President Donald Trump says he is “very close” to naming a new FBI director. An announcement could come on Friday, the soft deadline Trump set for himself. The President departs Friday on his inaugural overseas trip, a four-country, five-stop journey tour of the West Asia and Europe that will keep him out of the country for more than a week.
“We’re very close to an FBI director,” Trump said Thursday when asked about the search during an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. He said an announcement could come “soon” and that former Sen. Joe lieberman was among his top candidates. lieberman was among four candidates Trump interviewed at the White House this week. The former Connecticut senator flashed a thumbs-up as he left the White House on Wednesday after meeting with Trump and said they had a “good meeting.” Trump also met with former Oklahoma Gov Frank Keating; Richard McFeely, a former top FBI official; and acting FBI director Andrew McCabe.
Trump needs a new FBI director because he fired James Comey last week, an unexpected move that drew bipartisan criticism. Comey was overseeing the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s role in the presidential election, including ties between Russian Government officials and Trump associates.