Comey says John Kelly was so disgusted by his firing he wanted to quit in protest


In his new book, former FBI Director James Comey writes that after he was famously fired last May, he received an "emotional call" from John Kelly, at the time the secretary of Homeland Security, who said "he was sick about my firing" and "intended to quit in protest."
Comey discovered he had been canned while talking to FBI employees in Los Angeles, after looking up at a television and seeing the alert "COMEY FIRED." During their call, Kelly said he "didn't want to work for dishonorable people who would treat someone like me in such a manner," Comey said. "I urged Kelly not to do that, arguing that the country needed principled people around this president. Especially this president."
Kelly stayed, and went on to replace Reince Priebus as White House chief of staff later in the summer.
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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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