Why Was Comey Chosen To Be FBI Director?

05:33

June 21, 2013

Deputy Attorney General James Comey, in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004, briefs reporters at the Justice Department. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

James Comey, a former senior Justice Department official, emerged as the top contender for the FBI director position last month, over Lisa Moncao who was a former assistant attorney general and is now a senior adviser to President Barack Obama on homeland security issues.

Comey was a high ranking official in the Bush administration. He'll serve a 10-year term if he's confirmed by the Senate.

"Jim Comey is a Republican — he's a registered Republican — and I think it was attractive for President Obama to reach across the aisle in this way, because the FBI director is supposed to be a non-partisan job," said NPR's Carrie Johnson, who broke the story of the nomination a few weeks ago. "And as the president and folks in the White House have said, Jim Comey has demonstrated an ability to ask tough questions. That's the kind of person you want as the FBI director."

Guest:

Carrie Johnson, justice correspondent for NPR. She tweets @johnson_carrie.

This segment aired on June 21, 2013.