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Letter to the President from Attorney General Jeff Sessions Recommending the Termination of FBI Director James Comey

May 09, 2017

President Donald J. Trump
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As Attorney General, I am committed to a high level of discipline, integrity, and the rule of law to the Department of Justice—an institution that I deeply respect. Based on my evaluation, and for the reasons expressed by the Deputy Attorney General in the attached memorandum, I have concluded that a fresh start is needed at the leadership of the FBI. It is essential that this Department of Justice clearly reaffirm its commitment to longstanding principles that ensure the integrity and fairness of federal investigations and prosecutions. The Director of the FBI must be someone who follows faithfully the rules and principles of the Department of Justice and who sets the right example for our law enforcement officials and others in the Department. Therefore, I must recommend that you remove Director James B. Comey, Jr. and identify an experienced and qualified individual to lead the great men and women of the FBI.

Sincerely,

Jeff Sessions
Attorney General

JS:ph

Attachment

APP NOTE: The attached memorandum can be accessed by following the link below:

Memorandum for the Attorney General from Rod J. Rosenstein Recommending the Termination of FBI Director James Comey

 

Donald J. Trump, Letter to the President from Attorney General Jeff Sessions Recommending the Termination of FBI Director James Comey Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/327109