FBI Chief Comey Will Stay

'New York Times' reports he's letting top agents know
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 24, 2017 9:57 AM CST
FBI Chief Comey Will Stay
FBI Director James Comey testifies on Capitol Hill on Jan. 10.   (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

James Comey will stay on as FBI director under President Trump, reports the New York Times. Neither the White House nor the FBI has announced the news, but Comey has been telling top aides of late that the president wants him to remain. The Washington Post and ABC News have confirmed it. The decision has been closely watched, given Comey's controversial role in the election: Hillary Clinton supporters say he cost her the election with a last-minute inquiry into her email that ultimately yielded nothing, while Trump had criticized his earlier decision not to bring criminal charges against her over the email.

Comey still has about six years left in his term if he serves it in full, and the FBI has two important investigations under way related to Trump, notes the Post: It's looking into Russian hacking of the election and into whether any Trump associates had improper contact with Moscow. This week, for instance, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, is under scrutiny for phone calls he made to the Russian ambassador on Dec. 29, the day the Obama administration announced new sanctions on Moscow. (More James Comey stories.)

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