White House Releases 2017 FBI Trump-Russia Probe Files, Detailing Comey Firing Fallout
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 7
White House Releases 2017 FBI Trump-Russia Probe Files, Detailing Comey Firing Fallout
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 7
Summary
May 16, 2017 FBI records released by the White House show agents opened the "Oxferd Comma" probe days after Donald Trump fired James Comey, examining whether Trump acted under Russian direction or influence.
The opening memo tied the inquiry to Crossfire Hurricane and to Trump's own conduct, citing his interactions with Comey, shifting explanations for the firing, Ukraine platform discussions and Russia-linked business interests.
The documents also show investigators weighed possible obstruction, arguing the circumstances of Comey's dismissal could support an inference that the Russia investigation factored into Trump's decision.
Mueller's 2019 report later found no established Trump campaign-Russia coordination and made no prosecutorial judgment on obstruction, while later reviews split over the FBI's basis for opening Crossfire Hurricane.
The White House said the files were declassified and published through its Government Transparency Task Force, reviving scrutiny of how the FBI handled the Trump-Russia investigation.