Sen. Ben Sasse on Comey's Dismissal: 'Very Troubling'

Sen. Ben Sasse ripped James Comey's firing Tuesday by President Donald Trump as "very troubling" and said he was seeking out Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for "clarity on his rationale for recommending this action."

"Regardless of how you think Director Comey handled the unprecedented complexities of the 2016 election cycle, the timing of this firing is very troubling," the Nebraska Republican, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement. "Jim Comey is an honorable public servant.

"In the midst of a crisis of public trust that goes well beyond who you voted for in the presidential election, the loss of an honorable public servant is a loss for the nation."

Rosenstein wrote the memo recommending termination that was presented to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who gave it to President Trump.

In addition, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake raised questions about the termination on Twitter:

I've spent the last several hours trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey's firing. I just can't do it.

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) May 10, 2017

Sasse and Flake brought to four the number of Republicans to challenge Comey's dismissal.

They joined Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina and Sen. John McCain, Flake's Grand Canyon State colleague.

• Senate Intel Head Richard Burr 'Troubled' at Comey's Firing
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