Topic overview
In brief
- The FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into President Trump's actions following his firing of James Comey in May 2017.
- The investigation, codenamed 'Oxferd Comma,' aimed to determine if Trump was acting as a Russian asset and whether he obstructed justice.
- Ultimately, the investigation concluded without charges, as no evidence of collusion was found.
Summary
In May 2017, following the dismissal of FBI Director James Comey, the FBI initiated a counterintelligence investigation to determine if President Donald Trump was acting as a Russian asset. This investigation, codenamed 'Oxferd Comma,' was part of a broader inquiry known as Crossfire Hurricane, which examined potential collusion between Trump's 2016 campaign and the Russian government. The investigation was prompted by concerns that Trump's actions could pose a national security threat. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, internal memos revealed that the FBI had largely dismissed the idea of Trump colluding with Russia prior to the investigation's launch.
The investigation sought to ascertain whether Trump was directed or controlled by the Russian Federation, and whether he obstructed justice in relation to the FBI's inquiries. The White House initially justified Comey's firing by citing his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, but later revelations indicated that Trump was frustrated with Comey for not publicly stating that he was not under investigation for collusion. The investigation ultimately concluded in April 2019 without any charges against Trump, as the Mueller report found no evidence of conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.