The Note: Russia on Trump's Mind

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May 12, 2017

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Russia on Trump's Mind

ANALYSIS BY ABC'S RICK KLEIN

President Trump has shown no restraint in attacking and even slandering government officials and institutions – members of Congress, federal judges, portions of the intelligence community, and leaders of the FBI. But as he fills in blanks around the firing of James Comey, the president is now directly contradicting his own White House – up to and including the words of his own vice president, and the words spoken on behalf of the president himself. Revealing that the decision was Trump's alone is damaging enough to his White House's credibility, given the version of events put out in the first 36 hours since the surprise firing. Volunteering that the Russia investigation played a role in the president's thinking blows the lid off attempts to make the firing look appropriate; Trump just gave up the goose without so much as a chase. That piece of the story contributes to a road map that points the story toward Russia – a quickening FBI investigation where the FBI head is suddenly sacked, followed by pictures of smiling Russian officials in the Oval Office. And Trump goes even further, labeling Comey a "showboat" and a "grandstander" who – despite explicit statements to the contrary from the new interim head – lost the confidence of the agency he led. Trump is practically begging Comey to tell his side of the story. He may as well be pleading with those conducting investigations, both at the FBI and in Congress, to turn up their scrutiny of every element of this story.

TRUMP HAD RUSSIA ON HIS MIND WHEN HE DECIDED TO FIRE COMEY

President Donald Trump said Thursday he was thinking about the Russia investigation when he made the decision to fire FBI director James Comey, despite the official administration line that Comey's removal had nothing to do with it. Until Thursday evening, the White House had publicly denied that Trump was considering the handling of the investigation into his campaign's possible ties with Russia when he decided to fire Comey, writes ABC's RILEY BEGGIN. "When I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won,'" Trump said. http://abcn.ws/2r6f1lV

TRUMP PLANNED TO FIRE 'SHOWBOAT' COMEY REGARDLESS OF DOJ RECOMMENDATION

Two days after firing FBI Director James Comey, President Donald Trump offered a pointed evaluation of Comey's character and insisted that the determination was made before an evaluation of him by the Department of Justice. "Look, he's a showboat. He's a grandstander," said Trump in an interview with NBC's Lester Holt. "The FBI has been in turmoil. You know that. I know that. Everybody knows that." ABC's ADAM KELSEY and RILEY BEGGIN have more: http://abcn.ws/2q9aTlZ

ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS RELEASES NEW SENTENCING GUIDELINES

The Department of Justice is sending out a new "charging and sentencing policy" to all federal prosecutors, requiring them to pursue the "most serious, readily provable offense." Most "serious" crimes are determined by which offenses carry the longest sentences, according to the guidelines. Exceptions will only be allowed with approval from a supervisor, which takes some discretion away from prosecutors to charge a lesser offense. These changes will likely increase the number of people charged and the federal prison population, according to ABC's GENEVA SANDS.

TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE

President Donald Trump is slated to meet with National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn this morning and meet with Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly this afternoon. A White House spokesperson tells ABC News that Trump will not go to the FBI headquarters today. Press Secretary Sean Spicer is back behind the podium this afternoon for today's press briefing.