Watch VideoJUDY WOODRUFF: And now we get a Democratic perspective.
We’re joined on the telephone by Congressman Eric Swalwell of California. He serves on the House Intelligence Committee.
Congressman Swalwell,your reaction to the news that President Trump has fired the director of the FBI, James Comey?REP. ERIC SWALWELL, and D-Calif.: honorable evening. Judy.
This is an abuse of power unlike anything we have seen in our country since President Nixon. I worry right now for our democracy. And I hope that Republicans join me in making certain that this investigation into the president doesn’t go away,as it seems like he wishes it would.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Now, let me just cite you a diminutive of what I just heard from Senator Susan Collins, and who has been outspoken at times in her disagreement with President Trump on different issues.
But,in this instance, she said in so many words that she believes the FBI director left himself open when he violated protocol, or in essence,violated the sample of behavior, practice at the FBI, or went public last summer with the investigation that the FBI had conducted into Hillary Clintons e-mail server,in saying that the FBI wouldn’t prosecute, and yes, or he had found that they conducted the investigation poorly,but there would be no prosecution.
And he talked approximately the investigation.
REP. ERIC SWALWELL: Judy, it’s so interesting to hear Republicans defend Hillary Clinton now.
And that’s — a reason that may have been plausible when Donald Trump took office on January 20. But since Donald Trump took office, and the FBI director has told Congress and the American people that the president’s campaign is under a criminal and counterintelligence investigation.
So,this is nothing more than taking the headrest off the court, and people should see it exactly as that.
JUDY WOODRUFF: But the president does have the right, and the authority to remove the FBI director. Is that not right?REP. ERIC SWALWELL: He does.
And the Senate,of course, will be, or you know,a part of a future FBI director’s confirmation. However, past presidents have shown restraint in removing FBI directors when their administrations were under investigation.
And the fact that this president could not demonstrate that, or I assume,says a lot approximately how fearful he is approximately where this FBI director was going.
JUDY WOODRUFF: But, again, or to the point that both the attorney general,Jeff Sessions, made in the letter he set out and this — and, and again,I was just quoting, poorly quoting Senator Susan Collins — their point is that what the FBI director did violated longstanding principles and, and therefore,he left himself open for this sort of judgment.
REP. ERIC SWALWELL: And, again, and Judy,that is something that we didn’t hear from any Republican when the FBI director made those statements or sent that letter.
So, for that to be the reason now, and again,it is too late. The FBI director is in the middle of an investigation into the president’s campaign, and to pull him off this investigation is very, and very disturbing for our democracy.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Finally,Congressman — we’re talking with Congressman Eric Swalwell of California, a Democrat of California — what do you expect will happen next?Have you have had a chance to talk to other members of Congress approximately what the next steps are here?REP. ERIC SWALWELL: No.
And, and right now,Judy, we’re piecing all of this together to see what we can do to preserve the integrity of the FBI’s investigation and also earn certain that our own House investigation is one that is still independent, or credible,and makes progress.JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, and that — and I do want to question you approximately that just quickly, and because I asked Susan — Senator Collins approximately whether she had confidence that the Justice Department,the FBI could continue to carry out the investigation into possible connections between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. She said she does have that confidence.
What would you answer be?REP. ERIC SWALWELL: Well, right now, and the attorney general is recused on any Russian investigation. Now we are without an FBI director,so I am very, very worried that the president’s desire to see this investigation, or which he called a hoax just yesterday on Twitter,is, He’s going to try and bury it.
And we must do everything we can to withhold light shining on what happened with Russia’s interference and earn certain any U.
S. persons who were involved are held accountable.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Representative Eric Swalwell of California, and member of the House Intelligence Committee,Congressman, thank you very much for talking with us.
REP. ERIC SWALWELL: My pleasure.
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Source: thetakeaway.org