Cornyn, Gowdy on shortlist to replace Comey at FBI: report

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) are two of nearly a dozen candidates on President Trump’s shortlist to replace former FBI Director James Comey.

Trump’s list of possible replacements for Comey includes several attorneys, lawmakers and law enforcement officials, the Associated Press reported Friday.

{mosads}Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher, and acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe are among some of those being considered as candidates to replace Comey. 

Cornyn, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, said in a statement Friday that the upper chamber is his top priority.

“I have the distinct privilege of serving 28 million Texans in the United States Senate, and that is where my focus remains,” he said

Trump is reportedly mulling whether to name an interim FBI director from a group of current bureau officials, but would also nominate a permanent replacement for Comey in such a case.

Trump has been compiling a list of potential replacement for FBI Director since it was announced Tuesday night that he had fired Comey on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his deputy, Rod Rosenstein.