One day after Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday about serious threats facing the US—and how Comey's absence could impact the integrity of the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged ties to Russia.But a dramatic change in leadership could affect the bureau's public image, influence its budget priorities, and slow or hamstring certain investigations at the 35,000-strong agency, former FBI and Department of Justice officials told VICE News. Many said Comey had overstepped his authority while handling the Hillary Clinton email scandal and behaved insubordinately to the attorney general, whom the director of the FBI reports to. Others saw Comey's firing as the result of Trump's anger over the Russia probe and think his departure could damage morale within the bureau.
"Trump's priority is to shut down the investigation," said William Yeomans, who spent 26 years at the DOJ, in positions including deputy assistant attorney general, chief of staff, and acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "Whoever comes in will have the authority to re-adjust resources and to make decisions that can undermine the investigation. The FBI director has some authority to do that."
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