The FBI launched a secret counterintelligence investigation in 2017 to determine if President Donald Trump was acting as a Russian asset, according to newly declassified FBI memos released by the White House. The probe, codenamed "Oxferd Comma," was opened in the aftermath of Trump's May 2017 firing of FBI Director James Comey.
The investigation sought to establish whether Trump was "directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes," the documents state.
The White House shared the declassified FBI memos on the matter, which indicated the bureau's focus on national security concerns. The reason for the apparent misspelling of "Oxford" in the probe's codename remains unclear.
Trump has publicly criticized Comey, referring to him as a "dirty cop" and a "crooked man," particularly in light of Comey's indictment.