Numerous reports have linked President Trump’s abrupt decision to fire FBI Director James Comey to his concerns about the FBI’s ongoing and escalating investigation into his campaign’s possible collusion with Russian officials. Now, Trump is reportedly considering a former official on his campaign transition team to replace Comey and oversee the investigation of his campaign.
Trump is considering former FBI agent, Republican member of Congress, House intelligence committee chair, and transition team senior national security adviser Mike Rogers to replace James Comey, Bloomberg reports, citing an unnamed White House official.
Bloomberg notes that other candidates are under consideration, but Rogers is the only one the White House official mentioned by name.
Rogers expressed support for Trump throughout the campaign on Twitter — and even after he resigned from his official role on the transition team in mid-November amid a purge of Chris Christie allies.
In the statement announcing his resignation, Rogers wrote, “It was my pleasure to take to the national television and radio airwaves to highlight the stark choice between the bold change represented by President-elect Trump and the dangerous status quo represented by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.”
Trump has a team of outsiders and committed insiders to execute his change agenda in DC. Sounds right to me. #STTAhttps://t.co/9w6E0vkJLC
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogers) November 30, 2016
During a CNN appearance in December, Rogers downplayed the fact that Trump has never criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I do think that the president-elect is trying to find some places to work together with Russia — just like George W. Bush did, just like Barack Obama did, just like Hillary Clinton did,” the former intelligence chairman said.
Rogers went on to criticize Democrats who argue Russia’s meddling in the election played a major role in Clinton’s defeat.
“So let me get this right — they’re basically saying all of the emails that were released showed us doing some really bad things that made Americans lose faith in us. Had whoever done it — I would assume it would be the Russians through WikiLeaks, I don’t know that’s just through information I’ve read — had the Russians not pointed out, or that information not been pointed out, all those bad things would’ve been kept quiet and we’d be president of the United States,” he said. “That’s a losing argument.”
I joined @CNNSotu this weekend to talk U.S. election and Russian hacking:https://t.co/RNa4zH8TWx
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogers) December 19, 2016
In the wake of Comey’s firing, senior FBI officials told NBC News they believe Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions — who had ostensibly recused himself from all matters to do with Russia probes but played a role in the decision to fire Comey anyway — wants “to replace [Comey] with someone who will close” the Russia investigation.
Indeed, as news of Comey’s firing circulated on Tuesday night, the White House took to the airwaves and immediately started making a case that “it’s time to move on” from the Russia investigation.
Given his fondness for Trump, Rogers would be a controversial choice. Even Republican senators like Mike Lee of Utah have floated names with more independence.
Instead of a special prosecutor, @realDonaldTrump should nominate Merrick Garland to replace James Comey.
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 11, 2017
But it seems very unlikely Trump would make a unity choice like Garland. On Wednesday, CNN’s Jake Tapper reported that in addition to “the fact that the FBI’s investigation into possible Trump team collusion with Russia in the 2016 election was accelerating,” the other major reason Trump axed Comey was because he “never provided the president with any assurance of personal loyalty.”
The White House has signaled that Trump will choose who he wants to replace Comey, regardless of the broader political circumstances.
On Wednesday, senior White House counselor Kellyanne Conway admonished the media, “You want to question the timing of when the President fires, when he hires. It’s inappropriate.”
“He’ll do it when he wants to, just like he fired FBI Director Comey,” she added.