursday. Senator Burr said he was "troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey's termination".
Democratic former presidential contender Bernie Sanders also highlighted the fact the decision came a day after former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates told a Senate committee of the concerns she had over Mr Flynn's Russia ties. He called the timing "deeply troubling". Two senior Democrats have also told US media they understand that days before he was sacked, Mr Comey had sought more resources - including more staff - for the Russia investigation.
3) He simply didn't like Comey President Trump did say in his NBC interview that he was bearing in mind "this Russia thing" in his decision, describing it as a "made-up story" and an "excuse" by the Democrats for their election loss.
He said he had noted that the sacking might have an impact on the investigation, by lengthening it, but said he had to "do the right thing for the American people".
He also said he wanted the investigation to be "absolutely done properly", despite saying in a tweet on Monday: "The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?"
4) He was a 'showboat'
"He's become more famous than me!" Mr Trump said when beckoning Mr Comey at a January meeting, sending an air-kiss his way."He's become more famous than me!" Mr Trump said when beckoning Mr Comey at a January meeting, sending an air-kiss his way.
But could this have been a problem, rather than a compliment?But could this have been a problem, rather than a compliment?
In his NBC interview, the US president described Mr Comey as "a showboat, a grandstander".
Citing unnamed White House officials on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported the two were a poor match, and that Mr Trump did not like the increased media attention on Mr Comey.Citing unnamed White House officials on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported the two were a poor match, and that Mr Trump did not like the increased media attention on Mr Comey.
"He viewed Mr Comey as eager to step in front of TV cameras and questioned whether his expanding media profile was warping his view of the Russia investigation," the officials said, according to the report."He viewed Mr Comey as eager to step in front of TV cameras and questioned whether his expanding media profile was warping his view of the Russia investigation," the officials said, according to the report.
The fact Mr Comey had not publicly talked down links between the Trump campaign and Russia was also a source of tension, the Journal reported. 5) Loyalty
Indeed the Washington Post, citing White House officials, reports that the president believed Mr Comey was "using the Russia probe to become a martyr". Loyalty is one Mr Trump's most prized qualities - and according to the New York Times, two of Mr Comey's associates say he refused to promise it.
Separately, Mr Trump is also reported to have been furious that Mr Comey publicly dismissed his sensational claim in March that President Obama had wiretapped him and peeved by what appeared to be a lack of motivation to investigate leaks that hurt the White House. Over dinner in January, the president asked the FBI head whether he would pledge his loyalty, and Mr Comey said he would always be honest, but that he was not "reliable" in the conventional political sense, according to accounts reported by the paper.
Separately, Mr Trump is also reported to have been furious that Mr Comey publicly dismissed his sensational claim in March that President Barack Obama had wiretapped him and annoyed by what appeared to be a lack of motivation to investigate leaks that hurt the White House - perhaps also seen as a lack of loyalty.
After Mr Comey testified to a Senate committee about the Russia and Clinton email investigations last week, including saying he was "mildly nauseous" to think that his handling of the Clinton case might have swayed the election, Mr Trump began seriously considering firing him, the New York Times reports.After Mr Comey testified to a Senate committee about the Russia and Clinton email investigations last week, including saying he was "mildly nauseous" to think that his handling of the Clinton case might have swayed the election, Mr Trump began seriously considering firing him, the New York Times reports.
4) Something in between, or none of the above Is Trump's thin skin to blame?
6) Something in between, a mixture, or none of the above
Only one person knows for sure: the president of the United States.Only one person knows for sure: the president of the United States.