Congressman Deutch: Firing James Comey Was A Disgraceful Abuse Of Power

Image by Getty Images

By Ted Deutch May 10, 2017

Not since President Nixon have we seen such a disgraceful abuse of power and attack on the integrity of our system of justice. During one of the most important national security investigations of our time, FBI Director James Comey’s firing is a blatant attack on the independence of the Justice Department. This behavior — firing the person who is investigating you -– may pass in Putin’s Russia, but it is disgracefully below the office of the President of the United States.

This is only the latest in a string of alarming moves by the White House: first they fired acting-Attorney General Sally Yates for calling attention to their compromised National Security Advisor, then Preet Bharara, and now Director Comey.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has lost any remaining credibility by getting involved in an investigation from which he promised to recuse himself. Given the actions of the White House, the American people unfortunately must now question whether anyone affiliated with this Administration can investigate this case of Russian influence honestly, thoroughly, and independently. We need a special prosecutor and an independent commission to continue this investigation without the whiff of political oversight or interference.

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) is a ranking Member of the House Ethics Committee and a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee.

Ted Deutch is the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, a former member of Congress and former co-chair and co-founder of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO