The Trump Investigators That Trump Has Fired
Trump's dismissal of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday was the third time he's fired someone involved in an investigation of him or his associates. The FBI has been investigating Russian involvement in the U.S. election and possible involvement of Trump associates since the summer.
In each of these cases, the justifications for dismissal were inconsistent with prior actions, or immediately followed events related to investigations.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his deputy Rod Rosenstein recommended Comey's removal largely based on his handling of the Clinton email investigation, which concluded months earlier. In Trump's letter removing Comey from office, however, the President says Comey told him that he was not under investigation, an apparent reference to the Russia investigation. Sessions had previously recused himself from both that investigation and the Russia probe.
Stated reason for dismissal
Topic of investigation
Official testimony and action regarding Comey and his investigations
James Comey
Events and Trump’s public statements
FORMER FBI DIRECTOR
July 5, 2016
Gives press conference recommending no criminal charges against Clinton.
July
2016
July 5, 2016
After Comey’s announcement, Trump says that Comey is part of a "rigged" system.
Aug.
Oct. 28, 2016
Comey sends letter to Congress announcing new emails were found on Anthony Weiner’s laptop potentially related to Clinton.
Sept.
Oct.
Oct. 28, 2016
Trump responds to Comey’s letter saying "I have great respect for the FBI for righting this wrong."
Nov.
Nov. 6, 2016
Comey sends letter to Congress standing by his previous recommendation not to charge Clinton.
Dec.
Jan. 6, 2017
Trump and Comey meet for a briefing. At some point later, Trump asks Comey to continue leading the bureau.
Jan.
2017
Jan. 10, 2017
Comey testifies before Sen. Intelligence committee largely on Russian interference in the election.
Feb.
Jan. 22, 2017
Trump receives Comey at a White House reception with a handshake and a hug saying “He’s become more famous than me.”
March
Mar. 20, 2017
Comey testifies before House Intelligence committee, during which he acknowledged under oath that the FBI was investigating collusion between the Trump campaign with Russia.
April
May 3, 2017
Testified before Senate Judiciary committee defending his July announcement. In his letter recommending Comey's termination, Rosenstein takes issue with Comey's statements in this hearing.
May
May 5, 2017
Trump tweets: "FBI Director Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton" and that Comey "gave her a free pass."
May 9, 2017
Fired. Stated reason: for mishandling Clinton email investigation and follow-up.
Stated reason for dismissal
Topic of investigation
Official testimony and action regarding Comey and his investigations
Events and Trump’s public statements
James Comey
FORMER FBI DIRECTOR
July 5, 2016
Comey gives press conference recommending no criminal charges against Clinton.
July
2016
July 5, 2016
After Comey’s announcement, Trump says that Comey is part of a "rigged" system.
Aug.
Oct. 28, 2016
Comey sends letter to Congress announcing new emails were found on Anthony Weiner’s laptop potentially related to Clinton.
Sept.
Oct. 28, 2016
Trump responds to Comey’s letter saying "I have great respect for the FBI for righting this wrong."
Oct.
Nov. 6, 2016
Comey sends letter to Congress standing by his previous recommendation not to charge Clinton.
Nov.
Jan. 6, 2017
Trump and Comey meet for a briefing. At some point later, Trump asks Comey to continue leading the bureau.
Dec.
Jan.
2017
Jan. 10, 2017
Comey testifies before Sen. Intelligence committee largely on Russian interference in the election.
Jan. 22, 2017
Trump receives Comey at a White House reception with a handshake and a hug saying “He’s become more famous than me.”
Feb.
March
Mar. 20, 2017
Comey testifies before House Intelligence committee, during which he acknowledged under oath that the FBI was investigating collusion between the Trump campaign with Russia.
April
May 3, 2017
Comey testifies before Senate Judiciary committee defending his July announcement. In his letter recommending Comey's termination, Rosenstein takes issue with Comey's statements in this hearing.
May
May 5, 2017
Trump tweets: "FBI Director Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton" and that Comey "gave her a free pass."
May 9, 2017
Fired. Stated reason: for mishandling Clinton email investigation and follow-up.
James Comey
FORMER FBI DIRECTOR
Stated reason for dismissal
Topic of investigation
Events and Trump’s public statements
Official testimony and action regarding Comey and his investigations
July 2016
July 5, 2016
Comey gives press conference recommending no criminal charges against Clinton.
July 5, 2016
After Comey’s announcement, Trump says that Comey is part of a “rigged” system.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct. 28, 2016
Comey sends letter to Congress announcing new emails were found on Anthony Weiner’s laptop potentially related to Clinton.
Oct.
Oct. 28, 2016
Trump responds to Comey’s letter saying “I have great respect for the FBI for righting this wrong.”
Nov.
Nov. 6, 2016
Comey sends letter to Congress standing by his previous recommendation not to charge Clinton.
Dec.
Jan. 10, 2017
Comey testifies before Sen. Intelligence committee largely on Russian interference in the election.
Jan. 2017
Jan. 6, 2017
Trump and Comey meet for a briefing. At some point later, Trump asks Comey to continue leading the bureau.
Mar. 20, 2017
Comey testifies before House Intelligence committee, during which he acknowledged under oath that the FBI was investigating collusion between the Trump campaign with Russia.
Feb.
Jan. 22, 2017
Trump receives Comey at a White House reception with a handshake and a hug saying “He’s become more famous than me.”
March
May 3, 2017
Comey testifies before Senate Judiciary committee defending his July announcement. In his letter recommending Comey's termination, Rosenstein takes issue with Comey’s statements in this hearing.
April
May
May 5, 2017
Trump tweets: “FBI Director Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton” and that Comey “gave her a free pass.”
May 9, 2017
Fired. Stated reason: for mishandling Clinton email investigation and follow-up.
While former acting Attorney General Sally Yates was slated to leave office once Senator Jeff Sessions was confirmed as Attorney General, she was dismissed after she refused to defend Trump's first travel ban. In the days immediately prior to her removal, she had relayed to the White House the findings of her department's investigation into Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.
Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara was initially asked to stay on in his role before being fired in March. The following day, he tweeted "By the way, now I know what the Moreland Commission must have felt like," referring to a commission appointed to investigate corruption by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that the governor disbanded.
Stated reason for dismissal
Topic of investigation
Sally Yates
FORMER ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL
Nov.
2016
Jan. 24, 2017
FBI interviews National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, finding his underlying conduct "problematic."
Dec.
Jan. 26, 2017
Yates discusses Michael Flynn with White House Counsel Donald McGahn.
Jan.
2017
Jan. 27, 2017
Yates discusses arrangements for McGahn to view underlying evidence on Flynn.
Feb.
Jan. 27, 2017
Trump issues travel ban.
Jan. 27, 2017
Yates meets with McGahn on his request. They discussed possible criminal prosecution of Flynn among other topics, according to Yates's testimony.
March
Jan. 30, 2017
Yates talks with McGahn again.
April
Jan. 30, 2017
Yates refuses to enforce the travel ban.
Jan. 30, 2017
Fired.
Stated reason: for refusing to enforce Trump’s first travel ban.
May
Stated reason for dismissal
Topic of investigation
Preet Bharara
FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Bharara’s office had been involved with investigating Deutsche Bank, was said to be investigating Tom Price, Trump’s Head of the Department of Health and Human Services and had jurisdiction over Manhattan, which includes many of Trump’s properties including his home at Trump Tower.
Nov.
2016
Dec.
Nov. 30, 2016
Trump asks Bharara to stay on as U.S. attorney with jurisdiction over Manhattan.
Jan.
2017
Feb.
March
Mar. 10, 2017
Trump includes Bharara on a list of 46 U.S. attorneys asked to resign. Bharara refuses.
Mar. 11, 2017
Fired.
Stated reason: Bharara
refused to resign.
April
May
Stated reason for dismissal
Topic of investigation
Sally Yates
FORMER ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL
Nov.
2016
Jan. 24, 2017
FBI interviews National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, finding his underlying conduct "problematic."
Dec.
Jan. 26, 2017
Yates discusses Michael Flynn with White House Counsel Donald McGahn.
Jan.
2017
Jan. 27, 2017
Yates discusses arrangements for McGahn to view underlying evidence on Flynn.
Feb.
Jan. 27, 2017
Trump issues travel ban.
Jan. 27, 2017
Yates meets with McGahn on his request. They discussed possible criminal prosecution of Flynn among other topics, according to Yates's testimony.
March
Jan. 30, 2017
Yates talks with McGahn again.
April
Jan. 30, 2017
Yates refuses to enforce the travel ban.
Jan. 30, 2017
Fired.
Stated reason: for refusing to enforce Trump’s first travel ban.
May
Stated reason for dismissal
Topic of investigation
Preet Bharara
FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Bharara’s office had been involved with investigating Deutsche Bank, was said to be investigating Tom Price, Trump’s Head of the Department of Health and Human Services and had jurisdiction over Manhattan, which includes many of Trump’s properties including his home at Trump Tower.
Nov.
2016
Dec.
Nov. 30, 2016
Trump asks Bharara to stay on as U.S. attorney with jurisdiction over Manhattan.
Jan.
2017
Feb.
Mar. 10, 2017
Trump includes Bharara on a list of 46 U.S. attorneys asked to resign.
Bharara refuses.
March
Mar. 11, 2017
Fired.
Stated reason: Bharara
refused to resign.
April
May
Preet Bharara
FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Sally Yates
FORMER ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL
Stated reason for dismissal
Topic of investigation
Bharara’s office had been involved with investigating Deutsche Bank, was said to be investigating Tom Price, Trump’s Head of the Department of Health and Human Services and had jurisdiction over Manhattan, which includes many of Trump’s properties including his home at Trump Tower.
Nov. 2016
Jan. 24, 2017
FBI interviews National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, finding his underlying conduct "problematic."
Nov. 30, 2016
Trump asks Bharara to stay on as U.S. attorney with jurisdiction over Manhattan.
Dec.
Jan. 26, 2017
Yates discusses Michael Flynn with White House Counsel Donald McGahn.
Jan. 2017
Jan. 27, 2017
Yates discusses arrangements for McGahn to view underlying evidence on Flynn.
Jan. 27, 2017
Trump issues travel ban.
Feb.
Jan. 27, 2017
Yates meets with McGahn on his request. They discussed possible criminal prosecution of Flynn among other topics, according to Yates's testimony.
Mar. 10, 2017
Trump includes Bharara on a list of 46 U.S. attorneys asked to resign.
Bharara refuses.
March
Jan. 30, 2017
Yates talks with McGahn again.
Mar. 11, 2017
Fired.
Stated reason: Bharara
refused to resign.
April
Jan. 30, 2017
Yates refuses to enforce the travel ban.
Jan. 30, 2017
Fired.
Stated reason: for refusing to enforce Trump’s first travel ban.
May