Here’s the kind of leadership Karen Handel would bring to Georgia’s 6th Congressional District: total loyalty to even Donald Trump’s most controversial moves, like firing James Comey. Handel said in a statement that:
It’s been clear for some time that FBI Director Comey has lost the confidence of Republicans, Democrats and broader institutions, and his removal as FBI Director was probably overdue. I hope that the President will quickly nominate a strong, independent leader as the next Director of the FBI and that the Senate will consider the nomination as quickly as possible.
Yes, Handel is trying to claim that Democrats’ loss of confidence in Comey was part of the reason for his firing, which is simply not a serious—or at least not an honest—suggestion. And it’s simply not possible for any FBI director Trump nominates at this point to be strong and independent. Even if that’s what Trump wanted, and it’s not, Comey’s firing would be a cautionary tale to his successor: challenge Trump and you’re toast.
Handel is pretending that this is business as usual, and it’s just not. The president fired the FBI director who was in charge of investigating him, supposedly at the recommendation of the attorney general who claimed to have recused himself from decisions related to that investigation, and the main evidence they pointed to was a letter laying out a case against Comey for actions the president and attorney general had cheered. Handel is pledging her obedience to this regime, demonstrating to the voters of the 6th District that she will be anything but independent.
Jon Ossoff, by contrast, said that “Comey’s firing raises severe questions. There should be bipartisan support for a special prosecutor to investigate Russian interference.”
The choice is clear: Karen Handel will toe the Trump line while Jon Ossoff will speak out. Can you give $3 to help Ossoff defeat Handel?