READ THE DOCUMENTS: Secret ‘Oxferd Comma’ probe cast Trump as potential Russian asset after Comey firing
The White House released a trove of documents showing that the FBI opened a 2017 investigation into whether President Donald Trump was acting on behalf of or under the influence of Russia when he fired FBI Director James Comey.The investigation, codenamed "Oxferd Comma," opened after Trump fired Comey in May 2017, according to the White House’s release. Investigators sought to determine whether Trump was "directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes," according to an FBI memo dated May 16, 2017.
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The White House released a trove of documents showing that the FBI opened a 2017 investigation into whether President Donald Trump was acting on behalf of or under the influence of Russia when he fired FBI Director James Comey.The investigation, codenamed "Oxferd Comma," opened after Trump fired Comey in May 2017, according to the White House’s release. Investigators sought to determine whether Trump was "directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes," according to an FBI memo dated May 16, 2017. The memo also said investigators would examine whether Trump or others had obstructed or conspired to obstruct an associated FBI investigation.TRUMP ALLY DIGENOVA TAPPED TO LEAD DOJ PROBE INTO BRENNAN OVER RUSSIA PROBE ORIGINSThe opening memo cited information developed during Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into whether individuals associated with Trump’s 2016 campaign were coordinating with the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 election.READ THE DOCUMENTS:It also identified later events and information, including Trump’s interactions with Comey, the administration’s shifting explanations for Comey’s firing, Trump campaign discussions concerning the Republican platform’s language on Ukraine aid and Trump’s business ties and real estate interests involving Russia.SECRET FBI PROBE CAST TRUMP AS POSSIBLE RUSSIAN ASSET AFTER COMEY FIRING, MEMOS SHOWTrump initially cited Comey’s handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state as the reason for his ouster, though he later said the Russia investigation was also on his mind when he made the decision.The FBI memo said the circumstances surrounding Comey’s dismissal could support an inference that the bureau’s counterintelligence investigation was a factor in Trump’s decision to fire Comey.READ THE DOCUMENTS:However, the decision to open the investigation did not mean those suspicions had been substantiated.Special counsel Robert Mueller, appointed in 2017 to investigate Russian election interference, reported in 2019 that his team did not establish coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia and did not make a prosecutorial decision on obstruction. Attorney General William Barr appointed John Durham to review the origins and handling of the FBI’s Russia investigation in 2019.
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- What's the story?
- The White House released a trove of documents showing that the FBI opened a 2017 investigation into whether President Donald Trump was acting on behalf of or under the influence of Russia when he fired FBI Director James Comey.The investigation, codenamed "Oxferd Comma," opened after Trump fired Comey in May 2017, according to the White House’s release. Investigators sought to determine whether Trump was "directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes," according to an FBI memo dated May 16, 2017.
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- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
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READ THE DOCUMENTS: Secret ‘Oxferd Comma’ probe cast Trump as potential Russian asset after Comey firing
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