VOA常速英语:Comey Dismissal Continues to Reverberate in Washington

From juries to lawmakers, a wide net is being cast for a nominee to lead the FBI.

“These are outstanding people that are very well-known, highest level, so we could make a fast decision.”

Trump continue to make headlines after firing Comey in televised interviews and via Tweeter,where he appeared to threaten the former FBI Chief, and hinted that recordings may exist of their conversations.

“You have this very bizarre statement by the President that there may exist private tapes.”

Warner serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, probing Russian influence.

“I don’t have the foggiest idea whether there are tapes or not.But the fact that the President made illusions to that, and then the White House would not confirm or deny.First of all, we got to make sure that these tapes, if they exist, don’t mysteriously disappear.So I’ve asked, others have asked to make sure the tapes are preserved if they exist.”

On NBC television,Trump claimed Comey asked to meet with him in January so as to convey a desire to remain on the job at the FBI.But the president’s account does not match the recollection of someone who interacted with Comey shortly before the FBI director dined with Trump at the White House.

I spoke briefly with Director Comey about the dinner.He conveyed to me that he had been invited and he was, this is my characterization, uneasy with it,simply because of the optic or the appearance of potentially compromising his independence and that of the bureau."

Republican lawmakers are facing tough questions in their home states.

“No one is suspecting the fact that the President has the right to hire or fire an FBI Director.He made that decision, it’s been made.I think what’s important now is that we make sure that there is a qualified and capable person that has confidence,that people have confidence in to take into the FBI.”

Democrats meanwhile are united in demanding a special prosecutor to probe Russian influence,and whether there was any collusion between Moscow and elements of Trump’s inner circle.Democrats say a politically independent probe is more urgent than ever after Comey’s dismissal.

“To fire him amid in investigation, boy, oh boy, that raises a whole lot of questions.”

Comey declined to testify behind closed-doors on Capitol Hill this week.But he is reportedly eager to speak in a public hearing that could be scheduled any day.

Michael Bowman, VOA news, Washington.