WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is attacking his own FBI in a series of tweets and says the law enforcement agency’s reputation is “in Tatters” but that “we will bring it back to greatness.”
After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running the FBI, its reputation is in Tatters – worst in History! But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2017
The president was responding to reports that a veteran FBI counterintelligence agent was removed from special counsel Robert Mueller’s team investigating Russian election meddling because of anti-Trump text messages.
In a tweet he referred to him as a “Tainted (no, very dishonest?)” agent.
Tainted (no, very dishonest?) FBI “agent’s role in Clinton probe under review.” Led Clinton Email probe. @foxandfriends Clinton money going to wife of another FBI agent in charge.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2017
The president is suggesting the agency needs a dramatic overhaul under new FBI director Christopher Wray, saying that after years under fired FBI director James Comey, “with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more),” the agency’s reputation “is in Tatters – worst in History!'” The president also retweeted a tweet suggesting FBI Director Chris Wray “needs to clean house.”
The agent was removed during the summer after the discovery of an exchange of text messages viewed as potentially anti-Trump, a person familiar with the matter said Saturday. The agent had also worked on the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
The person was not authorized to speak about it by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The president said earlier Sunday he never asked Comey to stop investigating ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Report: “ANTI-TRUMP FBI AGENT LED CLINTON EMAIL PROBE” Now it all starts to make sense!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2017
Reposting as a thread: FBIAA President Thomas O’Connor (@tfoconnor83) issued the following statement today: (1/3)
— FBI Agents Assoc. (@FBIAgentsAssoc) December 3, 2017