In an attempt to protect Trump’s decision to fire Comey in the midst of his investigation into Trump associates, Russia and the 2016 election, Republicans are pushing to get a replacement approved by the Senate asap.
But Democrats argue that Trump’s next FBI director will have to be someone with unquestionable credibility with a deep background in law enforcement matters. Comey’s replacement must also have no connections to Trump politically or professionally, making it impossible for anyone to question the next director’s conflict of interest.
Well, that’s not what is in Trump’s mind. According To CNN, Trump’ stop picks to replace Comey include some of the shadiest characters of the political world.
Here’s a list of people Trump is reportedly considering to replace Comey:
Rudy Giuliani
The former mayor of New York and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY, is one of Trump’s closest allies and a shameless defender of his fraudulent administration. Given his loyalty to the President and law enforcement background, Giuliani is Trump’s top choice for FBI director.
Also, his vocal advocacy for Trump during the 2016 campaign and clear partisan bent would make it difficult for the former New York mayor to get confirmed by the Senate, even if he only needed 51 votes. To make matters worst, Giuliani himself is a “person of interest” in the Russia investigation.
Giuliani’s record is chock full of anti-Hillary Clinton comments, too.
“When I see her, I see her in an orange jumpsuit,” he said days before the 2016 election. “Or at least a striped one.”
Chris Christie
Christie is in the same boat as Giuliani. The corrupt New Jersey governor was one of the first top Republicans to endorse Trump during the 2016 campaign and stood by him during some of the most trying times in his presidential campaign. But like Giuliani, he is clearly partisan.
“Is she guilty or not guilty,” Christie bellowed during the 2016 Republican National Convention after talking about Clinton’s character and judgment. The crowd then chanted, “Lock her up,” which Christie egged on.
Trey Gowdy
Picking Rep. Trey Gowdy, the South Carolina Republican and former federal prosecutor, would electrify Trump’s Republican base.
Almost immediately after Comey’s departure went public, right-wing blogs and websites jumped at the chance to push Gowdy, who became a champion of the right when he led the political committee looking into Clinton’s handling of the 2012 Benghazi attack.
However, like Giuliani and Christie, it would be difficult for Trump to confirm Gowdy, given his clear partisan bent and the fact he endorsed the President during the 2016 Republican primary.
As CNN states, the easiest pick to replace Comey would be Andrew McCabe, who is currently working at the acting director of the FBI and had served as Comey’s deputy since early February 2016.
McCabe joined the FBI as a special agent in 1996 and has since worked in on a host of issues, including counterterrorism, national security and interrogation.
But there’s a problem: McCabe’s connection to Comey and the fact that he had his hands in both the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election could spook Donald Trump, who is obviously afraid of the Russia investigation.
