Sen. Coons: “That’s the real question.  Can the FBI continue to conduct an independent investigation into the possibility that there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians?”  

Sen. Coons: “It is hard for me to believe that the entire reason for his firing is what was proffered by the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General”  

Sen. Coons: “I would support the appointment of an independent prosecutor or a special counsel to manage this investigation going forward. I think our critical question has to be: can they really be independent?"

WASHINGTON – Last night, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees, joined MSNBC’s Chris Hayes to discuss the firing of FBI Director James Comey. 

Full audio and video available here. 

Excerpts from MSNBC interview:

“Why did President Trump wait until now to fire Director Jim Comey? The cited reasons are all public facts that have been known for months, and while there have been some who have questioned and criticized the FBI Director for his handling of the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email last fall…the Trump Administration hasn’t made any previous comments about it, and that’s what they cite as their justification for firing him abruptly today.”

“That’s the real question.  Can the FBI continue to conduct an independent investigation into the possibility that there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians?”

“It is hard for me to believe that the entire reason for his firing is what was proffered by the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, and so I think we need to focus on whether or not the Senate Intelligence Committee is going to be allowed to, able to continue its bipartisan independent investigation, whether or not the FBI will be able to conduct an independent investigation, and I think we ought to recall FBI Director Comey to the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask him to testify about whether in his opinion this investigation has been compromised.“

On the potential appointment of a special prosecutor: “I think that’s something that’s almost certainly called for now…What really matters is independence, and I have some questions now about whether we’re going to be able to get someone who is a career prosecutor, who is able to conduct themselves independent of any interference, particularly given that the Attorney General, who had recused himself from the Russia investigation, played a role in this firing of the FBI Director. I would support the appointment of an independent prosecutor or a special counsel to manage this investigation going forward. I think our critical question has to be: can they really be independent?”

 

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