Democrat: Reorganization at FBI part of ‘larger Republican effort to undercut Mueller’

12/23/17 10:19 AM EST

Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (Ill.) on Saturday called the reassignment of a top official at the FBI part of the “larger Republican effort [to] undercut” special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

“This is part of the larger Republican effort undercut the Mueller investigation by baselessly discrediting the FBI. The President can’t fire him so they want to either discredit him so he can’t continue or so President Trump can get away with firing him,” Krishnamoorthi tweeted. “We can’t afford either.”

Krishnamoorthi’s comments came in response to former FBI Director James Comey’s frustration at the reassignment of longtime FBI General Counsel James Baker, a move he suggested was politically motivated.

FBI Director Christopher Wray reportedly reassigned Baker, who previously worked closely with Comey, to another position within the bureau. Wray is reorganizing senior officials within the agency, a common practice for new directors, but is also reportedly under pressure to remove officials who are seen as loyal to Comey. President Trump fired Comey in May.

“Sadly, we are now at a point in our political life when anyone can be attacked for partisan gain. James Baker, who is stepping down as FBI General Counsel, served our country incredibly well for 25 years & deserves better,” Comey said in a tweet Saturday.

Congressional Republicans are alleging political bias among top FBI officials following recent reports of anti-Trump text messages exchanged between FBI employees working on Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s election meddling and possible collusion by the Trump campaign.

Author: Josh Delk
Original Article