President Trump Expected To Retain James Comey As FBI Director

WASHINGTON, DC — President Trump will retain James Comey as FBI director, according to reports from multiple national news outlets, including The New York Times and CBS News, who each cited unnamed sources.

In a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer did not confirm or deny the reports that Comey would remain in his post.

During the presidential campaign, Trump sharply criticized Comey for his decision to not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton for her handling of classified information.

In a meeting with law enforcement Monday at the White House, though, Trump was cordial with the FBI director, joking that "He's become more famous than me.”

Comey thrust himself to the forefront of the political conversation in July, when he made a public statement that he would not recommend charges for Hillary Clinton following an investigation into her private email server but called Clinton "extremely reckless" in her handling of classified information.

"The system is rigged. General Petraeus got in trouble for far less. Very very unfair! As usual, bad judgment," Trump said at the time in a series of Twitter posts. "FBI director said Crooked Hillary compromised our national security. No charges. Wow! #RiggedSystem."

After Comey released a letter just days before the election saying that the FBI was looking into newly discovered emails, though, Trump told a rally that the system "might not be as rigged as I thought, right? The FBI, I think they’re gonna right the ship, folks. I think they’re gonna right the ship.”

In an interview with ABC last week, White House Chief of Staff Rience Priebus signaled the administration's intent to keep Comey.

“Yes, he has confidence in Director Comey,” Priebus said. “We have had a great relationship with him over the last several weeks. He’s extremely competent. But, look, his term extends for some time yet. There’s no plans at the moment in changing that term. And we’ve enjoyed our relationship with him and find him to be extraordinarily competent.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Image via FBI