Former US Attorney Preet Bharara, who was fired by the US President Donald Trump, says he is ‘troubled by the timings and reasoning’ behind Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey’s firing. He has taken to Twitter to sound the alarm.
Trump's firing of Comey came as the FBI director was in the middle of investigating whether or not the President or his team colluded with Russia to rig the 2016 election, and triggered widespread bipartisan concerns about his motives.
Bharara's own firing shared a similarity, especially after Trump had told him he could stay on. Trump initially asked the widely-respected Bharara, an Obama appointee, to continue but then abruptly fired him without explanation.
Also read: US Attorney Bharara says he was fired by Trump administration
Comey’s firing is all the more disturbing because it comes on the heels of Trump’s firing of another law enforcement official whose demonstrated independence was a threat to Trump and his circle, said Bharara, who had jurisdiction over events happening in Manhattan, where Trump Tower happens to be located.
Many noted the pattern of Trump firing people who were investigating him or had information of wrongdoing within his administration.