From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Will firing James Comey backfire on President Trump?

Hello again, I'm Orman Alney, and this is To the Point.

Vice President Mike Pence took the administration's lead today

in explaining why the president fired the head of the FBI. The president made the right

decision at the right time. Trump's action is being compared to the so-called Saturday night

massacre that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1973. Komi was looking into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia.

But the president says Comey was fired because he wasn't doing a good job.

His administration insists it's time to move on.

But Democrats are demanding an independent investigation.

Just one Republican is going that far, but many say they are troubled. That's our topic today. First, here's the news.

Check out KCRW's All News Channel, News 24. Programming from KCRW, NPR, NPR, BBC, and more, 24 hours a day. Go to KCRW.com

slash News 24 or listen on KCRW's app. Hello again, Mormon Alney, back with To the Point.

With Henry Kissinger sitting next to him in the Oval Office, President Trump today gave a brief answer when asked why he fired the head of the FBI.

Because he wasn't doing a good job, very simply.

He was not doing a good job.

Speaking at greater length, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters it was the right thing

at the right time.

Let me be very clear that the president's decision to accept the recommendation of the deputy

attorney general and the attorney general to remove Director Comey as the head of the deputy attorney general and the attorney general to remove

Director Comey as the head of the FBI was based solely and exclusively on his commitment

to the best interest of the American people.

...