国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Washington ponders why Trump sacks Comey_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Washington ponders why Trump sacks Comey

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday came as a surprise to many, even those at the very center of the country's political machinery.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the White House said Trump had informed Comey of the decision, which he made following suggestions from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

"The FBI is one of our nation's most cherished and respected institutions and today will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement," the statement quoted Trump as saying.

In his letter to Comey, Trump said: "While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgement of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the bureau."

Rosenstein, Comey's immediate superior, listed a number of reasons why Comey was unfit to lead the FBI, primarily his handling of investigations into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's email servers.

"I cannot defend the director's handling of the conclusion of the investigation of (former) Secretary (of State) Clinton's emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgement that he was mistaken," Rosenstein said.

Comey was embroiled in controversy in 2016 when he announced twice in July and late October that the FBI was launching investigations into possible mishandling of work-related emails by Clinton, which she said was partially to blame for her eventual defeat in the presidential election.