Acting Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) [official website] director Andrew McCabe told [materials] the Senate Intelligence Committee [official website] Thursday that the FBI would continue to investigate alleged connections between the Trump administration and Russia despite the recent firing [JURIST report] of former director James Comey. In response to a question from Senator Marco Rubio [official website] about Russian ties, McCabe stated, “The work of the men and women of the F.B.I. continues despite any changes in circumstances. There has been no effort to impede our investigation to date. Simply put, you cannot stop the men and women of the F.B.I. from doing the right thing.” He also swore to inform the Intelligence Committee if any attempt was made to interfere with investigations. McCabe was named acting director in the wake of James Comey’s firing that occurred Tuesday evening and is now overseeing the investigation into the possibility of a collusion between the Trump administration and Russia during the 2016 US Presidential election.

The Trump administration has given conflicting reasons justifying Comey’s firing. In an official letter of termination, President Trump said that Comey is “not able to effectively lead the Bueau” and that “It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.” The letter was published in a press release [text, PDF] that included recommendations for Comey’s ouster from Attorney General Jeff Sessions [official website] and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein. On Tuesday, Sean Spicer pointed to Rosenstein as the prime mover [WP report] of the decision to fire Comey. In a memorandum, Rosenstein criticizes Comey’s decision to close the investigation into Secretary Clinton’s use of a private email server without prosecution, but he never specifically recommends firing Comey. White House deputy press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said on Wednesday that President Trump did not ask [USNews report] for the recommendation but “The president had lost confidence in Director Comey, and frankly he’d been considering letting Director Comey go since the day he was elected.” Democratic Senator of Calirofnia Dianne Feinstien [official website] is skeptical of the memo [NYT report], saying, “The memo appears to have been hastily assembled to justify a preordained outcome.” Republican Senator Richard Burr also expressed concerns with the timing [CNN report] of Comey’s firing. Last week, federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoenas [CNN report] for the business records of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn who is being investigated for financial ties to Russia and Turkey. According to the CNN report, “The subpoenas represent the first sign of a significant escalation of activity in the FBI’s broader investigation begun last July into possible ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia.” The Senate Intelligence Committee has requested for Comey to testify as a private citizen in a closed hearing next week.