U.S. Department of Justice
Attorney Work Product // May Contain Material Protected Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e)
some point during the conversation that a new start at the FBI would be appropriate and the President should consider replacing Comey as FBI director.[1] According to Sessions, when the meeting concluded, it was clear that the President was unhappy with Comey, but Sessions did not think the President had made the decision to terminate Comey.[2]
Bannon recalled that the President brought Comey up with him at least eight times on May 3 and May 4, 2017.[3] According to Bannon, the President said the same thing each time: "He told me three times I'm not under investigation. He's a showboater. He's a grandstander. I don't know any Russians. There was no collusion."[4] Bannon told the President that he could not fire Comey because "that ship had sailed."[5] Bannon also told the President that firing Comey was not going to stop the investigation, cautioning him that he could fire the FBI director but could not fire the FBI.[6]
- 2. The President Makes the Decision to Terminate Comey
The weekend following Comey's May 3, 2017 testimony, the President traveled to his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey.[7] At a dinner on Friday, May 5, attended by the President and various advisors and family members, including Jared Kushner and senior advisor Stephen Miller, the President stated that he wanted to remove Comey and had ideas for a letter that would be used to make the announcement.[8] The President dictated arguments and specific language for the letter, and Miller took notes.[9] As reflected in the notes, the President told Miller that the letter should start, "While I greatly appreciate you informing me that I am not under investigation concerning what I have often stated is a fabricated story on a Trump-Russia relationship—pertaining to the 2016 presidential election, please be informed that I, and I believe the American public — including Ds and Rs — have lost faith in you as Director of the FBI.[10] Following the dinner, Miller prepared a termination letter based on those notes and research he conducted to support the President's arguments.[11] Over the weekend, the President provided several rounds of
- ↑ Hunt-000022 (Hunt 5/3/17 Notes).
- ↑ Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 9.
- ↑ Bannon 2/12/18 302, at 20.
- ↑ Bannon 2/12/18 302, at 20.
- ↑ Bannon 2/12/18 302, at 20.
- ↑ Bannon 2/12/18 302, at 20-21; see Priebus 10/13/17 302, at 28.
- ↑ Miller 10/31/17 302, at 4-5; SCRO25_000019 (President's Daily Diary, 5/4/17).
- ↑ Miller 10/31/17 302, at 5.
- ↑ Miller 10/31/17 302, at 5-6.
- ↑ S. Miller 5/5/17 Notes, at 1; see S. Miller 10/31/17 302, at 8.
- ↑ S. Miller 10/31/17 302, at 6.
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