Trump says Lieberman is among his top choices for FBI Director

WASHINGTON- President Donald Trump said former Connecticut senator and 2000 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman is included among his top choices to succeed James Comey as FBI Director.

“Yes,” Trump said Thursday in response to a reporter’s question as to whether Lieberman was a top-tier candidate.

Trump fired Comey last week and since that time the Administration’s Russia scandal has escalated to the appointment of a special prosecutor to coincide with multiple congressional investigations.

During his 24 years in the Senate, Lieberman gained a reputation as a centrist and garnered both praise and contempt from colleagues on both sides of the aisle. He was elected as a Democrat in 1988 but left the party in 2006 to become an independent after losing a primary contest. Lieberman easily won the general election.

Despite having served as Al Gore’s running mate and for the most part continuing to vote with his former party, Lieberman in 2008 endorsed Republican friend and colleague John McCain for president.

During the campaign Lieberman was often seen alongside McCain at rallies and the former Connecticut senator was reportedly considered to be McCain’s top choice for a running mate. McCain ultimately picked then-Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

Lieberman that year outraged Democrats by telling Republican National Convention attendees that then-junior Illinois Senator Barack Obama did not have the necessary experience to be an effective president.

McCain lost the general election to the now-two-term former president.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is a close ally both McCain and Lieberman, when asked by TMN Thursday if the former Connecticut senator would be a good pick for FBI director said: “absolutely.”

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas.), who recently withdrew his name from consideration for the post, told reporters Thursday that Lieberman is likely the only candidate who could be unanimously approved by the Senate.

But some Democrats, including the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee have expressed concerned that Lieberman does not have a background in law enforcement.

“I think that the political part of this is not the best part for the FBI,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) told CNN’s “The Situation Room,” during a Thursday interview.

This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News