That extraordinarily ill-advised letter to GOP congressional leaders 10 days ago was deliberately vague and opaque in its suggestions of potential wrongdoing, and was further sent in defiance of specific DOJ guidelines regarding the handling of politically-related inquiries and investigations during an election period. It was nothing short of inexcusable, and Democrats have every right to be absolutely livid with Comey's conduct and to demand his head on a platter.

Setting aside for the moment the FBI director's well-known political affiliation and those aforementioned personal intentions, there is no question that his actions have already impacted the election campaign adversely, blunting one party's momentum at a critical moment when prospective victory was potentially turning into an across-the-board rout of the opposition.

Arguments currently being offered by Comey's defenders, that the renewed FBI inquiry into Clinton-related emails ultimately proved to be much ado about nothing from a legal standpoint, are completely beside the point here. While Mrs. Clinton's own electoral chances were likely not affected all that much, Democratic candidates down ticket may end up paying the price for this entirely unnecessary episode of manufactured drama.

We would never tolerate a similar politically-motivated incursion into our country's electoral processes by active-duty military commanders of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or elsewhere. And we should expect no less from our senior law enforcement officials across the country, as well.

Director Comey needs to go, as does everyone else at the FBI whose smudgy fingerprints are found on this garish and ghastly display of agency defiance and institutional arrogance.