President Trump mistakenly thought his firing of FBI Director James Comey would receive bipartisan praise. As soon as he made the announcement, however, Democrats fumed, accusing him of simply trying to suppress Comey’s Russia investigation. The president has again seemingly miscalculated an imminent executive decision in his choice to replace Comey. He told the press Thursday that former Democratic senator Joe Lieberman is his top choice. Yet, Democrats are not impressed.
Senators like Claire McCaskill (D-MO) argue that no politician, regardless of party, should be leading the FBI.
“I don’t think there's going to be much excitement about that from our side of the aisle. Not because we don’t respect Joe Lieberman. But we need a law enforcement professional, not someone who’s run for office before,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). “We don’t need anyone who’s put on a red shirt or blue shirt — or who’s campaigned for president.” Lieberman ran for president in 2004.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said the same on Capitol Hill Friday, telling reporters that Lieberman is a "wonderful man," but Trump should steer clear of politics in his FBI hiring.
Politico also surmises that Democrats are still bitter over Lieberman’s distancing himself from several Obama policies over the last few years, including the Iranian nuclear deal and Obamacare.
Still, many liberals flat out don't like Lieberman. In an interview, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) fumed about Lieberman’s efforts to undercut more generous Medicare benefits in Obamacare and his relative closeness to Trump. After a monologue on Lieberman's faults, Brown ended by telling a reporter: “That’s all on the record.”
Trump said he is "very close" to revealing his new FBI director. Some expected him to make the announcement before he left for his first overseas trip as president to Saudi Arabia Friday. But, the White House quashed that report.
No FBI director nominee announcement Friday, White House officials say - @HansNichols
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) May 19, 2017
Will Democrats ever be pleased with a Trump decision?
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