ZeroHedge.com
According to a White House official, Bloomberg is reporting that President Donald Trump is considering Mike Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent from Michigan, to replace James Comey as FBI director.
Rogers, 53, a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, retired from Congress in 2015 after seven terms to pursue a career in talk radio.
He advised the Trump presidential transition team on national security issues but was asked to leave at about the same time New Jersey Governor Chris Christiewas removed as head of the transition.
He was among the seven potential candidates we noted yesterday:
Rudy Giuliani
The former New York mayor and U.S. attorney is reportedly on Trump’s shortlist to replace Comey. A source close to Trump confirmed to NY Mag’s Olivia Nuzzi that Giuliani is being considered for FBI director. However, before that tip, Giuliani told Nuzzi and The Atlantic’s Rosie Gray: “I am not. I’m not a candidate for FBI director. The president’s not gonna ask me, and I’m not gonna be FBI director.”
Giuliani was in D.C. last night, having drinks at Trump International Hotel. When asked if he’ll be meeting with the president today, he said, “If I am, I wouldn’t say.”
Chris Christie
The New Jersey governor is not without controversies of his own, but he was one of the first Republicans to endorse Trump in 2016. Earlier this year, Trump appointed Christie to lead his opioid and drug abuse commission.
Andrew McCabe
McCabe is currently serving as the acting FBI director in Comey’s absence. He has been Comey’s deputy since Feb. 2016 and has worked on various issues like interrogation, counterterrorism, and national security. His biggest setback: His close ties to Comey and his participation in the Russia investigation and Clinton email investigation, which was cited as the reason for Comey’s termination.
Mike Rogers
He’s a former FBI agent and the former Republican House Intelligence Committee chairman. Before Comey’s confirmation in 2013, Rogers was the FBI Agents Association’s top recommendation to serve as FBI director. His name could resurface in discussions about Comey’s replacement.
Ken Wainstein
Another favorite was Wainstein, who’s got a lot of credentials:
- Former head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division
- Former general counsel of the FBI
- Once served as the chief federal prosecutor in D.C. when he served in the Justice Department
- Also served as the director of the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys
- Served as former FBI director Robert Mueller’s chief of staff
- During the May 6 Senate hearing on the Russia investigation, he acted as counsel to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
Ray Kelly
Another New Yorker, he’s the former commissioner of the NYPD and he was considered for the FBI Director role under Bill Clinton in 1993. Although he didn’t get the job, Kelly was selected as Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at Treasury and commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service for the Clinton administration.
Trey Gowdy
The South Carolina Republican served on the Trump transition team’s executive committee. One thing Trump will surely find appealing: Gowdy led House committee investigation of Clinton’s actions surrounding the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi when she was Secretary of State. He openly criticized Comey for his decision not to prosecute Clinton over the emails.