McCaskill: Rosenstein Knew Comey's Fate Before Writing Memo

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein knew President Donald Trump was going to fire FBI Director James Comey before he wrote a memo that criticized him, a Democratic lawmaker said Thursday.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., spoke to reporters after attending a meeting with Rosenstein on Capitol Hill.

"He did acknowledge that he learned that Comey would be removed prior to him writing his memo," McCaskill said.

When asked to confirm what she had just said, McCaskill repeated: "He knew that Comey was going to be removed prior to him writing his memo."

The news is significant because the White House initially said Trump fired Comey after reading Rosenstein's recommendation. Trump, however, later claimed he had been thinking about sending Comey his walking papers for several months.

Comey's dismissal has rippled through Washington, with some suggesting Trump fired him over the FBI's probe of whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia.

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