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Bannon: Comey firing was biggest mistake in ‘modern political history’ (Lead)

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Washington, Sep 11 (IANS) US President Donald Trumps decision to fire Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey was perhaps the greatest mistake in “modern political history”, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has suggested in an interview.

Bannon made the statement during an online segment of his interview with “60 Minutes” broadcast on Sunday.

Trump fired Comey last May, a decision that the White House initially said was made based on a recommendation from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as a result of Comey’s handling of the 2016 investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State.

But the President contradicted that explanation days later in an interview with NBC News, in which he said he had made up his mind to fire Comey before receiving Rosenstein’s recommendation and that his decision had been made with the FBI’s Russia investigation weighing on his mind.

Bannon went on to elaborate that he believes Washington is a “city of institutions, not individuals” and that “I don’t believe that the institutional logic of the FBI, and particularly in regards to an investigation, could possibly be changed by changing out the head of it”.

Had Comey never been fired, Bannon told CBS, the bureau’s Russia investigation would not have metastasized into the special investigation currently being led by Robert Mueller.

Bannon said he did not believe Mueller should be fired and that he was never privy to conversations on that potentiality during his White House tenure, the report said.

But while he told CBS he believes Mueller should be allowed to continue conducting his investigation into Russian efforts to interfere in last year’s presidential election, as well as allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin in those efforts, Bannon was clear that the special prosecutor’s probe will turn up nothing incriminating.

“There’s nothing to the Russia investigation. It’s a waste of time,” Bannon said. “It’s a total and complete farce. Russian collusion is a farce.”

Asked why the President seems to find it hard to criticise the Russians, Bannon disagreed with the characterisation, the report said.

“He criticises the Russians all the time,” Bannon said, adding “He knows the Russians are not good guys”.

The former White House official also slammed national security officials in the previous George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations who denounced Trump as President.

“This is once again where the narrative is dead wrong,” Bannon said, adding that it was the “geniuses” of the Bush administration that helped cause the trade imbalance with China and the US involvement in Iraq.

Bannon was ousted in mid-August amid a reshuffling of power within the White House.

He has since returned to his role as executive chairman at Breitbart News.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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