498 See Volume II, Section II.K.1, infra. 499 See Volume I, Section III.D.1, supra. 500 In addition to whether the President had a motive related to Russia-related matters that an FBI investigation could uncover, we considered whether the President’s intent in firing Comey was connected to other conduct that could come to light as a result of the FBI’s Russian-interference investigation. In particular, Michael Cohen was a potential subject of investigation because of his pursuit of the Trump Tower Moscow project and involvement in other activities. And facts uncovered in the Russia investigation, which our Office referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, ultimately led to the conviction of Cohen in the Southern District of New York for campaign-finance offenses related to payments he said he made at the direction of the President. See Volume II, Section II.K.5, infra. The investigation, however, did not establish that when the President fired Comey, he was considering the possibility that the FBI’s investigation would uncover these payments or that the President’s intent in firing Comey was otherwise connected to a concern about these matters coming to light. 501 Office of the Deputy Attorney General, Order No. 3915-2017, Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Russian Interference with the 2016 Presidential Election and Related Matters (May 17, 2017). 502 Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 13; Hunt 2/l/18 302, at 18; McGahn 12/14/17 302, at 4; Hunt-000039 (Hunt 5/17/17 Notes). 503 Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 13; Hunt 2/1/18 302, at 18; McGahn 12/14/17 302, at 4; Hunt-000039 (Hunt 5/17/17 Notes). 504 Hunt-000039 (Hunt 5/17/17 Notes). 505 Hunt-000039 (Hunt 5/17/17 Notes); Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 13- 14. 506 Hunt-000040; see Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 14. 507 Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 14. 508 Hunt-000040 (Hunt 5/17/17 Notes); see Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 14. Early the next morning, the President tweeted, “This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!” @realDonaldTrump 5/18/17 (7:52 a.m. ET) Tweet. 509 Hunt-000041 (Hunt 5/17/17 Notes); Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 14. 510 Hunt-000041 (Hunt 5/17/17 Notes); Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 14. 511 Hicks 12/8/17 302, at 21. 512 Hicks 12/8/17 302, at 21. The Access Hollywood tape was released on October 7, 2016, as discussed in Volume I, Section III.D.1, supra. 513 McGahn 12/14/17 302, at 9; SCR015_000175-82 (Undated Draft Memoranda to White House Staff).