Sen. Mitch McConnell/official photo

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

After Senate Leader Mitchell McConnell played a key role in denying President Obama’s choice for Supreme Court, the Kentucky Republican would support Judge Merrick Garland as the next director of the FBI, McConnell’s former advisor said.

“I think the Senate majority leader thinks that’s a fantastic idea,” Josh Holmes told “Fox News Sunday.”

“He certainly thinks [Garland] will be qualified. And [McConnell] certainly thinks he would be somebody that he could support.”

McConnell he prevented Garland from receiving a hearing on the nomination.

Garland name’s was floated last week by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

“Instead of a special prosecutor, @realDonaldTrump should nominate Merrick Garland to replace James Comey,” Lee wrote on Twitter Thursday.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

President Trump’s suggestion that he may have been recording conversations between himself and former FBI Director James Comey have prompted several senators to call on the president to disclose any related documentation.

Three days after Trump abruptly fired Comey on Tuesday, the president tweeted that “Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017

Sen. Lindsey Graham

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, recommended that Trump end all social media posts about the ongoing investigation involving his campaign and the Russians and encouraged the president present what recordings he has.

“If there are any tapes of this conversation, they need to be turned over,” Graham said.

White House Press Sean Spicer decline to provide any insight into the existence of a tape of Trump and Comey.

Sen. Charles Schumer

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is threatening to prevent the appointment of a new FBI director until the Justice Department appoints a special counsel to investigate whether President Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to interfere in the presidential election.

“I think there are a lot of Democrats who feel that way,” Schumer said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We’ll have to discuss it as a caucus, but I would support that move.”

So far the Justice Department declined to appoint a special counsel, and Republicans in the Congressional have rejected the idea.

Trump interviewed candidates for the top FBI job over the weekend but has yet to confirm the nominees.

“The key here, of course, is getting some of our Republican colleagues to join us.”

Photo via FBI

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Lawmakers are pleading with President Trump to avoid appointing any politicians to replace FBI Director James Comey.

Trump has come under heavy criticism from Democrats, Republicans and intelligence community for firing Comey while he was investigating any connections between and Trump.

James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, said Trump is “eroding” the three checks and balances created by the Founding Fathers.

“I think, in many ways, our institutions are under assault, both externally — and that’s the big news here, is the Russian interference in our election system,” Clapper said “I think as well our institutions are under assault internally.”

Graham is in favor of recruiting from within the FBI.

“It’s now time to pick somebody who comes from within the ranks, or has such a reputation that has no political background at all that can go into the job on Day 1,” said Graham, R-S.C.

“The president has a chance to clean up the mess he mostly created,” Graham said, adding: “I have no evidence that the president colluded with the Russians at all … but we don’t know all the evidence yet.”