In the days before James Comey was fired as FBI director, he had requested that his agency receive a "significant increase" in resources to assist the ongoing investigation into the alleged Russian interference of the 2016 election, according to The New York Times. Comey asked for "money and personnel" last week when he met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who happened to be the one to pen the memorandum saying Comey's term should be terminated, according to the Times.
So far, Democrats have largely led the calls that a special prosecutor be appointed to lead the investigation, but on Wednesday Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky., rejected requests for a special prosecutor or an independent commission, according to Politico.
"Today we'll no doubt hear calls for a new investigation, which could only serve to impede the current work being done," McConnell said. He also criticized the Democrats for having previously expressed concern over Comey. “This is what we have now, Mr. President, our Democratic colleagues complaining about the removal of an FBI director whom they themselves repeatedly and sharply criticized," he said, according to Politico.
The reverberations of President Trump's decision are still settling in as it is not yet clear who Comey's replacement will be, and some reports have indicated it may be former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Interviews will be conducted by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Rosenstein on Wednesday that will include four to eight candidates for the job. An announcement of an interim FBI director is expected to come as soon as Wednesday or Thursday.
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