“Put the Russia stuff in the memo.”1719 Rosenstein responded that the Russia investigation was not the basis of his recommendation, so he did not think Russia should be mentioned.1720 The President told Rosenstein he would appreciate it if Rosenstein put it in his letter anyway.1721 When Rosenstein left the meeting, he knew that Comey would be terminated, and he told DOJ colleagues that his own reasons for replacing Comey were “not [the President’s] reasons.”1722
