In the wake of the unexpected firing of FBI Director James Comey by President Donald Trump, politicians, like everyone else, have scrambled to form opinions and reactions to the decision.
What every member of Congress has (or hasn’t) tweeted about Comey’s firing
The silence from the GOP is in sharp contrast to vocal Democrats.
Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images
Aja Romano wrote about pop culture, media, and ethics. Before joining Vox in 2016, they were a staff reporter at the Daily Dot. A 2019 fellow of the National Critics Institute, they’re considered an authority on fandom, the internet, and the culture wars.
And now there’s an easy way to track who’s said what — on Twitter, at least. Twitter user @vidiot_ has created a shareable Google spreadsheet to track tweeted reactions (or lack thereof) from all 536 members of Congress, along with the basic details of their party and state/district affiliations.
The result of having the Twitter reactions in a single location is that it’s easy to see a sharp contrast, not only in volume of responses but tone, between Democrats and the Republicans. Democrats have been quick to unite in criticizing Trump over the decision, arguing that firing Comey during his serious pursuit of Trump’s connections to Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign is tantamount to a “constitutional crisis.” On Twitter, they have been markedly vocal in their criticism and adamant that the move illustrates the need for an independent investigation of Trump.
Republicans have been divided, with some voicing guarded skepticism over the president’s timing in firing Comey. On Twitter, the majority of Republican members of Congress have been silent. Those who have spoken out have typically been tentatively supportive or hesitantly critical.
The spreadsheet currently only tracks tweeted reactions, not other forms of response. Still, for those playing along at home, it’s a telling glimpse at what social media looks like for a divided Congress caught in a moment of chaotic uncertainty.
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