Ex-TSA chief John Pistole in talks for top FBI job: report

Former Transportation Security Administration (TSA) chief John Pistole is involved in discussions for the position of FBI director, CNN reports.

While it is unclear whether the former TSA administrator has interest in leading the FBI, sources told CNN he has discussed the role. One source told CNN that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein met Pistole to talk about the position over lunch.

Former TSA Administrator John Pistole under consideration for FBI Director. He Rod Rosenstein recently discussed job over lunch.

— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) May 25, 2017

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Pistole, who currently serves as the president of Anderson University in Indiana, has reportedly been floated for the FBI post for the past two weeks.

He was named deputy director at the FBI in 2004 after running its counterterrorism division in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks before former President Obama appointed him for the top TSA job in 2010.

Rosenstein’s reported discussions with Pistole come after former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) withdrew his name from consideration for FBI director on Thursday.

President Trump has been looking to pick a new FBI director after firing James Comey earlier this month.

Comey’s firing, which came amid the bureau’s probe into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, raised questions about the timing and motive behind the dismissal.