Why is Comey taking so long to finish his investigation?

[kentuck]

Most likely, he is covering his own ass. He is afraid that there might be something big discovered the moment he declares Trump innocent of any collusion with the Russians. He would probably like to declare Trump and associates innocent of any wrongdoing or illegality.

But, he doesn't know what might still be out there to be discovered? He doesn't want to gamble with his last shred of credibility. He is holding off as long as he can on any pronouncements?

Or does he have the goods on Trump and Flynn and Bannon and is simply setting the trap for them to hang themselves?

What does his refusal to comply with Trump's request to refute the story about Russian leaks? What does Comey know?

[onecaliberal]

1. I don't think they're actually investigating anything

[kentuck]

3. You may be right?

I read somewhere that they had three separate investigations going on? I think he is just fearful that someone else is going to come out with the evidence and then, he would look like nothing more than a partisan incompetent.

[onecaliberal]

4. I don't think the FBI is investigating and honestly what has already come out

About Comey makes him look far worse than simply a partisan hack. He should resign in disgrace now.

[Lucinda]

2. From what I have been reading he is being incredibly thorough.

I suspect we shall see soon which is the case.

[tableturner]

5. If he were going to exonerate Trump, why did his briefing of Senators cause such a reaction?

Comey wants things kept quiet until he is set to drop the hammer. From what we all have read, it definitely sounds like he delivered to the Senators (and to a group in the House a bit earlier) some definitive, explosive info about Trump, his campaign, and illegal connections to Russia (and maybe info on Trump being compromised by Russia).

I also believe that the actions of Comey earlier this year were a result of mismanagement and not a desire on his part to take sides. I think the mismanagement stemmed from his failure to root out and discipline a dissident group of FBI agents in New York who put him in a can't win situation: They were going to blow the lid off the story (and in fact were in the process of doing so....remember Giuliani's comments), so Comey took actions he felt he was forced to take to somewhat mitigate the negative fallout (at least compared to allowing the New York agents to expose it first).

Obviously, one failing was followed by a succession of failings, and we have an FBI director thought by a significant percentage of the populace to not only be incompetent, but also that he had partisan motives in the execution of the duties of his non-partisan job.

I posit, as have many others, that Comey realizes this, and wants to change the narrative that he acted in a partisan way. But of course ultimately, you know he hopes that when he honestly blows the lid off the Trump/Russia connection, his reputation will be restored to the greatest extent possible. Let's face it....if he were not moving forward honestly with the investigation, he would not have told Senators and House members all the info that caused such a stir on Capitol Hill.

In fact, I believe that Comey is desperate to handle this investigation in a correct manner, and as a result, clear his name as much as he can. That does not bode well for Trump, because Comey is just as desperate to get to the truth as Trump is to evade it.