Updated February 25, 2020 Rule of Law
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern
Firing James Comey: Obstruction of Justice and Attack on FBI Independence
Trump fired FBI Director Comey while Comey's bureau was investigating Trump campaign ties to Russia. Trump's own statements to Lester Holt and to Russian officials — that the firing relieved 'great pressure' from the Russia investigation — directly contradicted the White House's stated justifications. Mueller's report identified ten episodes of potential obstruction and declined to exonerate Trump; it explicitly left open the question of indictment.