FBI Director James Comey on Monday confirmed that the bureau is investigating Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election — including any links or coordination between members of Donald Trump's campaign and Moscow.
The bombshell revelation puts an end to months of roiling speculation and frustration on the part of Democrats, who saw the director’s silence as a double-standard after Comey’s repeated disclosures in the FBI's investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server.
In a dramatic moment at the beginning of a hotly anticipated House Intelligence Committee hearing on Russian interference in the U.S. election, Comey announced that he had been authorized by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to break bureau policy and publicly disclose the probe.
“As you know our practice is not to confirm the existence of an ongoing investigation,” he said. “But in usual circumstances where it is in the public interest, it may be appropriate to do so.”
A palpable ripple of anticipation went through the hearing room as Comey continued: “This is one of those circumstances.”
But he declined to provide more details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
“I can promise you we will follow the facts wherever they lead,” Comey vowed.
The FBI investigation will include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed, Comey said. It began in late July, he said.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who was a member of the executive committee of Trump’s transition team, has flatly denied any evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
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