FBI Memos Shed Light on ‘Oxferd Comma’ Investigation
The White House has released declassified FBI memos that detail an investigation into whether former President Donald Trump’s dismissal of James Comey was related to Russia. The investigation was conducted under the code name ‘Oxferd Comma.’ The unusual spelling has drawn attention and speculation about whether the error was intentional.
Allegations of Deliberate Misspelling
Former acting Assistant Attorney General Jeff Clark alleged that the code name’s misspelling might have been a tactic to make records of the investigation difficult to locate. Clark, who now holds a leadership role at the Oversight Project, referred to the FBI’s actions as corrupt. He likened the agency’s efforts to a James Bond villain scheme in trying to evade the Freedom of Information Act.
“The FBI under James Comey and Christopher Wray was hopelessly corrupt. To penalize President Trump’s firing of Comey, they created a ridiculous investigation into Trump on the theory he was a witting or unwitting Russian agent.” – Jeff Clark
Clark explained that the first ‘o’ in ‘Comma’ was suspected to be a zero, a finding from consulting a document expert. This addition obscures the probe’s identity further.
Nature of ‘Oxferd Comma’ Investigation
The investigation, starting shortly after Comey’s removal in May 2017, intended to determine if Trump had coordinated with Russia to threaten U.S. national security. A memo dated May 16, 2017, outlines these concerns.
Speculations About Code Name
Clark suggested that the code name could have been a nod to Comey’s fondness for Oxford commas. However, he questioned the deliberate misspelling of ‘Oxferd,’ proposing that it could have been a strategy to obfuscate related documents from inquiries via the Freedom of Information Act.
FBI Response and Public Reaction
Questions about the misspelling drew reactions on social media, linking the name to Comey’s own comments about Oxford commas from his memoir. The FBI, when contacted, did not provide a direct answer regarding the code name.
Ben Williamson, assistant director of the FBI’s Office of Public Affairs, commented on the agency’s stance against unethical actions. He emphasized past efforts to release extensive documentation on similar past issues to ensure accountability and transparency.
Ashley J. DiMella reports on politics for Fox News Digital.
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