Trump fired James Comey over the Clinton email case, not Russia
| Trump fired James Comey over the Clinton email case, not Russia | |
|---|---|
| MISLEADING | |
| "President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017 solely because of his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation." | |
| Domain | Politics & Elections |
| Tactic | False Context Propaganda Technique |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2017 |
| Origin | The White House's initial explanation of the May 9, 2017 firing, based on a memo by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-03 |
| Further reading: books on Politics & Elections | |
The claim that Trump fired James Comey over the Clinton email case, not Russia repeated the White House's first explanation, which Trump himself contradicted within days.
What the evidence shows
- The first explanation focused on Clinton. On May 9, 2017, the White House released a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein criticizing Comey's handling of the Clinton email investigation as the basis for removal.
- Trump gave a different account. In a May 11, 2017 interview with NBC's Lester Holt, Trump said he had planned to fire Comey regardless of any recommendation and referred to the Russia matter when describing his thinking.
- The Mueller report found multiple motives. The report describes evidence that the Russia investigation was a factor, including Trump's irritation that Comey would not publicly say he was not personally under investigation. It also notes other reasons given by advisers.
- Rosenstein's role is contested. Rosenstein later said he did not intend the memo as a justification for a firing driven by other reasons. He then appointed Mueller as special counsel on May 17, 2017.
- Whether it was a crime is unresolved. Mueller did not reach a conclusion on obstruction, and Barr and Rosenstein concluded the evidence was insufficient to establish an offense.
Why it persists
The Clinton memo gave a plausible, non-criminal explanation. Comey had been criticized by both parties over the 2016 handling of the email case, and his firing was celebrated by some Democrats before the Russia context emerged.
Lessons for readers
- A decision-maker can have several motives, and the first stated one is not always the real one.
- Compare the official explanation with what the person said later.
See also
- Mueller found Trump guilty of obstruction of justice
- The Mueller report completely exonerated Donald Trump
Sources
- Memorandum of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, May 9, 2017.
- Interview of President Trump by Lester Holt, NBC News, May 11, 2017.
- Special Counsel Mueller, report, Volume II.