The claim that Comey’s mishandling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails is the reason for his dismissal insults the nation’s intelligence. During last year’s campaign, you will recall, Trump loudly cheered the damaging disclosures about his opponent that he now cites as cause for immediate termination. Just last week, the president tweeted that “FBI Director Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton in that he gave her a free pass for many bad deeds!” Trump and his angry crowds brayed for Clinton to be locked up, not treated fairly.

Comey’s real transgression was to launch a serious investigation into possible cooperation between Trump’s campaign and a clandestine attempt by the Russian government to swing the election in Trump’s favor. With both the House and the Senate in Republican hands, the president probably calculates that the various congressional probes can be neutered. Fox News and other friendly media can be counted on to push the line that the real issue is leaks, not possible collusion with a foreign power to subvert our democracy.

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But the FBI is not so easily put off the scent. Does Michael Flynn — fired as national security adviser for lying about his talks with the Russian ambassador — have a story to tell? What about Carter Page? If they are in legal jeopardy, how will they react when the FBI squeezes? Whom else might agents be talking to? Is the FBI asking about members of Trump’s family? About Trump himself?

Yelling “fake news” hasn’t put an end to the investigation. But firing Comey might — if he is replaced with someone less independent and more compliant.