Trump Signs Memorandum to Declassify Documents on Russian Interference in US Election

US President Donald Trump ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation to declassify documents related to the investigation of potential ties between his 2016 election campaign and Russia, Fox News and The Hill reported on March 25.

The signed memorandum calls for the declassification of “all files related to Crossfire Hurricane investigation,” White House staff secretary Will Scharf said.

“We believe that it’s long past time for the American people to have a full and complete understanding of what exactly is in those files,” Scharf added.

On July 31, 2016, the FBI launched a counterintelligence investigation to determine whether Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate, or members of his campaign were colluding or coordinating with Russia to influence the 2016 election. This investigation was internally known within the FBI as “Crossfire Hurricane.”

“You probably won’t bother because you’re not going to like what you see,” Trump said while signing the memo. “But this was total weaponization. It’s a disgrace. It should have never happened in this country. But now you’ll be able to see for yourselves. All declassified.”

According to The Hill, in 2019, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who led the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, submitted a report acknowledging Russia’s interference. However, the report did not provide evidence linking Donald Trump or his campaign team to the interference.

On March 25, Trump stated that his administration is currently assessing the conditions outlined by the Kremlin for the implementation of a Black Sea agreement.