Following advice, potential FBI chiefs steer clear of job under Trump

[webfact]

Following advice, potential FBI chiefs steer clear of job under Trump

By Julia Edwards Ainsley

REUTERS

 

U.S President Donald Trump stands at the doorway of the West Wing awaiting the arrival of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House in Washington, U.S. May 16, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration's search for a new FBI director hit roadblocks on Tuesday when two high-profile potential candidates, a moderate judge and a conservative senator, signalled they did not want the job.

 

Advisers to Judge Merrick Garland and U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas told Reuters they discouraged them from leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation, cautioning that they would be leaving important, secure jobs for one fraught with politics and controversy.

 

The advisers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the new FBI director would have little job security and heightened scrutiny by political observers following President Donald Trump's abrupt firing of James Comey on May 9.

 

Garland and Cornyn distancing themselves from the selection process just three days before Trump has said he may make a decision, points to the difficulties the White House has in filling the FBI post amid turmoil in the administration.

 

Trump's firing of Comey, the man in charge of an investigation into possible collusion between 2016 election campaign associates and the Russian government, outraged many lawmakers, including some Republicans.

 

Garland, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, "loves his job and is not interested in leaving the judiciary," said one source familiar with the judge's thinking.

 

Cornyn said in a statement that he had informed the White House that "the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate."

 

White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday that an announcement on FBI director was still possible before Trump leaves on his first foreign trip on Friday. He said the U.S. Department of Justice was still interviewing candidates.

 

Several Republican senators had promoted Garland even though they had refused to give him a hearing when Republican Trump's predecessor President Barack Obama, a Democrat, nominated Garland last year for a then-vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. The Republicans' reasoning appeared to be that Garland would be accepted by Democrats and help restore faith in the FBI as a nonpartisan agency.

 

In an interview on Bloomberg Television, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell referred to Garland, a former federal prosecutor, as "an apolitical professional."

 

A second Garland acquaintance who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Garland sought advice from those who told him he would be leaving his life-long position on the federal bench to take a job that could be terminated by Trump overnight.

 

A Republican Senate aide said Cornyn's staff also worried that the third-term Texas Senator could cut his- and their own- careers short by going to the FBI.

 

An adviser to another candidate on the White House short-list, former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, 75, said Kelly is also being persuaded to step out of the running.

 

Kelly has not said that he would not consider the job, but so far he has not been interviewed.

 

Republican Representative Trey Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor whose name had been floated, said on Monday he was not interested in the director position.

 

The difficulty in filling key administration jobs is not just limited to the FBI director post.

 

Trump’s habits of contradicting his top aides, demanding personal loyalty and punishing officials who contradict him in public has discouraged a number of experienced people from pursuing jobs, said three people who declined to discuss possible positions with administration officials.

 

    "It’s becoming increasingly difficult to attract good people to work in this administration," said one senior official. "In other cases, veteran people with expertise are leaving or seeking posts overseas and away from this White House."

 

(Reporting by Julia Edwards Ainsley, additional reporting by Lawrence Hurley, Mark Hosenball, Richard Cowan and Steve Holland; editing by Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-17

[maewang99]

no. it's worse.  his staff including McMaster..... and his son in law..... are in trouble with Trump... detailed in a New York Times article this morning.

 

it really is falling apart.  not only is the election process being seen as somewhat discredited... POTUS is over the top discredited. and increasingly isolating himself. in less than 4 months.

not a drunk 'iron butt' Quaker this time... but a stone sober..... loner.... who's entire life is wrapped up into, other than playing golf and fancy dining, is watching TV coverage of himself....

 

but he has the god damned Nuclear Football. 

we need a new system. this is that big.


 

 

Edited May 17, 2017 by maewang99

[Silurian]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

    "It’s becoming increasingly difficult to attract good people to work in this administration," said one senior official. "In other cases, veteran people with expertise are leaving or seeking posts overseas and away from this White House."

 

And there was a multitudinous cry of "Not It!" and running away.

 

Edited May 17, 2017 by Silurian

[mtls2005]

I can't see anyone with an ounce of integrity accepting this nomination. So that pretty much leaves Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie.

[Silurian]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

A second Garland acquaintance who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Garland sought advice from those who told him he would be leaving his life-long position on the federal bench to take a job that could be terminated by Trump overnight.

 

Too bad, Garland would be an excellent choice and good ol' smack in the face to the Republicans. But I can see the point of not wanting a job under a crazed idiot with firing powers.

[attrayant]

I guess Trump has finally run out of family members to his vacancies with.

Edited May 17, 2017 by attrayant

[darksidedog]

Apart from the very real risk of getting fired if you uncover something you aren't supposed to, who in their right mind would want to accept the job, Hell, any job, from Trump?

Definitely what is known as a poisoned chalice.

[Silurian]

4 minutes ago, attrayant said:

I guess Trump has finally run out of family members to his vacancies with.

 

Barron is only 11 years old. Guess too young. Though with this kowtowed Congress anything is possible.

[darksidedog]

Just now, Silurian said:

 

Barron is only 11 years old. Guess too young. Though with this kowtowed Congress anything is possible.

At the rate staff are apparently walking out the door and others are declining interest in vacant positions, he might be the only option left soon.

I wonder if he can speak Russian?

[Berkshire]

15 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I can't see anyone with an ounce of integrity accepting this nomination. So that pretty much leaves Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie.

Yeap, anyone who accepts this job is basically willing to kowtow to Trump, e.g., drop all investigations against Trump and his associates, arrest reporters who publish leaks or anything negative, spit on the Constitution...that sort of thing.  

[boomerangutang]

10 minutes ago, attrayant said:

I guess Trump has finally run out of family members to his vacancies with.

How about Melania.  She's loyal, ....or at least until she sees clear to jump ship.  Oh, but there's that bothersome pre-nup, darn.   .....and the ubiquitous non-disclosure agreement, which Trump slaps on everyone who has any dealings with him,  probably also his dentist, his ice cream chef, his ball cleaner (referring to golf, of course).

[Silurian]

2 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Yeap, anyone who accepts this job is basically willing to kowtow to Trump, e.g., drop all investigations against Trump and his associates, arrest reporters who publish leaks or anything negative, spit on the Constitution...that sort of thing.  

 

Steve Bannon probably couldn't get security clearance.

 

[tonray]

25 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

I can't see anyone with an ounce of integrity accepting this nomination. So that pretty much leaves Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie.

Gingrich is a self aggrandizing fool, Giuliani is a complete nut and almost the same mental makeup as Trump. Christie has potential, he has flaws fore sure but by far the best of the 3 choices here. 

[tonray]

6 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

How about Melania.  She's loyal, ....or at least until she sees clear to jump ship.  Oh, but there's that bothersome pre-nup, darn.   .....and the ubiquitous non-disclosure agreement, which Trump slaps on everyone who has any dealings with him,  probably also his dentist, his ice cream chef, his ball cleaner (referring to golf, of course).

Are you nuts ? Now Tiffany Trump (now that she is attending law school) would make a much better choice and he could threaten her without ever breaking the law just by the implied action disinheriting her should she waver from his goals. 

[Andaman Al]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

I can't see anyone with an ounce of integrity accepting this nomination. So that pretty much leaves Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie.

Gingrich and Giuliano are in their early 70's and this is a 10 year appointment - bad idea. Christie is mid 50's, possible from an age perspective, however he has already been implicated in illegal activity in NJ, what would he get up to if he had the FBI at his disposal.

 

If Trump thought he could get away with it he would put one of his sons in the job, maybe even Ivanka.

[Basil B]

Anyone who gets this job would be seen to be a trump puppet. yes, not a wise career move as job tenure is likely to be very short as I see Trump being impeached very soon. 

[mtls2005]

37 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

Gingrich and Giuliano are in their early 70's and this is a 10 year appointment - bad idea. Christie is mid 50's, possible from an age perspective, however he has already been implicated in illegal activity in NJ, what would he get up to if he had the FBI at his disposal.

 

If Trump thought he could get away with it he would put one of his sons in the job, maybe even Ivanka.

 

I guess my attempt at humor went unnoticed?

 

These are the only three without an ounce of integrity who might be eligible. 

 

OK, maybe Trey Gowdy?

[midas]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

I can't see anyone with an ounce of integrity accepting this nomination. So that pretty much leaves Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie.

" Chris Christie. "

 

Never in 1 million years if Jared Kushner has any influence over the President's  decision making process.

The Kushner family hate Chris Christie with a passion

[zaphod reborn]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

I can't see anyone with an ounce of integrity accepting this nomination. So that pretty much leaves Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie.

None of them would stand a chance at confirmation as they all have criminal/ethics issues.  In fact, Giuliani has a sealed indictment against him for RICO violations, arising out of his participation in trying to influence prosecution of a Turkish arms trader  for violating the embargo against Iran. Giuliani indictment? 

 

This is the top law enforcement position in the US government.  Funny thing is that Garland was asked about the FBI post, after the Republicans in the Senate wouldn't even give him a hearing on confirmation to SCOTUS.  That's so disingenuous, and demonstrates that the opposition to Obama's appointment as well as Trump's attempt to repeal ObamaCare, had nothing to do with the merits, and everything to do with their racist perception that Obama was a Muslim African-American.

Edited May 17, 2017 by zaphod reborn

[Morch]

Just goes to show the need for a presidential mount named Incitatus.

[sirineou]

an open invitation for a cruise on the Titanic. 

[dunroaming]

Maybe an advert in "Red Neck Weekly" or "KKK Monthly" would flag up some candidates for the post?

[elgordo38]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Cornyn said in a statement that he had informed the White House that "the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate."

Brave statement. I would surely worry about job security accepting the FBI job. 

[jerojero]

Any sane person would not want the job. Who the H. would want to have Trump as a boss, even at arms length! Pity Spicer and the other dopes who latched themselves to Trump who obviously doesn't respect or support them. Such a great businessmen who throws his staff and supporters under the bus repeatedly. Sad.

[eddie61]

12 hours ago, maewang99 said:

no. it's worse.  his staff including McMaster..... and his son in law..... are in trouble with Trump... detailed in a New York Times article this morning.

 

it really is falling apart.  not only is the election process being seen as somewhat discredited... POTUS is over the top discredited. and increasingly isolating himself. in less than 4 months.

not a drunk 'iron butt' Quaker this time... but a stone sober..... loner.... who's entire life is wrapped up into, other than playing golf and fancy dining, is watching TV coverage of himself....

 

but he has the god damned Nuclear Football. 

we need a new system. this is that big.


 

 

If you guys had played your cards right under mad King Geoge III you could still have HM queen Elizabeth as your relatively sane head of state.

Maybe she would not take the job now, even if you asked her nicely. Who wants to be head of state of the US of A. You have to be mad to do that....

Maybe mad King George was clairvoyant.

Trump qualifies in that respect...

 

Edited May 17, 2017 by eddie61

[Skeptic7]

On 5/16/2017 at 9:47 PM, mtls2005 said:

I can't see anyone with an ounce of integrity accepting this nomination. So that pretty much leaves Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie.

Right, but plenty more out there besides these 3 with less than an ounce!