During the House Intelligence Committee hearing on Monday, FBI Director James Comey announced that the agency is investigating the connection between the Russian government and the election of President Donald Trump.
According to The New York Times, Comey said, “the F.B.I., as part of our counterintelligence effort, is investigating the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 president election.”
He also added that the investigation includes looking at whether associates of President Donald Trump were in contact with Russian officials. Comey told lawmakers that the agency has been investigating the possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials since last July.
“They wanted to hurt our democracy, hurt her, help him. I think all three we were confident in at least as early as December,” Comey said of Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
“The possibility of coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials is a serious, serious matter,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
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“The investigation must be fair, independent, and impartial in every way, and the F.B.I. must be allowed to follow the facts wherever they may lead,” he continued.
Comey also stated during the hearing that the FBI typically does not comment on ongoing investigations, especially those involving classified information, however, the Department of Justice gave him permission to do so under the circumstances.
“Because it is an open, ongoing investigation and is classified, I cannot say more about what we are doing and whose conduct we are examining,” Comey continued.
This is a developing story.
