President Donald Trump must hire an FBI director with "unimpeachable integrity" so that the investigation into Russia's interference with the 2016 presidential race can continue unimpeded, Rep. Pete King said Wednesday.
And one of the top names the commander in chief might consider is former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, the New York Republican added.
"It is essential that the president now nominate an FBI director with outstanding ability and unimpeachable integrity — someone of the caliber of Ray Kelly — and the FBI investigation into Russia and the 2016 election must continue uninterrupted," King said in a statement.
King also praised James Comey, the FBI chief who was fired by Trump on Tuesday following a recommendation by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
"I have known and had dealings with Jim Comey for a number of years, primarily in my capacity as a member of the Homeland Security Committee and the Intelligence Committee," King said.
"Just last Thursday afternoon I was at a closed door hearing of the Intelligence Committee where Director Comey testified for almost three hours regarding the FBI investigation of Russian involvement in the 2016 campaign.
"In my dealings with Director Comey I found him to be direct and honorable."
But King also said that Trump had the "statutory right and constitutional authority" to ax Comey, who had been probing whether there was collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign to influence the election.
For now, King is standing behind Trump.
"Thus far there is no indication of any evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia," King said.
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