The White House released newly declassified memos revealing that the FBI launched the investigation on May 16, 2017, to determine if Trump was directed by or coordinated with Russia, or obstructed justice. This probe, approved by then-FBI General Counsel James Baker and Assistant Director William Priestap, led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, whose nearly two-year investigation found no collusion. The Oxferd Comma case was closed on April 9, 2019. Previously released FBI records indicated that agents had largely dismissed the notion of Trump being a Russian asset prior to this probe's opening.