President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE dropped a bombshell Tuesday — and the aftershocks could blow back to hurt the commander in chief himself.

Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey stunned Washington when it became public late afternoon.

The official reason given for Comey’s firing pertained to his conduct during the bureau’s investigation into Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Virginia Democrat blasts Trump's 'appalling' remark about COVID-19 deaths in 'blue states' The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE’s emails.

The case against Comey was set out in a remarkable letter by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who said he “cannot defend” how Comey had treated Clinton.

In the polarized political climate of 2017, there is zero chance that Democrats and other critics of Trump will accept the stated explanation as the real reason for Comey’s removal.

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In their eyes, the germane fact is that the FBI is investigating allegations of shady dealings between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia.

“Were these investigations getting too close to home for the president?” asked Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Pelosi, Schumer 'encouraged' by Trump call for bigger coronavirus relief package Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (D-N.Y), at a hastily organized news conference. “Are people going to suspect cover-up? Absolutely.”

The removal of Comey was one of those rare political moments that is instantly imbued with historic significance.

For Democrats, the move recalled President Richard Nixon’s infamous “Saturday Night Massacre” in late 1973, when the attorney general and his deputy resigned rather than fire independent prosecutor Archibald Cox, as Nixon demanded. Nixon ultimately got what he wanted — Cox’s ouster — but at immense cost to his own credibility amid the escalating Watergate scandal.

On Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers fired off a blizzard of statements condemning Trump’s actions and impugning his motives — several of them alluding to the Watergate era.

Sens. Bob Casey Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseyGAO report finds brokers offered false info on coverage for pre-existing conditions Catholic group launches .7M campaign against Biden targeting swing-state voters GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure MORE (D-Pa.) and Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyBattle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-Vt.) each described Trump’s move as “Nixonian.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) declared that “the need for a special prosecutor is now crystal clear” and accused Trump of having “catastrophically compromised” the investigation into Russia links. Sen. Al Franken Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenPeterson faces fight of his career in deep-red Minnesota district Getting tight — the psychology of cancel culture Tina Smith wins Democratic Senate primary in Minnesota MORE (D-Minn.) called it “deeply troubling.”

Robby Mook, Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign manager, said on Twitter that the firing of Comey “terrifies me.” Mook said he felt that way despite the fact that he “was as disappointed and frustrated as anyone at how the email investigation was handled.”

Independent observers were hardly any more kind. CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin described Trump’s decision as a “grotesque abuse of power.”

The White House fought back against the tsunami of criticism, however.

A press aide emailed reporters news clips that showed Schumer expressing no confidence in Comey on a previous occasion and declaring that he had been “appalled” by the FBI director’s conduct in the weeks just before last November’s election.

The White House disseminated another document, via the White House press pool, highlighting criticisms from other Democrats as well as Schumer.

Democrats are, to be sure, in an incongruous position, defending Comey’s integrity having been vigorously critical of him in the recent past.

The allegation of double-standards cuts both ways, however. The gist of the charge against Comey was that he had been unfair to Clinton. But just one week ago, Trump had tweeted: “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!”

In the hours after the decision, the Washington air was thick with questions. Would there be mass resignations from the FBI? Would leaks come from within its ranks, aiming to take retribution against the president? Whom would Trump appoint to replace Comey? And would Republicans join the call among Democrats for a special prosecutor into the Russian matter?

There were clear signs of Republican unease.

Sen. Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (R-Tenn.) said in a statement that Comey’s “removal at this particular time will raise questions.” Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainKelly's lead widens to 10 points in Arizona Senate race: poll COVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks Trump pulls into must-win Arizona trailing in polls MORE (R-Ariz.) noted he was “disappointed” by the decision. Sen. Richard Burr Richard Mauze BurrRep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy Overnight Defense: Trump rejects major cut to military health care | Senate report says Trump campaign's Russia contacts posed 'grave' threat Senate report describes closer ties between 2016 Trump campaign, Russia MORE (R-N.C.) said he was “troubled by the timing and reasoning” behind the firing.

But others, including GOP lawmakers who have been skeptical of Trump such as Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Loeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Quinnipiac poll shows Graham, Harrison tied in South Carolina Senate race MORE (R-S.C.), were more supportive of the move.

The White House portrayed the firing of Comey as a decision Trump had made having received recommendations to that effect from Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE and Rosenstein.

But Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenNo new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE (D-Mass.) asked on Twitter, “does anyone seriously believe @realDonaldTrump fired the top person investigating his ties to Russia because he was unfair to Hillary?”

The Rosenstein letter also begged the question as to why Comey was only fired now, months after his purported transgressions regarding the Clinton investigation.

Comey slipped up during his most recent testimony to Congress when he inaccurately described how thousands of emails had found their way onto the laptop of former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) from his now estranged wife, longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

But that example was not cited in the Rosenstein letter. The New York Times, citing unnamed administration officials, reported that people in the White House and the Department of Justice “had been working on building a case against Mr. Comey since at least last week.”

Tuesday’s high drama had its deeply personal moments. Comey was reported to have learnt of his firing from television coverage. The letter firing him was said to have been delivered to FBI headquarters by Keith Schiller, one of Trump’s longest-serving personal aides, who was previously head of security for the Trump Organization.

The ousted FBI director canceled a speaking engagement in Los Angeles late in the day.

But he is assured of wall-to-wall media coverage as soon as he speaks about the matter.

One way or another, the shock of his firing will be felt for a long time.

The Trump presidency has, once again, set sail into uncharted waters.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage, primarily focused on Donald Trump’s presidency.