NEW YORK: As the calls for the resignation of FBI director grow louder, US Senator Bernie Sanders on Sunday also asked for the resignation of the FBI Director James Comey for “the way he handled Hillary Clinton’s email investigation” during the presidential campaign, which helped President-elect Donald Trump in his election.

Sanders, who was defeated by Mrs Clinton said on ABC’s Sunday news show This Week, “he should take a hard look at what he has done”. “And I think it would not be a bad thing for the American people if he did step down,” CNN said on Sunday.

Most Americans believe Comey’s decision to reopen the investigation was an unusual step which cost Mrs Clinton the election. Just days before the election, Comey told Congress that the FBI was looking into emails found on a computer belonging to former Rep. Anthony Weiner, estranged husband of Huma Abedin, a Clinton confidante that may or may not be pertinent to the investigation into Clinton’s email server and handling of classified information while she ran the State Department.

It was an unprecedented step into the political process by the FBI that generated severe criticism from both the Republicans and the Democrats. Now, Comey is refusing to tell Congress if the FBI has launched an investigation into alleged contacts between Trump campaign and the Russian government.

Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee last week: “I would never comment on investigations, whether we have one or not, in an open forum like this,” resulting in incredulous scoffs from senators who remember him doing just that regarding the Clinton emails.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2017