Stand Up Republic’s Statement Regarding the Termination of FBI Director James Comey
May 9, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Washington, D.C. — Stand Up Republic releases the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s termination of FBI Director James Comey today:
“This is a desperate act by a compromised President who fears being held accountable,” said Stand Up Republic co-founder Evan McMullin. “Last October, President Trump was effusive in his praise for how Director Comey handled new evidence regarding Hillary Clinton’s email server, saying that Comey had ‘a lot of guts.’ Trump’s termination of Comey now is a corrupt maneuver to protect himself from investigation.”
“We have said from the beginning that the connections between Russia and the Trump campaign and administration require a thorough, independent investigation,” said Stand Up Republic co-founder Mindy Finn. “With Comey out, the President may replace him with a loyalist willing to compromise America’s interests to avoid challenging the President, or leave the position vacant as long as possible to hobble the FBI’s ability to pursue an investigation.”
“The timing of this announcement the day after the testimony of former acting Attorney General Sally Yates, and two days before Comey was scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee is telling,” added McMullin. “From Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns to the ongoing revelations of ties between his campaign and Russia, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to believe that Trump doesn’t have something major to hide.”
“Furthermore, for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to have previously recused himself from the Russia investigation but now call for the firing of the man leading that same investigation is highly questionable,” continued Finn. “The sad fact is that Trump’s actions further erode public trust and confidence in our government, and his administration and many in Congress are complicit.”
Stand Up Republic urges the American people to contact their members of Congress and demand they support a bipartisan select committee to handle this investigation.
ABOUT STAND UP REPUBLIC
Stand Up Republic, Inc., a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) organization, was founded by Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn to build a national grassroots movement to defend the democratic ideals, norms, and institutions that have made America the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth and a source of hope for many around the world.
Stand Up Republic has released a series of ads (“Sunlight,” “Secrets,” and “Swamp”) supporting calls for Congress to appoint a bipartisan select committee to properly investigate entanglements between Russia and the Trump campaign and administration, and additional ad campaigns are planned to launch throughout the year.
For more information: Sarah Rumpf, SarahR@StandUpRepublic.com
