WASHINGTON_ President Donald Trump said Saturday that he expects to make a "fast decision" on a replacement for fired FBI Director James Comey, perhaps before he leaves the U.S. Friday on his first foreign trip as president.
"Even that is possible," Trump said on Air Force One as he left for Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., to deliver his first commencement address in office.
Trump fired Comey Tuesday, citing frustrations with the FBI director's conduct. The move prompted an uproar among Democrats and some Republicans because Comey's agency is leading an investigation into whether there were connections between Russian interference in last year's presidential election and people associated with Trump's campaign.
Trump said the candidates under consideration to lead the FBI _ White House officials have identified 11 of them so far _ are "outstanding people." He said most are "very well known" and of the "highest level."
Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein planned to interview four candidates for FBI director. They were to see acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, former Justice Department official Alice Fisher and Michael Garcia, a former U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, according to a person familiar with the matter.
