Stephen Lendman

Virtually everything happening in Washington is politically motivated, not responsible actions by presidents, Congress and judicial authorities for the general welfare.

FBI history is notorious, an agency protecting privilege from beneficial social change, serving powerful interests exclusively.

Throughout its sordid history, it activities included infiltrating, disrupting, sabotaging and destroying activist groups for ethnic justice; racial emancipation; economic, social, and political equality across gender and color lines; along with elements opposed to imperial wars.

Harmful to the general welfare agency activities continue no matter who’s in charge or staffs high-level positions.

Comey’s firing won’t change a thing. The new director will be like previous ones. America’s police state system needs changing - possible only by committed grass roots activism, never top down by politicians or bureaucrats.

Claiming he acted on advice from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the White House issued a press secretary Sean Spicer statement and Trump letter to Comey explaining his firing.

A brief Spicer statement said Comey was “terminated and removed from office” on advice by the Justice Department’s two top officials, adding “today will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement…A search for a new permanent FBI Director will begin immediately.”

Trump’s letter said he acted on recommendations from Sessions and Rosenstein, saying Comey’s “not able to effectively lead the Bureau,” termination effective immediately.

In a memo to Sessions, Rosenstein criticized Comey’s “handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton’s emails,” adding “I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken.”

“Almost everyone agrees that the Director made serious mistakes; it is one of the few issues that unites people of diverse perspectives.”

Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton praised Trump’s decision, saying “(t)his is an important move to restore public confidence in the fair administration of justice at the Federal level.”

“Mr. Comey did not seem to understand some of the laws he was asked to enforce and unfortunately politicized his sensitive position as the FBI director. President Trump took the right step in cleaning house at the FBI.”

Comey was appointed by Obama in September 2013. Directors usually serve 10-year terms.

Since established in 1908 as the Bureau of Investigation, becoming the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1935, led by J. Edgar Hoover until May 1972, only one other director was sacked - William Sessions, a Reagan appointee, fired by Bill Clinton in 1993 for alleged ethical improprieties.

Comey angered hardline Republicans for not indicting Hillary. Democrats opposed his investigation and public pronouncements about her they believe influenced the election’s outcome.

Trump was angry about his disputing the president’s wiretapping claims. Whatever he did or didn’t do displeased powerful federal officials.

Trump likely chose now to sack him after former director of national intelligence James Clapper told a congressional subcommittee no evidence of collusion between his campaign and Russia was found.

An earlier sacking would have made it easy for critics to claim he wanted an investigation into alleged Russian US election hacking quashed - even though no evidence suggests interference. If any existed, it would have come out long ago.

A new director will replace Comey. Dirty agency business will continue without missing a beat, subverting rule of law principles and democratic values like always. It’s the American way!

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com.