Donald Trump’s presidency has been filled with controversy, and his most recent action has only added more fuel to the fire. On May 9, the 45th president fired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. The reason for this, Trump stated, was Comey’s inadequate handling of Senator Hillary Clinton’s email server scandal during the 2016 presidential election. However, many suspect a greater conspiracy at play, as Trump’s decision to fire the FBI Director seemed almost too convenient.
Although President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein all cited that the reason Comey was fired was his inadequate handling of Clinton’s email server scandal, many Democrats and Republicans across the country claim that Comey was fired to cover up for a larger conspiracy, namely, Trump’s aide’s ties with Russia during the election. Comey headed the FBI investigation of those ties, and it is suspected that to protect his advisers, Trump fired Comey.

The backlash of the decision has been spearheaded by a number of people, Democrats and Republicans alike, and its impact could be felt throughout the political sphere. Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer of New York shared his suspicions on Twitter, stating “They fired Sally Yates. They fired Preet Bharara. And now they fired Director Comey, the very man leading the investigation. This does not seem to be a coincidence.” Schumer’s sentiments are shared by many in his party, along with outcries for further investigation and special hearings. Even members of Trump’s own party are having similar suspicions and calls for justice. Republican Representative of Michigan Justin Amash is one of those members, supporting an independent commission to investigate the discrepancies. Jeff Flake, Republican Senator of Arizona, voiced his suspicions on Twitter, “I’ve spent the last several hours trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey’s firing. I just can’t do it.” It is clear to many that Comey’s dismissal just did not add up, especially when coupled with the ongoing investigation.

The firing of the FBI Director could perhaps be felt most prominently in the bureau itself. Many agents stated that Comey was a good, independent director who was not swayed (or tried not to be) by White House politics. Comey frequently butted heads with President Trump, and the unpredictable nature of the director could have posed as a dicey threat to Trump’s presidency. Furthermore, many former FBI agents and officers feel that Comey’s dismissal was an event cleverly orchestrated by the White House to get rid of such a dangerous opponent.

In an even spicier development, Trump tweeted on Friday that there were alleged “tapes” of conversation between him and Director Comey. Although Trump was being presumably sarcastic, many believe that there was some underlying truth to the statement. This has only furthered the calls of investigation of the president.
Trump’s newest scandal can only mar his presidency, but the way he will handle it will determine the severity of its impact.