James Comey, who was fired as FBI director by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, had to go because he had ruined the reputation of the bureau, former FBI Assistant Director James Kallstrom said.
"I'm glad it happened," Kallstrom told Fox News' "The Story." "I think Jim Comey way back almost a year ago kind of forgot he was the FBI director."
Comey's press conference July 5, recommending against prosecuting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was the Democratic nominee for president, was an improper usurpation of the attorney general's role, Kallstrom said, and the action might have affected the election. Had Comey kept silent, Democrats might have decided on a different candidate, he said.
"Jim Comey danced with the devil, and later on down the road talked about this great investigation the FBI conducted," Kallstrom said. "Of course, they had no subpoena power, they couldn't compel any investigation or search warrants. They had to beg people to look at things. The interview of Hillary Clinton, in my view, was a sham."
Comey made a lot of mistakes, but is "basically a good guy," Kallstrom said. "He was lacking common sense, and it's time for new leadership in the FBI."
Comey "threw the FBI under the bus, and the reputation of the FBI under the bus," Kallstrom said. "That's what I am very mad about and have been very mad about for a long time."
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