FBI Director James Comey’s firing is likely to have massive implications for the image of the United States around the world – particularly if, as former National Counterterrorism Center Director Mike Leiter suggests, a special prosecutor is appointed to oversee the investigation of Russian interference in last year’s election. The Cipher Brief’s Mackenzie Weinger spoke with James Jeffrey, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, for a diplomatic perspective on the fallout from the firing.
The Cipher Brief: What is your reaction to the firing of Jim Comey?
James Jeffrey: For the first time I fear for our democracy. The Hillary Clinton documentsgate [email] investigation was always a case of the FBI going beyond the law. Firing Comey, presumably because he exonerated her, returns us to "lock her up." There were no classified documents ever found on her server. Was their information that someone might think was classified? Of course. But in no case, which I see, was she the originator. It was stuff sent to her by her staff, including from me. Whether something should be classified is a judgment call of the originator. Making a judgment error is an administrative issue, not a criminal one. Sending her a classified document would be a criminal act, but that never happened per the FBI.
TCB: What impact might have on the investigation into Russia interference into the campaign and possible coordination with the Trump campaign?
JJ: This action will appear and will be perceived by FBI as an order from on-high to deep-six any investigation. As we have seen in the last few days of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn revelations, there is likely really incriminating information on the broader campaign—not just Flynn, but possibly up to Donald Trump. This is a Watergate moment!
TCB: How is this likely to be perceived in the world in what has been so far a chaotic start to the Trump administration?
JJ: As a blatant attempt to undercut rule of law, the mother of democracies.
