FBI Director James Comey

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The fate of FBI Director James Comey hangs in the balance after a spokesman for President-elect Donald Trump declined to back him.

“There hasn’t been any official statement with regard to Director Comey,’’ Trump spokesman Jason Miller said during the transition team’s daily briefing, the Washington Post reports. 

Asked if Trump would ask Comey to resign,  Miller only said: “I would imagine that at some point, the two will meet.”

Comey has been criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for his handling of the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email server.

On “60 Minutes,” Trump said he hasn’t decided if he’ll ask Comey to resign.

“I haven’t made up my mind. I respect him a lot. I respect the FBI a lot,’’ said Trump, adding that he wanted to meet with Comey before deciding.

The bus driver, Johnthony Walker, was arrested.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a deadly school bus crash in Chattanooga after authorities said the driver was going “well above” the posted speed limit of 30 mph.

The crash killed five elementary school children on Monday, and the bus driver was arrested and charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, WBIR reports. 

Johnthony Walker, 24, of Chattanooga only had his commercial license for about seven months, according to the NTSB.

Twelve students remained in the hospital a day after the crash.

Police said the driver was speeding on a narrow, winding road.

The NTSB is expected to be in Chattanooga for 7 to 10 days.

By Editorial Board
Globe Gazette

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The federal government mishandled thousands of green cards over the past three years, according to a new Department of Homeland Security inspector general report. 

Among the problems were electronic system errors that led to at least 19,000 cards being issued with correct information or as duplicates.

The inspector general also found that some green card applicants received a card valid for 10 years, instead of the intended two years.

But the head of U.S. Customs and Immigration Services said some of the report’s conclusions were exaggerated, ABC News reports. 

The USCIS director said none of the green cards were sent to people who were ineligible to receive them.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

It’s being billed as one of the largest drug busts in Utah history.

Federal agents seized tens of thousands of synthetic opioids – or fentanyl pills – and cash Tuesday at a home in Utah where a “pill press” was found, the Washington Post reports. 

The pills were falsely labeled as Xanax or oxycodone and shipped across the U.S.

The DEA, National Guard and IRS were involved in the raid at a home in the city of Cottonwood Heights in Salt Lake County.

“A very small amount ingested, or absorbed through your skin, can kill you,” warned Acting DEA Deputy Administrator Jack Riley in June.

Aaron Michael Shamo, 26, was charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

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