?anitrd Butts 0%En8tt WASHINGTON, DC 20510 May 11,2017 The Honorable Michael Horowitz Inspector General The Department of Justice 950 Avenue, NW Washington, DC. 20530?0001 Dear Inspector General Horowitz: We are writing to ask that you examine Justice Department of?cials? involvement in President Trump?s decision on May 9 to dismiss FBI Director James Comey. We ask that you review the circumstances and any actions related to the dismissal, as well as the Justice Department?s recommendation that Director Comey be terminated, to include but not limited to: 0 The nature and timing of any communications and actions of White House and Justice Department of?cials, including any effort to orchestrate the dismissal of the FBI Director, or any indication that the stated public justi?cation served as a pretext for dismissing the FBI Director for other reasons. a The nature of any communications, and any actions undertaken as a result of such communications, between Director Comey and the of?ces of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General related to this investigation, including drafting and review of Congressional testimony, case updates, and requests for additional resources. 0 Whether the Attorney General?s actions related to his supervision of Director Comey or the dismissal of Director Comey were consistent with his stated recusal ?from any existing or future investigations of any matter relating in any way to the campaigns for president of the United States,? as announced on March 2. 0 Whether the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, or other of?cials in the Justice Department, in the course of their actions related to the dismissal of Director Comey, engaged in any misconduct or violated any duty including the duty set forth in federal regulations for government of?cials to avoid any conduct that gives the appearance of a violation of law or ethical standard, regardless of whether there is an actual violation of law. On March 2, 2017, Attorney General Sessions announced that he had recused himself from matters dealing with the Trump campaign. He speci?cally stated: have now decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matter relating in any way to the campaigns for president of the United States.? The Honorable Michael Horowitz May 11, 2017 Page 2 of 3 On March 20, 2017, in testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Director Comey con?rmed that the FBI was ?investigating the Russian government?s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election,? including ?investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts.? The FBI Director indicated in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 3, 2017, that its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election was ongoing. On May 9, 2017, Attorney General Sessions wrote to President Trump, stating: ?Based on my evaluation . . . I must recommend that you remove Director James B. Comey, Jr.? Given that Attorney General Sessions had recused himself from the critical Russia investigation led by Director Comey, it is of great concern that Attorney General Sessions would recommend that Director Comey be ?red while the investigation is ongoing. Recusal, or disquali?cation due to con?ict of interest, from a given matter does not typically mean the recused individual is permitted to make personnel decisions for the lead investigator of such matter. The President?s letter dismissing the FBI Director cited a memorandum from Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, also dated May 9, 2017. The Deputy Attorney General?s memo noted several errors in judgment made by Director Comey, and the Attorney General?s letter recommended that Director Comey be dismissed. However, multiple press reports indicated that White House and Justice Department of?cials ?had been working on building a case against Mr. Comey? for at least a week, and that Sessions ?had been charged with coming up with reasons to ?re him.?1 It is of great concern that this memo was written only days after Director Comey reportedly asked the Deputy Attorney General for additional funds for the investigation. And just today, President Trump told NBC News: was going to fire Comey. . . . Regardless of the recommendation I was going to ?re Comey.?2 We believe these circumstances merit a thorough review, and we urge you to address this matter with the utmost urgency. We look forward to your review and a report on your ?ndings. Sincerely, PATRICK LEAHY DIANNE EINSTEIN United States Senator United States Senator I 2 investigation-n75782 l. The Honorable Michael Horowitz May I 1, 2017 Page 3 of 3 RICHARD J. DURBIN United States Senator OBUCHAR United States Senator 64,; Qt, CHRISTOPHER A. COONS United States Senator MAZIE K. HIRONO United States Senator SHELDON WHITEHOUSE United States Senator AL FRANKEN United States Senator RICHARD BLUMENTHAL United States Senator