Then-Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe was aware of crucial exculpatory evidence regarding the firing of FBI Director James Comey when he opened an obstruction of justice investigation into then-President Donald Trump in mid-May of 2017 over Comey’s removal, according to documents declassified by Trump during his last days in office.
Trump fired Comey on May 9, 2017, roughly three weeks after Comey told Congress that the FBI was investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, as well as alleged links between Moscow and the Trump campaign. McCabe opened an obstruction of justice investigation into Trump a week later, on May 16, 2017, citing Trump’s public comments about the firing as well as Comey’s memos, which stated, among other things, that the president had asked the FBI director for loyalty.