Bannon: Trump firing Comey biggest mistake in 'political history'
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said President Donald Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey was the biggest mistake made in "modern political history." Bannon said if Comey hadn't been fired, there would be no special counsel to investigate Russia's alleged election interference. The investigation represents a serious blow to the Trump administration. Bannon was fired by Trump last month.
On May 9, US President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey over his handling of an investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails. His dismissal came after it emerged that he provided inaccurate information about Clinton's emails in a Congressional testimony the previous week. The White House announcement sent shockwaves across Washington. Comey reportedly learnt of his dismissal while watching television news.
On August 19, embattled White House chief strategist Steve Bannon exited the Trump administration after months of clashes with senior aides of President Donald Trump. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was reportedly behind his ouster. Bannon helped shape Trump's "America First" campaign message and advocated for the travel ban on citizens of certain predominantly-Muslim countries.
Bannon was born in Virginia in 1953. He went on to serve in the navy and then completed his MBA from Harvard. He became an independent political documentary filmmaker, making movies on Republican leaders like Ronald Reagan and Sarah Palin. Bannon heads Breitbart News, a populist, conspiracy-tinged right-wing website that publishes anti-establishment content and has been accused of promoting xenophobia, white supremacy and misogyny.
Bannon, a keen student of history, has apparently rated Comey's dismissal as a larger presidential error than Bill Clinton's relations with Monica Lewinsky, Ronald Reagan's Iran-contra affair and the Watergate scandal involving Richard Nixon.
Bannon said, if it weren't for Comey's dismissal, special counsel Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, wouldn't have been appointed to lead the Russia probe. Mueller is also investigating why Trump fired Comey and alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Bannon believes the Russia collusion allegations are a "farce." He also said Mueller shouldn't be fired as special counsel.
Bannon also slammed Republican congressional leaders, namely House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Bannon accused them of "trying to nullify the 2016 election." "They do not want Donald Trump's populist, economic nationalist agenda to be implemented," he said, adding that "It's obvious as night follows day." Bannon has often sparred against the Republican Party for not accepting his radical views.
