Trump has never said anything bad about Putin. Think about that.
Former FBI Director James Comey voiced deep concerns that Donald Trump was compromised by Russia, an issue that arose during the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Comey testified before Congress that Trump repeatedly sought to influence the FBI’s investigation, particularly in relation to Michael Flynn, Trump’s former National Security Adviser. “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Trump told Comey in a private meeting, which is basically the definition of obstruction of justice.
Trump then abruptly fired Comey in May 2017 which led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who took over the investigation into Russian interference and potential obstruction of justice by the president. Comey stated that his dismissal “confused and increasingly concerned” him, as it seemed directly tied to the FBI’s ongoing probe into Trump’s connections with Russia.
Peter Strzok, a former senior FBI agent, said that Trump's behavior throughout the investigation suggested he was compromised by Russia. Strzok, who was heavily involved in the early stages of the FBI’s inquiry, pointed to the numerous contacts between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials as evidence that warranted serious scrutiny. While the FBI did not conclusively prove collusion, Trump's actions and responses to Russian interference indicated an alarming susceptibility to Russian influence.
The Mueller Report, which resulted from the investigation that began under Comey, documented several instances where Trump obstructed justice, though Mueller ultimately did not charge him. Mueller’s report also highlighted over 100 contacts between Trump’s campaign and individuals linked to Russia, raising significant concerns about the president’s potential compromise.
The Senate Intelligence Committee’s bipartisan report on Russian interference further supported the concerns of FBI officials like Comey and Strzok. The report detailed extensive efforts by Russia to influence the 2016 election and noted that Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, shared sensitive polling data with a Russian intelligence officer. These actions, according to the report, posed a significant national security risk and underscored the belief that Trump may have been compromised by a foreign power.
Despite these findings, Trump denies any wrongdoing, dismissing the investigations as politically motivated. But the ongoing concerns from high-ranking FBI officials, the documented interactions between Trump’s team and Russian operatives, and the findings of both the Mueller investigation and the Senate report continue to raise questions about the extent to which Trump was compromised by Russia.
James Comey's Congressional testimony, Peter Strzok's interview with NBC News, Mueller Report findings, Senate Intelligence Committee report on Russian interference in the 2016 election.
