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Special Counsel Mueller Could Have New Insight Into Comey's Firing

Special counsel Robert Mueller has a letter President Trump wrote about why he fired FBI Director James Comey, which may impact his investigation.

By: Grant Suneson

Posted at 10:19 PM, Sep 01, 2017

and last updated 2017-09-01 22:19:07-04

After FBI Director James Comey was fired, the White House gave conflicting explanations as to why.

But special counsel Robert Mueller may now have a better idea. The New York Times reported the Justice Department gave him a draft letter by President Trump that indicated his reasoning for the dismissal.

We're not sure what's in the letter, but it could factor into Mueller's investigation of whether Trump obstructed justice. Trump fired Comey during the FBI's investigation into potential collusion with Russia.

Trump first said he fired Comey on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. They said Comey's handling of Hillary Clinton's email investigation wasn't satisfactory.

Hours later, Trump told NBC: "I was going to fire Comey — my decision. ... When I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story.'"

Sources told the Times that White House counsel Donald McGahn stopped Trump from publishing the letter because "its angry, meandering tone was problematic."