Sen Coons: “Either the president has fired the FBI director because he did not like how he treated Hillary Clinton or there’s real attempt of obstructing justice going on here”  

Sen Coons: “It just strains credibility that a guy who led chants of ‘Lock Her Up’ during his campaign is suddenly five months into his presidency really concerned over how Hillary Clinton was treated”  

Sen Coons: “This looks like a politically motivated firing where an attorney general who had recused himself interjected himself"

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees, today joined CNN to discuss the firing of FBI Director James Comey by President Trump. 

“This is a gravely concerning moment. This is a moment where either the president has fired the FBI director because he did not like how he treated Hillary Clinton or there’s real attempt of obstructing justice going on here. This FBI investigation is picking up speed. My concern and the concern of many of my colleagues is the FBI director was fired because it was beginning to get too close,” said Senator Coons. “My concern is that this looks like a politically motivated firing where an attorney general who had recused himself interjected himself; where a president who had personal motivations to try and end an investigation into collusion between his campaign and Russians took a politically motivated action." 

Full video and audio available here.

Excerpts from the interview:

Senator Coons on the interview with Roger Stone: That was striking. In that long and discursive interview, Roger Stone said a number of striking things. His understanding of FISA warrants and his open disrespect for the entire American intelligence community and repeated demands for evidence and insisting that this investigation should come to an end. I thought were all pretty striking. He is giving a full-throated defense of the Trump campaign, but I say there are significant and important questions that are not answered. The timing of President Trump’s directed firing of Director Comey raises more questions than answers. I'm joining many of my colleagues in insisting that in order to restore confidence in the FBI and its investigation both criminal and counterintelligence into possible collusion with the Trump campaign and Russia, we need an independent special counsel. 

Senator Coons on whether the Senate Intelligence Committee is capable of handling this: No, I do have confidence that the Senate Intelligence Committee is continuing to make real progress. I'm encouraged by public reports that they are beginning to issue subpoenas, that they’ve completed their document review, and that both Republican Chairman Richard Burr and Democratic Vice Chairman Mark Warner are signing letters, signing subpoenas, and making progress. The FBI investigation, the counterintelligence investigation, which is separate, needs to be done in a way that is independent. President Trump claimed that his reason for firing Director Comey was to restore confidence of the FBI because he was upset about the handling of Hillary Clinton’s e-mails. It just strains credibility that a guy who led chants of ‘Lock Her Up’ during his campaign is suddenly five months into his presidency and now really concerned over how Hillary Clinton was treated. 

Senator Coons on whether a special commission is needed: Well those are different things. A special commission I don't think we have clarity that it’s is needed yet. That would require legislation and I frankly doubt Republicans in the Senate would stand up and support that. A special counsel can be appointed without any new legislative action. The most important thing here is for all of us in the Senate to get to the bottom of why Comey was fired. If President Trump doesn't nominate as the next director of the FBI, someone who is a career federal prosecutor, then I think the questions are only going to get louder and the demands for independent counsel are only going to get stronger and more bipartisan. 

Senator Coons on whether they’ll hear from Rod Rosenstein: We should.  We’ve asked Majority Leader McConnell to put all senators in one room, on time and put in front of us Attorney General Sessions and ask why he did not respect his recusal from this matter and put Rod Rosenstein who’s idea it was and why the charging document wasn't professional and did not cite relevant statue. That will give us more clarity who chose to fire the FBI Director, when, and why. If we know that information, we can take more appropriate steps. This is a gravely concerning moment. This is a moment where either the president has fired the FBI director because he did not like how he treated Hillary Clinton or there’s real attempt of obstructing justice going on here. This FBI investigation is picking up speed. My concern and concern of colleagues is the FBI director was fired because it was beginning to get too close. 

More on an independent investigation: I have a lot of respect for the professionals at the FBI. I know there are a lot of dedicated law enforcement officials in the Department of Justice and the FBI, career folks, who want to do their jobs. My concern is that this looks like it is a politically motivated firing where an attorney general who had recused himself interjected himself; where a president who had personal motivations to try and end an investigation into collusion between his campaign and Russians took a politically motivated action. If we cannot clear that cloud, how will the public, how will those of us in the Senate have confidence in whatever conclusion the FBI reaches? It is in our national best interest to get to the bottom of this. There is no doubt the Russians hacked our election in 2016. We need to protect our 2018 and 2020 elections. As we see the Russians take aggressive action towards our allies in Europe, we need to get to the bottom of 2016 if we are going to defend our democracy.

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