WASHINGTON (AP) – FBI Director James Comey, the target of bipartisan criticism over his handling of politically sensitive investigations, is staying in his job as head of the law enforcement agency.
FBI directors are appointed to 10-year terms intended to carry across presidential administrations, even when a new party takes over the White House. Comey, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, is in the fourth year of his term and has spoken publicly about his enthusiasm for remaining in the job.
President Donald Trump criticized the FBI during his campaign for its decision not to recommend charges against his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, over her use of a private email server. He called the bureau’s decision a “horrible mistake.”
In a CBS “60 Minutes” interview after the election, Trump said he hadn’t decided whether to keep Comey on, though he did appear to greet the FBI chief warmly last weekend at a ceremony for law enforcement officials.
Although an FBI director can be fired by the president, only one since 1976 has been removed prematurely – Reagan appointee William Sessions by Bill Clinton in 1993.