- Special counsel Robert Mueller has obtained a May letter outlining Trump’s rationale
- Trump had complained to Comey about the Russia investigation, Comey testified
- He also vented about it on Twitter
- The May letter outlines Trump’s reasons for getting rid of Comey
- It was drafted with White House aide Stephen Miller
- The letter Comey ultimately got was written by deputy AG Rod Rosenstein
- Original letter blocked by White House counsel Don McGahn
- Mueller is investigating possible obstruction of justice, Russia ties
- Justice Department turned over the document weeks ago
- Shows early rationale for dismissal
The Justice Department has turned over to special counsel Robert Mueller an early draft of President Trump’s letter to former FBI Director James Comey setting out the reasons for his sensational firing.
Trump and White House aide Stephen Miller composed the letter in May, the New York Times reported.
The letter was met with immediate opposition by White House counsel Don McGahn, according to the report – an effort that proved successful.
The letter the president ultimate sent to Comey was composed deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has obtained an early draft letter that President Trump and an aide crafted laying out his reasons for firing FBI Director Jamres Comey (pictured)
That letter focused entirely on Comey’s conduct during his handling of the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s emails – gripes that Democrats had been voicing for months.
One issue that did not appear in the letter that ultimately got sent was Comey’s handling of the FBI’s investigation of Russian interference in the election and contacts with the Trump campaign that were unknown to the public at that time.
Comey testified in Congress that Trump brought up the probe to him, asking him to let go of an investigation of former national security advisor Mike Flynn.
The Times said it was ‘unclear’ how much of the letter focused on the Russia investigation.
Trump drafted the letter with White House adviser Stephen Miller
President Trump was said to be furious about the FBI’s Russia probe
The Justice Department turned over the document weeks ago, according to the paper.