FBI secret probe into whether Trump 'acted as Russian asset' revealed

Summary

Newly declassified files reveal the FBI's secret 'Oxferd Comma' probe into whether Trump acted as a Russian asset after firing James Comey in 2017. A White House official stated the inquiry lacked evidence and was folded into the Mueller investigation, which found no merit. Trump has accused intelligence agencies of unethical investigations.

Key Takeaways

1. Newly declassified files revealed the FBI opened a secret investigation, codenamed Oxferd Comma, into whether Donald Trump was acting as an asset for Russia when he fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017.
2. The inquiry, which the White House today said was not backed up by any evidence, formed part of the FBI's wider Crossfire Hurricane investigation into alleged links between Mr Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.
3. Mr Mueller ultimately found no evidence that members of the Trump campaign "conspired or coordinated" with Russia.

Statement Breakdown

• Claimed Facts: 30% of statements the article presents as facts
• Opinions: 40% of statements classified as editorial or subjective
• Claims: 30% of statements surfaced for additional reader evaluation

Credibility & Bias Reasoning

Credibility assessment: The article relies heavily on anonymous White House officials for its claims, which reduces its credibility. While it references declassified files and the Mueller report, the primary narrative is driven by unverified statements. The inclusion of a clearly false claim about James Comey being charged with threatening Trump's life further undermines its reliability.

Bias assessment: Pro-Trump Framing. The article consistently frames the FBI investigation as baseless and politically motivated, emphasizing the White House's claims of no evidence. It highlights Trump's accusations against intelligence agencies and downplays findings of contacts between his campaign and Russian-linked individuals. The inclusion of a fabricated news item about Comey further suggests a biased agenda.

Note: This article relies on anonymous sources and includes demonstrably false information. Exercise caution and seek corroboration from more reputable sources.

Credibility flag: Questionable Sources

Claimed Facts (5)

• This is presented as a factual statement about the release of declassified files and the existence of an FBI investigation.
• This statement attributes a specific claim to the White House regarding the evidence for the inquiry.
• This is a verifiable historical event.
• This describes a procedural step taken by the Department of Justice, which is a matter of public record.
• This is a direct statement of a finding from the Mueller report.

Opinions (5)

• This is a statement of personal unawareness and interpretation by an anonymous official.
• This is an interpretation of the Mueller investigation's findings by an anonymous official.
• This expresses the perceived motivations and beliefs of FBI agents, as relayed by an anonymous official.
• This describes Trump's repeated assertions, which are his opinions and accusations.
• This is a direct quote of James Comey's opinion about Donald Trump.

Claims (5)

• This claim about the purpose of 'sensitive' designations is presented as a general rule but is attributed to an anonymous official and could be a selective interpretation.
• This is a broad, unsubstantiated claim by an anonymous official about the entirety of the FBI's evidence at a specific time.
• This is a demonstrably false claim; there are no credible reports of James Comey being charged with threatening Trump's life over such a post.
• While this was the initial stated reason, the article later presents a different motivation from the Mueller report, suggesting this initial statement might have been a pretext or incomplete.
• While the Mueller report did discuss Trump's frustration, framing it solely as a 'claim' and contrasting it with the initial stated reason for Comey's firing can be seen as downplaying the significance of this finding and implying it's less factual than other statements.

Key Sources

• White House official — Anonymous Official
• Donald Trump — Former President of the United States
• James Comey — Former FBI Director
• Rod Rosenstein — Former Deputy Attorney General