FBI Director James B. Comey Confirms Investigation of Trump’s Russia Ties

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

The United States House of Representatives Intelligence Committee opened its investigative hearing on Monday, March 20, 2017, in Washington, D.C. with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James B. Comey and National Security Agency Director Admiral Michael S. Rogers as its first two witnesses.

FBI Directory James B. Comey confirmed to the House Intelligence Committee members and the American people that there is an ongoing investigation concerning President Trump’s 2016 Presidential Campaign ties with Russian Intelligence Officials. Comey stated that the “FBI…is investigating the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 President Election.”  This is the first time that the FBI and the United States Department of Justice have publicly acknowledged the existence of an active investigation of Trump’s Campaign ties with Russian government or intelligence officials during the 2016 Presidential Election.

FBI Director Comey stated that the Justice Department had authorized him to disclose the existing investigation as part of the Bureau’s counter-intelligence surveillance work in defense of the United States.  Comey stated that the “investigation [is] looking at whether associates Mr. Trump were in contact with Russian officials, and colluded with them.”

FBI Director Comey added that the investigation “will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed.” Comey advised the House Intelligence Committee that the investigation started in July 2016 and vowed to “follow the facts wherever they lead.”

In the same hearing, FBI Director Comey testified that he had “no information” to support President Trump’s Twitter claim that former President Barack Obama had ordered to wire tap Trump Tower during or after the 2016 Presidential Election.  Comey stated “I have no information that supports those tweets, and we have looked carefully inside the FBI.” He added that the Justice Department had likewise looked for information to support President Trump’s allegation but did not find any.

NSA Chief Admiral Michael S. Rogers testified that there is no information to support President Trump’s allegation through Twitter that the British Intelligence Office had wire tapped Trump Tower at the request of former President Obama.

Both Comey and Rogers testimony shut down President Trump’s conspiracy Twitter postings that former President Obama had ordered the wire tapping of Trump Tower during 2016 and that the British Intelligence Office had done it at the request of Obama.  President Trump’s claims were proved to be false.

Political observers have noted that President Trump has a penchant for lying and misrepresenting facts during his young presidency that will undermine his success as president.