Donald Trump fires James Comey: Will Republicans finally find their moral compass?

In a stunning incident, which is likely to have deep ramifications in US politics, US President Donald Trump has fired FBI Director James Comey. In a curt letter, which was hand-delivered to FBI headquarters by Trump’s man-Friday, it was conveyed that the Department of Justice has lost faith in Comey’s abilities and hence the President decided to relieve him of his duties. Comey’s axe, just four years into his ten-year tenure, comes at a time when the FBI is aggressively pursuing a probe into the possible association of Trump’s men with Russia for interference in the US Presidential Elections. Thus, Trump has effectively fired the head of an agency which is probing possible wrongdoing done by his men. 

Many commentators and political analysts have found parallels in the manner former President Richard Nixon fired Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox way back in October 1973. The incident known as ‘Saturday Night massacre’ ultimately led to massive bipartisan pressure on Nixon and finally his ouster from the Oval Office. The Russia connection for a long time has been an itch which has refused to go away, despite Trump trying his best. If only, this incident will make it more prominent in public memory. Many so far believed that the Russia issue is a mere smoke ball used by Democrats and the media to browbeat Trump after Hillary’s defeat. But the manner and the nature of Comey’s firing indicates Trump has something to hide, a perception unlikely to go anytime soon. 

According to New York Times, CNN and other media organisations, the US President was looking to fire the FBI director for more than a week, irked by the snowballing of FBI’s Russia investigation and Comey not backing Trump in his Obama wire-tapping allegations. The Department of Justice was asked to give a compelling reason to fire Comey. In the end, Comey’s shoddy handling of Hillary’s email probe and a press conference done in July last year which allegedly broke protocol was given as the main reason for his ouster. How ironic is the fact that Trump fired Comey for something that helped him get to the President’s Office in the first place. Also, if he was a man of such probity, Trump could have fired Comey on Day 1 itself, as all the facts regarding the FBI Director’s action was in public domain. This, alongside Trump’s effusive praise of Comey during the election process indicates that the Hillary reason was merely used as a convenient fig leaf to hide a far deeper sinister agenda. 

The timing of the sacking also raises serious questions, as it came a day after sacked AG Sally Yates said that she had alerted the White House that Mike Flynn was susceptible to blackmailing owing to his links with Russia. Trump sat on the inputs for 18 days, before the story leaked in the press forcing US President’s hands. With the Russian connection becoming a fireball, Trump might have managed to get rid of Comey, but a bipartisan pressure can ensure a just and fair probe. 

But will the Republicans come on board at a time when many pundits believe US is facing a constitutional crisis? By ensuring Trump doesn't instal a lackey as FBI Director who can sabotage the entire Russian investigation and see that a Special Prosecutor is ideally appointed for the probe, Republicans need to show moral character. Some Republicans, to be fair, have called out this brazen act by Trump, but they are few and far between. Often in the past, Republicans like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell have criticised Trump for several of his omissions and commissions and then mellowed down as soon as the news cycle passed. Expecting something different this time around may well be a stretch.

The likes of John McCain are in minority now as voices of conscience. It will boil down to the powerful GOP leaders of the Capitol Hill to get past their narrow partisan goals and look at the bigger picture. Currently US Senate Republicans are divided in this issue. Fixing accountability and preventing the Russian investigation from becoming a travesty of justice should be the hallmark of true US patriots. The GOP has the mandate to do so, does it have the willpower, is the million dollar question.