A timeline of events that led up to Comey’s firing

President Donald Trump abruptly fired James Comey as director of the FBI. The move comes as the agency is investigating whether Trump's campaign was connected to Russian meddling in the election. Comey had come under intense scrutiny for his role in the FBI's investigation into the email practices of Trump's opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, and the reopening of the investigation just days before the election. Trump, then the Republican Presidential Nominee, reacted favourably to the news. But just days later, Trump criticized Comey for “protecting” Clinton, despite the FBI's conclusion that criminal charges were unwarranted.following the election, President Trump called Comey “more famous than me.” Speaking in Boston, Comey was confident he would serve his full 10-year term. In Congressional Testimony, Comey disclosed the FBI had been investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. Trump's dismissal letter to Comey says the move was necessary “to restore the public's trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.” The dismissal comes just days after Comey asked the justice department for more resources to pursue the Russian investigation.