Firing James Comey a display of ‘Trump’s failure for tolerance’

Daniel Melo/ Contributing Writer

Since early November of 2016, one person has been continuously pressed in the limelight, and as you’ve probably guessed, that person is President Donald Trump. There is a new story, a new scandal, a new controversy every week it seems, and frankly, it gets quite exhausting to keep up with the acquisitions, but the one that has transcribed in the previous week deserves a little bit more analyzation.

For those who don’t know, President Trump fired James Comey, who is now the ex-FBI Director. However, there is no concrete, substantial reason for firing Comey. In fact, the reason as to why this occurred keeps fluctuating as the White House struggles to maintain a straight story that offers a reasonable explanation.

The initial claim, as stated by CNN, reads, “Comey had lost support of the organization with his handling of the investigation into the private email server maintained by Hillary Clinton.” Although this could’ve been a feasible explanation, the acting FBI Director, Andrew McCabe states otherwise in his testimony given on Thursday, May 11, in which he objects to the original statement released by the White House.

While addressing the members of the Senate intelligence committee, McCabe said, “I hold Director Comey in the absolute highest regard. I have the highest respect for his considerable abilities and his integrity.” Shortly after, McCabe added that Comey enjoyed “broad support within the FBI and still does to this day. The majority, the vast majority of FBI employees enjoyed a deep, positive connection to Director Comey.”

Now, who would know better about the relationship of the FBI employees and the previous FBI Director, the White House, or an actual FBI employee? To put this into perspective, imagine the president of your school club, fraternity or sorority being fired by Mark B. Rosenberg because he believes that the president wasn’t tremendously liked nor supported amongst the organization. Who would know this information better — Rosenberg or you, a member of the organization?

The statements as to why Comey was fired continue to shift and probably continue to do so until all this attention dies out.

President Trump then stated it was because Comey was underperforming, but this statement changed again shortly after with the “deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders [saying] that the real reason for Comey’s dismissal was the “atrocities” he had committed against the chain of command by openly acknowledging in Congressional testimony last week that he hadn’t told the attorney general — Loretta Lynch at the time — what he would say on July 5 when he announced his findings in the Clinton case.”

Throughout the White House, it is known that President Trump was displeased with Comey, but not for reasons in particular to Comey’s performance or job.

Trump’s reasons for disliking Comey may be from the ex-FBI Director contradicting Trump and for making his election victory seem undeserved.

Comey didn’t back up Trump’s claims of being wiretapped by Obama, and Comey continued the Russian investigation even though Trump wanted the FBI to focus on how the information leaks were obtained. Comey clearly acted against Trump’s will and acted for the benefit of the general will, which is displeasing in the eyes of Trump.       

Ultimately, Trump’s failure for tolerance is troubling as he can’t take criticism and is incapable of handling contradiction. As we’ve already seen from the Attorney General position, in which he fired the previous Attorney General for neglecting views upheld by Trump — we are seeing the same instance occur with the FBI Director role.
Trump only wants those that he can manipulate and control, and won’t settle for second opinions. This is highly disturbing because if Trump is even remotely successful in this forced takeover, the government could be at the palm of his hands, and everyone will work for him — not for the people.

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