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Obstruction of justice investigation of Donald Trump
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After the dismissal of James Comey as director of the FBI, the special counsel Robert Mueller appeared to be considering an investigation into obstruction of justice against President Donald Trump. The New York Times reported on June 14, 2017 about "the latest indication that he will investigate whether President Trump obstructed justice", but the Times said that there were as yet only hints about such an inquiry. Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Richard Ledgett were interviewed by Mueller’s investigators. According to a Newsweek poll, a plurality of Americans believe Trump should be impeached for obstruction of justice. Also California Congressman Brad Sherman is circulating Articles of Impeachment. Trump actions leading to the investigation February 14 Oval Office meeting In May 2017, a February memo by James Comey was made public, describing an Oval Office conversation with Trump on February 14, 2017, in which Trump is described as attempting to persuade Comey to drop the FBI investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. The memo notes that Trump said, "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go." Comey made no commitments to Trump on the subject. In testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8, Comey gave a detailed report on the February 14 conversation, including Trump's suggestion that he should "let go" the Flynn investigation. Comey said he "took it as a direction… I took it as, this is what he wants me to do." He added that it was "a very disturbing thing, very concerning," and that he had discussed the incident with other FBI leaders. White House staff requests to FBI In February 2017, it was reported that White House officials had asked the FBI to issue a statement that there had been no contact between Trump associates and Russian intelligence sources during the 2016 campaign. The FBI did not make the requested statement, and observers noted that the request violated established procedures about contact between the White House and the FBI regarding pending investigations. Requests to DNI and NSA directors After Comey revealed in March that the FBI was investigating the possibility of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, Trump reportedly asked Director of National Security Admiral Michael S. Rogers to speak out publicly if he had not seen evidence of collusion. Trump also made a similar request to Dan Coats. Both Coats and Rogers believed that the request was inappropriate, though not illegal, and did not make the requested statement. The two exchanged notes about the incident, and Rogers made a contemporary memo to document the request. Explanation of FBI director dismissal In an interview with Lester Holt of NBC News on May 12, 2017, Trump indicated that the dismissal was connected to the Russia investigation, saying "When I decided , I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story". Addtionally, in a meeting on May 10th, 2017, in which Trump discussed highly classified intelligence in the Oval Office with Russian Officals, he stated Trump told the Russian officials that firing the F.B.I. director, James Comey, had relieved "great pressure" on him. He stated, "I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job," He continued, "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off."
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