Global model of check-and-balance democracy is being dismantled before our eyes
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On Tuesday last week, President Donald Trump unceremoniously fired the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey. The official White House explanation was that the dismissal stemmed from a recommendation issued by the attorney general and his deputy.
Two days’ later, Trump contradicted the White House statement by saying he had decided in advance to fire Comey – whatever the recommendation from the Department of Justice.
On Friday, Trump tweeted: “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”
On Sunday, leading Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed that if Trump does indeed have such tapes, he needs to turn them over to Congress for further investigation of the matter.
Now, the world is wondering: What’s wrong with the American democracy we all know?
Vint Chavala
Bangkok
