Daily Briefing: 5 Things for Wednesday – Comey, Comey, Comey, Comey, Comey

‘This Is a Tense and Uncertain Time in the Nation’s History’

Good morning!

Now that the seismic news that a president who is under investigation has fired the top investigator in that investigation has taken hold, let’s take a look at some of the news surrounding the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

The most important thing to remember: No one is buying Trump’s claim he fired Comey over the FBI Director’s handling of the Clinton email investigation.

Here are 5 things you need to know for today:

• The New York Times Editorial Board draws an “obvious historical parallel” to the Nixon “Saturday Night Massacre” and notes: “This is a tense and uncertain time in the nation’s history. The president of the United States, who is no more above the law than any other citizen, has now decisively crippled the F.B.I.’s ability to carry out an investigation of him and his associates. There is no guarantee that Mr. Comey’s replacement, who will be chosen by Mr. Trump, will continue that investigation; in fact, there are already hints to the contrary.”
• One of the reasons Trump fired Comey was the FBI Director refused to support Trump’s lie that President Obama wiretapped him. 
• There will be a protest at the White House today at noon EDT over the firing of Comey, organized by Indivisible, MoveOn.org, Credo, the Working Families Party, and Americans Against Trump.
• Trump and his team had no idea the firing of James Comey would be a big deal, according to multiple reports. They had no messaging prepared, no plan on how to push back on criticism. They were completely surprised. 
• In an act of self-inflicted stupidity, President Trump today will be meeting with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, at the White House. 

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