---
title: "Declassified FBI files reveal probe into Trump over Comey firing and Russia ties"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/declassified-fbi-files-reveal-probe-into-trump-over-comey-firing-and-russia-ties"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/declassified-fbi-files-reveal-probe-into-trump-over-comey-firing-and-russia-ties"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/declassified-fbi-files-reveal-probe-into-trump-over-comey-firing-and-russia-ties.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/declassified-fbi-files-reveal-probe-into-trump-over-comey-firing-and-russia-ties"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-08-06T00:05:51.343Z"
source_reported: "2026-08-05T22:48:27.000Z"
updated: "2026-08-06T00:05:51.343Z"
trust_score: 62
critic_score: 51
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-08-06T01:15:23.779053+00:00"
---

# Declassified FBI files reveal probe into Trump over Comey firing and Russia ties

*The investigation, code-named 'Oxferd Comma,' was closed in 2019 without charges, documents released by the White House show*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. One named source and declassified documents cited.
- Craft 51 of 100, higher is better. Mostly digests, few direct quotes.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Sensational headlines, but substance supports them.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- The FBI launched a counterintelligence probe in May 2017 into whether Donald Trump was acting as a Russian asset when he fired James Comey.
- The investigation, code-named 'Oxferd Comma,' was linked to the Crossfire Hurricane probe into Trump’s 2016 campaign ties to Russia.
- Declassified documents released by the White House show the FBI closed the probe on 9 April 2019 without filing charges.
- An administration official said the theory that Trump acted as a Russian asset was not backed by evidence.

The FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation in May 2017 into whether Donald Trump was acting as a Russian asset when he fired FBI Director James Comey. The probe, code-named 'Oxferd Comma,' was linked to Crossfire Hurricane, the bureau’s inquiry into whether Trump’s 2016 campaign coordinated with Russia.

Declassified documents released by the White House on 5 August 2026 show the FBI closed the investigation on 9 April 2019 without filing charges. An administration official told CBS News the theory that Trump acted at Russia’s behest was not supported by evidence. Trump has repeatedly called the Russia investigations a 'hoax' and a 'witch hunt.'

The documents reveal FBI officials considered whether Trump fired Comey at Russia’s request. One declassified memo stated the bureau believed opening the investigation was 'the least intrusive method to address the serious national security risk posed by the activities alleged.'

## What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated digests mentioned that the FBI’s investigation was closed without charges. None of the left-rated digests included the administration official’s statement that the theory lacked evidence. The centre-rated digests did not carry the detail that the FBI considered Trump’s firing of Comey a potential national security risk.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 29 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 21% (6)
- Centre: 10% (3)
- Right: 69% (20)

2 of 31 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-06T01:15:23.779053+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-06T01:45:36.270Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- The six left-rated digests led on the FBI’s investigation into whether Trump was acting as a Russian asset. The Daily Mirror’s full report described the probe as a 'bombshell' and quoted a declassified memo stating the FBI saw a 'serious national security risk.' Alternet framed the declassification as a 'new twist in Trump revenge plot.'
- The Daily Mirror reported that FBI officials suspected Trump could have fired Comey 'at the behest of Russia.' IBTimes UK and La Opinion noted the FBI’s question of whether Trump acted 'wittingly or unwittingly' as a Russian asset. None of the left-rated digests omitted the fact that the investigation closed without charges.

### Centre

- The three centre-rated digests focused on the White House’s declassification of the FBI probe. CBS News led with the administration official’s statement that the theory of Trump acting as a Russian asset was not backed by evidence. Internewscast and Political Wire carried the same framing, noting the lack of evidence without additional commentary.

### Right

- The 18 right-rated digests led on the FBI’s use of 'debunked' or 'discredited' information to open the investigation. The Tennessee Star and Washington Times reported the FBI had 'little evidence' or 'overwhelming' evidence against the theory. The National Pulse and The Federalist described the probe as part of the 'Russia hoax.'
- Fox News and the New York Post emphasised the counterintelligence angle, while RedState and TrendingPolitics framed the declassification as exposing the 'Russia hoax.' None of the right-rated digests quoted the declassified memo stating the FBI saw a 'serious national security risk.'

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- low: 5
- mixed: 16
- high: 6
- unknown: 2
- veryHigh: 2

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/05/declassified-fbi-records-show-trump-was-probed-as-possible-russian-asset) — Declassified FBI Records Show Trump Was Probed as Possible Russian Asset
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-fbi-russia-2016-investigation-b3028230.html) — White House declassifies FBI investigation into whether Trump was Russian asset
- [The Last Refuge](https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/08/05/govt-releases-originating-info-behind-fbi-investigation-oxferd-comma-that-followed-comey-firing) — Govt Releases Originating Info Behind FBI Investigation "Oxferd Comma" That Followed Comey Firing
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-fbi-russia-2016-investigation-b3028230.html) — White House declassifies FBI investigation into whether Trump was Russian asset
- [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/us/white-house-declassifies-secret-fbi-probe-on-trump-comey-firing) — White House Declassifies Secret FBI Probe on Trump Comey Firing
- [Conservative News Daily](https://conservativenewsdaily.net/breaking-news/white-house-declassifies-files-on-fbis-oxferd-comma-investigation-of-trump) — White House declassifies files on FBI’s ‘Oxferd Comma’ investigation of Trump
- [Tennessee Star](https://tennesseestar.com/news/fbi-secretly-probed-trump-as-a-russian-asset-for-firing-comey-declassified-memos/jtnews/2026/08/05) — FBI Secretly Probed Trump as a Russian Asset for Firing Comey: Declassified Memos
- [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/fbi-secretly-probed-trump-as-russian-asset-after-he-fired-comey-in-2017-new-fbi-memos-reveal/videoshow/132958219.cms) — FBI secretly probed Trump as 'Russian Asset' after he fired Comey in 2017; new FBI memos reveal
- [VINnews](https://vinnews.com/2026/08/05/fbi-opened-probe-into-whether-trump-was-russian-agent-after-he-fired-comey-newly-released-memos-show) — FBI Opened Probe Into Whether Trump Was Russian Agent After He Fired Comey, Newly Released Memos Show
- [Daily Mirror](https://mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/donald-trump-russian-agent-fbi-37518503) — FBI opened probe into whether Trump was 'Russian agent', bombshell memos show
- [[your]NEWS](https://yournews.com/2026/08/05/7143926/declassified-records-show-fbi-investigated-whether-trump-fired-comey-on) — Declassified Records Show FBI Investigated Whether Trump Fired Comey on Russia’s Behalf
- [IBTimes UK](https://ibtimes.co.uk/fbi-secret-2017-probe-trump-russian-agent-1812646) — FBI Probed if Trump Acted 'Wittingly or Unwittingly' as Russian Agent, Newly Revealed Memos Show
- [Daily Express](https://express.co.uk/news/world/2236398/bombshell-fbi-documents-show-trump) — FBI probe into whether Trump 'acted as Russian asset' emerges
- [The Epoch Times](https://theepochtimes.com/us/documents-show-fbi-investigated-trump-firing-of-comey-as-part-of-russia-probe-6071675) — Documents Show FBI Investigated Trump Firing of Comey as Part of Russia Probe
- [La Opinion](https://laopinion.com/2026/08/05/fbi-abrio-pesquisa-secreta-contra-trump-tras-despedir-a-comey-casa-blanca-la-desclasifica) — FBI Opened Secret Investigation Against Trump After Firing Comey; White House Declassifies Her
- [Moncloa](https://moncloa.com/2026/08/05/casa-blanca-memorandos-fbi-trump-comey-3411174) — FBI Trump Comey: White House Declassifies Investigation Memoranda
- [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/08/05/us-news/fbi-opened-probe-into-whether-trump-was-russian-agent-after-he-fired-james-comey-newly-revealed-memos-show) — FBI opened probe into whether Trump was Russian agent after he fired James Comey, newly revealed memos show
- [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/5/white-house-declassifies-documents-fbi-probe-whether-trump-fired) — White House declassifies documents on FBI probe into whether Trump fired Comey at Russia’s urging
- [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/secret-fbi-probe-cast-trump-possible-russian-asset-after-comey-firing-memos-show) — Secret FBI probe cast Trump as possible Russian asset after Comey firing, memos show
- [The National Pulse](https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/08/05/declassified-memos-reveal-fbi-covertly-investigated-trump-as-russian-asset-after-comey-firing) — Declassified Memos Reveal FBI Covertly Investigated Trump as Russian Asset After Comey Firing.
- [American Faith](https://americanfaith.com/fbi-opened-probe-after-trump-fired-comey) — FBI Opened Probe After Trump Fired Comey
- [Alternet](https://alternet.org/trump-comey) — New twist in Trump revenge plot as White House declassifies secret FBI probe
- [TrendingPolitics](https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/just-in-fbis-top-secret-criminal-investigation-into-trump-is-exposed-jrupp) — JUST IN: FBI's Top-Secret Criminal Investigation Into Trump Is Exposed
- [Hot Air](https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/08/05/fbi-opened-criminal-investigation-of-trump-for-firing-comey-n3817684) — FBI Opened Criminal Investigation of Trump for Firing Comey
- [PJ Media](https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/08/05/bombshell-declassified-fbi-document-blows-up-everything-we-were-told-about-russiagate-n4955835) — Bombshell Declassified FBI Document Blows Up Everything We Ever Heard About Russiagate
- [RedState](https://redstate.com/terichristoph/2026/08/05/oxferd-comma-document-release-n2205209) — Boom: White House's 'Oxferd Comma' Document Dump Just Blew the Russia Hoax to Smithereens
- [CBS News](https://cbsnews.com/news/trump-comey-russia-fbi-probe-white-house-declassify-oxferd-comma) — White House declassifies info on secret FBI probe into whether Trump fired Comey at Russia's behest, official says
- [The Federalist](https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/05/fbi-used-comey-firing-to-open-new-russia-hoax-investigation-using-debunked-information) — FBI Used Comey Firing To Open New Russia Hoax Investigation Using Debunked Information
- [Conservative Review](https://conservativereview.com/fbi-used-comey-firing-to-open-new-russia-hoax-investigation-using-debunked-information-2677659043.html) — FBI Used Comey Firing To Open New Russia Hoax Investigation Using Debunked Information
- [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/08/05/trump-declassifies-fbi-probe-into-comey-ouster) — Trump Declassifies FBI Probe Into Comey Ouster
- [The New American](https://thenewamerican.com/us/politics/trump-accuses-obama-of-treason-over-2016-russia-hoax) — Trump Accuses Obama of Treason Over 2016 "Russia Hoax"

## Questions

**What was the FBI's 'Oxferd Comma' investigation?**

The FBI opened a counterintelligence probe in May 2017 to determine whether Donald Trump was acting as a Russian asset when he fired FBI Director James Comey. The investigation, linked to the Crossfire Hurricane inquiry, was closed in April 2019 without charges. Declassified documents show the bureau considered the firing a potential national security risk.

**Did the FBI find evidence Trump was a Russian asset?**

No. The FBI closed the investigation on 9 April 2019 without filing charges. An administration official told CBS News the theory that Trump acted at Russia’s behest was not backed by evidence. The White House released declassified documents confirming the probe’s closure.

**Which outlets reported the FBI’s lack of evidence?**

CBS News, a centre-rated outlet, reported an administration official’s statement that the theory of Trump acting as a Russian asset lacked evidence. The right-rated digests did not include this detail, while the left-rated digests omitted it.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/declassified-fbi-files-reveal-probe-into-trump-over-comey-firing-and-russia-ties. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Declassified FBI files reveal probe into Trump over Comey firing and Russia ties", https://mediabias.news/politics/declassified-fbi-files-reveal-probe-into-trump-over-comey-firing-and-russia-ties