Trump fires Comey:
A screenplay in 5 acts

Voiceover

For weeks, President Trump has purportedly been angry with FBI Director James Comey. Comey has been leading a probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. As questions loom, the country awaits answers.

TELEVISION

(playing in background)

Trump fires FBI Director James Comey

Comey

(laughs)

Narrator

(V.O.)

The FBI director is ‘caught flat-footed’ and initially thinks the report is an elaborate prank.

Comey staff

(scurries and hurriedly escorts the now former FBI director from the room.)

REPORTER VOICEOVER 1

(Reading from Rosenstein’s memo to Trump)

As you and I have discussed, however, I cannot defend the Director’s handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton’s emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken. Almost everyone agrees that the Director made serious mistakes; it is one of the few issues that unites people of diverse perspectives.

REPORTER VOICEOVER 2

(Reading from Trump’s letter of dismissal to Comey)

While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.

SPICER

(turning to TV cameras)

Just turn the lights off. Turn the lights off.

REPORTER

Did the president speak with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein about Rosenstein’s review of Comey?

SPICER

No, I don’t believe, I don’t know how that sequence went. I don’t know.

REPORTER

When’s the last time Trump and Comey spoke?

SPICER

I don’t know. I don’t know.

REPORTER

Was Sessions involved?

SPICER

That’s something you should ask the Department of Justice.

REPORTERS

Inaudible

SPICER

(visibly annoyed)

Sarah, you’re right there, you don’t have to yell.

COOPER

Joining us right now is the White House counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway.

NARRATOR

(v.o.)

It’s the first time Conway has been on television in several weeks.

COOPER

Kellyanne, you know, to those who say why now, why fire James Comey now, what do you say?

CONWAY

Well, I would point them to the three letters that we received today, Anderson, the letter by President Donald Trump, the letter by Attorney General Sessions, and really the underlying report by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who the FBI director reports to.

COOPER

So now your White House is saying that what he did was wrong, but previously as a candidate, Donald Trump was saying it was the right thing?

CONWAY

You’re conflating two things that don’t belong together. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

(She winks.)

I was on your show often last fall saying we were going to win Michigan and how we were going to do it.

COOPER

(dramatic eyeroll)

CONWAY

So that was fun. But here’s what happened today. Today, not in a campaign, in the White House, the president of the United States –

COOPER

So that person doesn’t exist anymore? Candidate Donald Trump, that’s a fictional character we are no longer allowed to refer to? We can now only refer to the Donald Trump who exists today?

CONWAY

Anderson, I’ll ignore how unkind that is. And I will say that as president of the United States he needs confidence in his FBI director and he doesn’t have it. And the attorney …

COOPER

When was the moment he lost confidence?

CONWAY

… general and the deputy attorney general didn’t have it. Well, read this letter. Read these letters. It’s a kind — it’s just — it’s a confluence of events. What Mr. Rosenstein says is so important.

SANDERS

(over the cacophony of camera shutters)

The president over the last several months lost confidence in Director Comey. The DOJ lost confidence in Director Comey. Bipartisan members of Congress made it clear that they had lost confidence in Director Comey.

And most importantly, the rank-and-file had lost confidence in their director.

SANDERS

(trying to ease tensions)

In addition to all of the big news happening at the White House today, it is also my daughter Scarlet’s fifth birthday. … I think her first birthday wish would probably be that you guys are incredibly nice. (Laughter.) And now I will take your questions.

ROOM

Sarah! Sarah!

REPORTER

Who did the president consult before making the final decision to fire James Comey?

SANDERS

The president spoke with a number of individuals, but at the end of the day it was the president’s decision.

ROOM

Sarah! Sarah!

REPORTER

Was he surprised by the Democratic backlash? Did he anticipate it, considering some of the past statements?

SANDERS

If Hillary Clinton had won the election, which thank God she didn’t, but if she had and she had been in the same position, she would have fired Comey immediately. And the very Democrats that are criticizing the president today would be dancing in the streets celebrating. So it’s just the — I think the purest form of hypocrisy.

ROOM

(third time)

Sarah! Sarah!

REPORTER

Was the president aware that James Comey asked for more resources in the Russia investigation? And did that factor into his decision to get rid of Mr. Comey, the director?

SANDERS

Not that I’m aware of, and I think that would be a better question for the Department of Justice.

NARRATOR

(V.O)

Andrew McCabe was named Comey’s second-in-command last January. Now he sits before a Senate panel, answering questions about the ouster of his former boss.

SEN. MARTIN HEINRICH (D-N.M)

Is it accurate that the rank-and-file no longer supported Comey?

MCCABE

(pauses)

No sir, that is not accurate. … I hold Director Comey in the absolute highest regard. I have the highest respect for his considerable abilities and his integrity, and it has been the greatest privilege and honor of my professional life to work with him. I can tell you also that Director Comey enjoyed broad support within the FBI.

TRUMP

Look, he’s a showboat, he’s grandstander, the FBI has been in turmoil. You know that, I know that. Everybody knows that. You take a look at the FBI a year ago, it was in virtual turmoil, less than a year ago. It hasn’t recovered from that.

NARRATOR

(V.O)

Holt had already pressed Trump about the basis for his decision, which Trump’s White House had tied to Justice Department officials.

TRUMP

I was going to fire regardless of recommendation. … And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election they should have won.

HOLT

Are you angry with Mr. Comey because of his Russia investigation?

TRUMP

I just want somebody that’s competent.

HOLT

(persisting in his line of questioning)

You were the centerpiece of the Trump campaign.

TRUMP

(tries to interrupt.)

HOLT

So, is he (Comey) being truthful when he said that you weren’t under investigation?

TRUMP

I know that I’m not under investigation. Me. Personally. I’m not talking about campaigns, I’m not talking about anything else.

COMEY

(responding via his secret email)

You are right there is a clear story to tell — one that folks willing to actually listen will readily grasp — but I’m not ready to tell it just yet for a variety of reasons.