Controversy Over FBI’s ‘Oxferd Comma’ Investigation
The White House recently shared declassified FBI documents. These documents reveal an inquiry into whether President Donald Trump’s dismissal of James Comey was connected to Russia. This investigation was conducted under the code name ‘Oxferd Comma,’ sparking debate over whether the name’s unusual spelling was deliberate.
Jeff Clark, former acting Assistant Attorney General, suggested the alteration made investigation records more elusive. Clark described the actions of the FBI under James Comey and Christopher Wray as corrupt. He accused them of penalizing Trump’s decision to fire Comey by probing into Trump’s potential links to Russia.
The investigation bore the name ‘OXFERD C0MMA,’ with intentional misspellings. Clark claimed FBI managers imagined themselves as characters from a James Bond film, believing they could cleverly bypass the Freedom of Information Act.
Clark identified that the first ‘o’ in ‘Comma’ was in fact a zero. This finding was supported by a document expert and was potentially meant to obscure the investigation’s name.
An FBI memorandum from May 16, 2017, outlined the ‘Oxferd Comma’ case. Investigators sought to uncover if Trump coordinated with Russia in ways that threatened U.S. national security or violated federal laws. Trump had dismissed Comey earlier that May, partly due to Comey’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email case, leading to questions about a Russian connection.
Clark speculated the code name’s origin. He noted that Comey was known for preferring Oxford commas, thus suggesting the code name served as a nod to him. Yet, the misspelling remains unexplained.
He voiced concerns over how such misspellings might have complicated searching for documentation. A Freedom of Information Act request with correct spelling could miss relevant documents. This might enable the FBI to claim unavailability of responsive records.
Clark aired allegations of obstruction of justice, calling for an investigation into the matter. The unusual spelling caused a stir online. Social media users recalled Comey’s old post on Oxford commas related to his memoir.
The FBI did not directly answer inquiries about the code name. Ben Williamson from the FBI Office of Public Affairs condemned the past “weaponization” of the FBI against Trump. He highlighted that past wrongful acts exposed by director Kash Patel have led to public release of extensive documentation.
Williamson assured that any individual found guilty of unethical conduct would be dismissed and held accountable legally.
Reported by Ashley J. DiMella for Fox News Digital.