Read Former FBI Director James Comey’s Farewell Letter to Colleagues

Matt, so what is your reporting telling you what about preceded this blockbuster announcement yesterday?

In the most noteworthy of the revelations, the New York Times, Washington Post and others reported Wednesday morning that Comey had requested additional resources for the Russian Federation investigation just last week.

The most delicate role in this dark tale is the one played by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein.

He must either appoint a truly independent special prosecutor to bring credibility to the investigation into reputed connections between Trump’s associates during the 2016 presidential campaign or step aside, Democratic leaders have demanded, for someone in this increasingly compromised Justice Department who will.

What you have learned about that?

While unlikely, Comey’s ouster also could lead to the appointment of a special prosecutor, a recommendation Democrats have been pushing for months. “I know that some are obsessed with the word Russia, Russia, Russia”. Is that is that what led to Jim Comey’s firing?

But for weeks, the Russian Federation investigation has not appeared to be going away.

“I’m not going to spend time on the decision or the way it was executed”, said Comey, who was hired by President Barack Obama four years ago in a 10-year-term. But in an interview with BuzzFeed News on Wednesday, Ayers said the rationale for firing Comey was “a sham”.

Comey’s statements and the public focus on them may not have pleased the president, but firing Comey in the wake of them makes the president vulnerable to the conclusion that he was acting out of petulance or vindictiveness. “There must be an independent investigation that the American people can trust”.

“We don’t think it’s necessary”.

The interim director position is now held by Andrew McCabe, Comey’s top deputy.

FBI and admin. officials gave NBC and Politico another reason for Comey’s termination: he wouldn’t let go of the Russian Federation investigation. “Defense attorneys always ask, ‘Is my client a target, subject or witness?’ There’s no obligation to answer, but I guess it’s possible they could have had the conversation”. FBI agents and Justice Department officials often identify people involved in an investigation as targets, subjects or witnesses. “I respect that very much”. But given concerns by members of Congress in both parties over Comey’s dismissal, it’s unlikely a permanent director will be in place soon. Many saw him as a strong and supportive leader even if some believed he at times set the bureau on the wrong path.

White House arguments that Trump sacked Comey for mishandling the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s emails are implausible, but no more so than some of the arguments the Trump team has made about Flynn’s firing in February.

MATT APUZZO: Yes, they didn’t really elaborate on that. “I believe that’s why he let Comey go”.

He was backed by prominent Republican Lindsey Graham, while Richard Burr, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, rowed back slightly on earlier criticism, stating that Mr Comey’s dismissal, while “troubling”, would not impede the work of the committee.

Now, can he get it back?

“Hillary Clinton’s corruption is on a scale we have never seen before”, Mr Trump said. The New York Times reported that Trump was also bothered by his inability to gain assurances of loyalty from the now-former Federal Bureau of Investigation director.