With Vladimir Putin before he hit the ice. Reporter how will the firing of james comey affect u. S. Russia relations . Captioning sponsored by cbs this is the cbs evening news with scott pelley. Pelley this is our western edition. In a previous career, President Trump was a master at explaining why he fired someone, but critics are not buying his explanation for the firing of james comey. The president told reporters today that comey wasnt doing a good job as director of the f. B. I. Mr. Trump is the first president since Richard Nixon to fire a Law Enforcement official investigating the white house. The timing raises questions. Comey had just asked for more resources for his investigation of russian interference in the u. S. Election, including possible collusion by team trump. Ghll start at the white house tonight with Major Garrett. Reporter as comparisons to watergate swirled, President Trump met today in the oval office with president Richard Nixons secretary of state, henry kissi
Odonnell. A good saturday to you. Lets talk about what new we have leshd from the president this morning. Reporter to give you the scene this is a case where the president is on a smaller version of air force one to make the short trip to lynchburg, virginia, and he wandered back to the press area of the cabin and had a conversation with the journalists and the traveling pool, the rotating news organizations that share that duty, and talked with them. There were questions asked, of course. One of the big topics is where do things stand with choosing an fbi director to succeed james comey. And the president talked about some of the qualities and the time line for his decision. Do you think you might make a decision or announcement before you leave . People that are very well known, the highest level, so we can make a decision. Reporter next week before the trip possibly . That is possible. Almost all are well known. Theyve been vetted over their lifetime essentially. But very well known
First comey never gave the president assurance of personal loyalty. Second, investigation into possible conclusion by team trump into russia was accelerating. That may explain the timing. Sources tell cnn comey was fired a week after asking for more resources to investigate the russia connection. The white house for its part denies comey made that request. Regardless, theres progress reported in that probe. A Senate Committee issuing a subpoena. First the white house doggedly defending its rationale for comeys firing. Deputy press secretary Huckabee Sanders using blunt language to describe the investigation into the handling of Hillary Clintons email. I think one of the big catalysts that we saw was last week on wednesday. Director comey made a pretty startling revelation that he had essentially taken a stick of dynamite and thrown it into the department of justice by going around the chain of command, having a letter like the one that he received, and having that conversation that out
In, that one week before comey was fired, he had asked, appealed for more resources for his russia investigation. The Justice Department denies that. But according to two sources fam with the discussion, comey actually made that request specifically to the Deputy Attorney general, Rod Rosenstein. That, of course, is the man who made the case to let comey go. I think that director comey has shown over the last several months and frankly, over the last year a lot of missteps and mistakes. The president had lost again like i said, hed lost confidence in director comey and frankly, hed been considering letting director comey go since the day he was elected. Since the day he was elected. There is, of course, a problem with that time line. Sean spicer, the press secretary had r has repeatedly said that the president has confidence in comey. Heres the president himself, again since election day. I respect him a lot. I respect the fbi a lot. Oh, and theres hes become more famous than me. I hav
Sticking up for his boss, calling the dismissal of the right at the right time. Congressional democrats, some of whom have called for comeys head following the clinton email investigation or demanding a special prosecutor. John roberts joins us from the north lawn. Good evening. In this tangled web of claims and counterclaims, one thing that we did learn today that was new, the firing of james comey had more to do with what President Trump was thinking that we were first legibly. 24 hours after firing james comey, the white house today dramatically shifted the narrative. Initially officials insisted they Deputy Attorney general made the recommendation in recent days. Today the Deputy Press Secretary said the president has been thinking about it for months. In regard to the termination of the former fbi director comey, the president over the last several months lost confidence in director comey and frankly he had been considering letting director comey go since the day he was elected. D