Personally, I am not much interested in the FBI’s internal personnel rules. However, I am not happy that President Obama has asked Congress to extend FBI Director Robert Mueller’s statutory ten-year term for two additional years. I understand the administration’s desire to maintain some continuity in their security team, with Panetta leaving the CIA and Gates leaving Defense. But the ten-year term limit on FBI directors was enacted to avoid a repeat of the situation we had with J. Edgar Hoover, who used his position to learn the secrets of politicians’ lives and thereby prevent being replaced. Hoover was the FBI director for 37 years, and he abused his power nearly every single day. Extending Mueller’s term, even for only two years, sets a precedent that ought not be set. What is to prevent a future FBI director from repeating Hoover’s practice to intimidate the president and Congress into continually extending their term?
Even from a crass political point of view I don’t like it because Obama would give up the right to appoint the next director if he loses reelection.
I know this is a relatively minor criticism, but I think it’s important to lodge a protest. There are other people who can do Mueller’s job. They should be given that chance.
