The FBI opened a secret investigation in May 2017 into whether President Donald Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey at the direction of the Russian government, according to declassified documents released by a White House task force on August 5, 2024.
The probe, codenamed Oxferd Comma, was launched one week after Trump dismissed Comey on May 9, 2017. The FBI cited a potential national security threat and possible violation of federal criminal law as justification for the investigation. A May 16, 2017 FBI document stated the goal was to determine if Trump was directed, controlled, or coordinated with Russia in a manner constituting a threat to U.S. security or a violation of federal statutes. The investigation also examined whether Trump or others obstructed or conspired to obstruct related FBI probes.
The FBI’s rationale for opening the case was based on Trump’s firing of Comey, which occurred amid ongoing scrutiny of his administration’s ties to Russia. The declassified documents noted that Trump’s public explanations for the firing changed over time, initially citing Comey’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation before later citing frustration over the FBI’s Russia probe.
Trump’s Firing of Comey
Trump dismissed Comey on May 9, 2017, citing a May 8 memo from then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who criticized Comey’s handling of the Clinton email investigation. Rosenstein’s memo stated that Comey had unilaterally announced the closure of the Clinton case without proper clearance, a decision Rosenstein called “a dereliction of duty.” Trump later stated in a May 11, 2017 interview with NBC News that he fired Comey partly due to the “Russia thing”, though he denied any wrongdoing.
Scope and Outcome of the FBI Probe
The Oxferd Comma investigation was a subcomponent of the broader Crossfire Hurricane probe, which examined potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. The FBI marked the case as sensitive, a classification used to limit internal visibility. According to an administration official cited by CBS News, the agents who opened the case believed it was the least intrusive method to address a serious national security risk.
The probe was later rolled into Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which concluded in March 2019 with no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The Mueller Report did not substantiate claims that Trump acted as a Russian asset, and the Oxferd Comma investigation was discontinued as part of that broader review. The official stated they were unaware that the predicate for the obstruction inquiry included allegations that Trump was acting on behalf of Vladimir Putin.
Political and Legal Reactions
The declassification of the documents has reignited debates over the legality and motivations behind the FBI’s actions. Critics of the bureau argue the probe overreached and was part of a politically motivated effort to undermine Trump’s presidency. Supporters of the investigation contend it was a necessary national security measure given the unprecedented circumstances of Trump’s firing of Comey, which occurred amid ongoing counterintelligence concerns.
The House Judiciary Committee has previously requested documents related to the Oxferd Comma investigation as part of its oversight of the FBI. The Department of Justice has not publicly commented on the declassification or the findings of the probe.