Director Comey is a man of integrity, and in his testimony under oath before the Senate Intelligence Committee, he showed his sincerity. White House statements about Director Comey’s firing because of the FBI’s lack of confidence in him are plain, flat-out lies.

I believe the White House excuse that President Trump did not understand that the FBI director and FBI are to be independent of political patronage is false. I would submit he is surely not that naïve. I submit that is exactly what he tried to do — exert political influence over the FBI, and when Director Comey rebuffed him, President Trump fired him.

I’d like those in the White House who are critical of Director Comey, including President Trump’s private counsel, to agree to make their allegations and statements under oath as he did. I am positive they will not. Because Director Comey is a public figure, it is almost impossible for him to win a lawsuit for defamation, and those making these false allegations know it.

Those who know Director Comey know he is a man of integrity and truth-telling. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the president and those who surround him. These opinions are mine alone, and should not be attributed to the FBI or the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Inc.

Phil Walter

retired special agent, FBI, Silt