washington u.s. president donald trump fire fbi director jam comey tuesday democratic members congress denounce move renew call independent investigation allege russian meddle 2016 u.s. presidential campaign democrats liken dismissal president richard nixon fire independent special prosecutor watergate investigation discount trump contention move relate federal bureau investigation probe email hillary clinton trump rival presidency republicans defend fire say new leadership need law enforcement agency reactions democrats republicans comey fire one accept president trump absurd justification concern fbi director comey treat secretary clinton unfairly ... nothing less nixonian democratic senator patrick leahy today action president trump completely obliterate semblance independent investigation russian efforts influence election place nation verge constitutional crisis democratic representative john conyers give recent controversies surround director believe fresh start serve fbi nation well republican senator lindsey graham nixonian deputy attorney general rod rosenstein must immediately appoint special counsel continue trump/russia investigation -democratic senator bob casey trouble time reason director comey termination ... dismissal believe loss bureau nation republican senator richard burr head senate committee investigate russia role election decision ... raise profound question whether white house brazenly interfere criminal matter ... president call investigation russian hack democracy potential complicity campaign fake pretend make decision uninfluenced concern comey continue involvement investigation representative adam schiff top democrat house committee look possible russian connections suggestion today announcement somehow effort stop fbi investigation russia attempt influence election last fall misplace president fire entire fbi fire director republican senator susan collins early afternoon president trump call inform fire director comey tell president mr president due respect make big mistake ... give way president fire director comey person appoint lead russia investigation concern meet fate director comey run afoul administration democratic senator chuck schumer remark reporters crisis confidence justice department president trump hold accountable house republicans refuse work us job democratic representative elijah cummings call immediate emergency hear many include question action past year believe new leadership fbi restore confidence organization among people hard work carry mission republican senator roy blunt statement president action today shock ... way administration begin demonstrate commitment rule law ... cooperate fully ongoing congressional investigations support appointment independent special counsel democratic senator mark warner fbi director seek years jail account political activities oppose fire you fugitive former national security agency contractor edward snowden leak intelligence document live russia twitter course last several months director comey decisions controversial matter prompt concern across political spectrum career law enforcement experts republican senator charles grassley question fully independent special counsel must appoint lead russia investigation point one trump chain command trust carry impartial investigation democratic senator ron wyden twitter find deeply trouble decision come day damn testimony former act attorney general sally yates russia tie trump campaign days comey schedule appear senate intelligence committee independent senator bernie sanders essential ongoing investigations fulsome free political interference completion imperative president trump nominate well-respected qualify individual lead bureau critical time republican senator bob corker jam comey man honor integrity ... long call special congressional committee investigate russia interference 2016 election president decision remove fbi director confirm need urgency committee republican senator john mccain need special prosecutor crystal clear president trump catastrophically compromise fbi ongoing investigation white house tie russia since watergate legal systems threaten democratic senator richard blumenthal mr comey seem understand laws ask investigate unfortunately politicize sensitive position fbi director conservative watchdog group judicial watch fun fact president nixon never fire director fbi fbidirector notnixonian official twitter account richard nixon presidential library museum trump fire fbi director comey evoke criticism praise