South Florida's elected leaders demand answers after FBI director fired

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Whether Democrat or Republican, the consensus from South Florida's elected leaders is that the FBI director's firing is a bi-partisan issue, and they are all demanding answers to the mounting questions and an independent investigation. 

Concerning and a gross abuse of power is how U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Florida, described the firing of James Comey.

"This is not what happens in countries like ours," Deutch said. "It's in authoritarian countries where the leaders fire the people who are and get rid of the people who are investigating them." 

Deutch's Republican counterpart, U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Florida, agreed that questions need to be answered.

"Today's extraordinary decision raises many questions, all of which must be answered," he said. "Congress and the American people need a transparent explanation as to how this decision was reached and why it was executed at this time."

Many elected leaders in Florida are demanding an independent investigation.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, pointed to President Donald Trump's involvement with Russia, saying: "Now it is more clear than ever that we need an independent commission to get to the truth of Russia's interference with our election."

His Republican counterpart, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, has only simply said that he was surprised about the firing of Comey.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida, called for an independent prosecutor to now head the Russia investigation.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, agreed.

"(It) smacks of a (President Richard) Nixon-esque cover up of President Trump's Kremlin ties," she said.