FBI Secretly Opened Probe Alleging Trump Fired Comey Because He Was a Russian Asset, Declassified Memos Show

This article, written by John Solomon in his capacity as Chairman of the White House Government Transparency Task Force, details the declassification of internal FBI memos regarding a 2017 investigation into Donald Trump.The report focuses on a probe codenamed "Oxferd Comma," which specifically targeted the President of the United States as a potential Russian asset.1. The Nature of "Oxferd Comma"Launch Date: May 16, 2017, one week after the firing of FBI Director James Comey.The Objective: To determine if President Trump was "directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with the Russian Federation" and whether his actions constituted a threat to national security or federal crimes (such as obstruction of justice).Authorization: The probe was approved by high-ranking FBI officials, including then-General Counsel James Baker and Assistant Director Bill Priestap, with the knowledge of Andrew McCabe and Rod Rosenstein.2. Allegations of Predication Without EvidenceThe article argues that the FBI opened this "sensitive investigative matter" despite internal records showing that agents had already grown skeptical of the Trump-Russia collusion narrative.It cites a May 19, 2017, text from Pete Strzok stating his "gut sense" was that "there’s no big there there."It references Special Agent William Barnett, who later described the investigation as "Collusion Clue"—a game where any character could be paired with another to manufacture a theory.3. Links to the Steele Dossier and the Clinton CampaignThe text asserts that by the time "Oxferd Comma" was opened, the FBI knew the primary allegations originated from a dossier funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign.It highlights a 2016 briefing by CIA Director John Brennan to President Obama, alleging that Clinton had approved a plan to "vilify" Trump by stirring up a scandal regarding Russian interference.It notes that the FBI’s own spreadsheet showed the Steele Dossier was largely uncorroborated or debunked by early 2017.4. The Investigation into Michael FlynnThe article claims the FBI had cleared National Security Adviser Michael Flynn of "derogatory information" by January 4, 2017, but kept the case open to conduct an interview that led to his prosecution for false statements.5. 2025 Context and "Civil Rights" ProbeThe release of these memos is presented as part of a broader effort by the White House Government Transparency Task Force.The article mentions an ongoing federal investigation in Fort Pierce, Florida, looking into whether the FBI and DOJ conspired to violate the civil rights of Trump and his associates through "repeated criminal investigations that lacked evidence."Solomon concludes that the "Oxferd Comma" investigation was the catalyst for the Mueller Special Counsel probe, which ultimately found no evidence of a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia. The article frames the FBI's 2017 actions as a "misguided effort" to target a sitting president based on political opposition research rather than verified intelligence.Key Revelations from the Article:Summary of the Author’s Conclusion