BOB GOODLATFE. Virginia JOHN CONYEHS, JR Michigan
CHAIRMAN RANKING MINORITY MEMBER

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Mayll,2017

Chairman Bob Goodlatte

House Committee on the Judiciary
2138 Rayburn House Of?ce Building
Washington, DC. 20515

Dear Chairman Goodlatte:

We write today to request that you immediately schedule hearings concerning President Trump?s ?ring
of FBI Director James Comey. This decision to abruptly ?re Mr. Comey not only undermines the Department
of Justice?s investigation into Russia?s efforts to in?uence the recent US. elections in possible coordination
with the Trump campaign, but also threatens to erode con?dence in the Department as a bedrock of
independence and integrity within our system of government.

The dismissal of Director Comey demands a clear and compelling explanation. To date, the
Administration has provided none. The stated reasons for Mr. Comey's dismissal seem to be pretextual.
Whatever the President's reasons for removing the director, they would not appear to stem from the FBI's
handling of the investigation into Secretary Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. The facts of that case
were known to the Administration months ago?when both President Trump and Attorney General Jeff
Sessions praised Director Comey for these very actions. Mr. Trump acknowledged as much today when he
admitted during an interview, was going to ?re him regardless of [Rosenstein?s] recommendation.?

There is already evidence the ?ring is harming the Department and the FBI. The media is reporting that
Deputy Director Rosenstein threatened to resign over Mr. Trump?s efforts to pin the ?ring decision on him.
Further, while the White House claimed ?the rank and ?le of the FBI had lost con?dence in their director,? the
reality is far different. Thomas O'Connor, an FBI special agent who is president of the FBI Agents Association
stated that Comey?s ?support within the rank and ?le of the FBI is overwhelming? adding that his ?ring ?was
described to me today by at least three agents as a gut punch to the organization neither agents nor the
association ?saw this coming? and that few thought Comey did anything to deserve such treatment.? Law
enforcement?s support of Mr. Comey was con?rmed today by Acting FBI Director McCabe in his testimony
before the Senate Intelligence Committee when he stated Mr. Comey ?enjoyed broad support in the FBI [prior
to the ?ring], and still does to this day.?

Because it falls to our Committee to ensure the integrity and independence of both the Department of
Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, we ask that you schedule hearings with the key players in this
matter?former Director Comey, Attorney General Sessions, and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein?as
soon as practicable and certainly by no later than May 25, 2017.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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Letter to Chairman Goodlatte
May 11, 2017
Page 3