Democracy Dies in Darkness

Trump walks back his plan to declassify Russia probe documents

September 21, 2018 at 11:35 a.m. EDT
President Trump pulled back on the declassification order he issued at the start of the week. (Alex Brandon/AP)

President Trump on Friday walked back his order earlier this week to declassify information in the ongoing probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, saying Justice Department officials and others had persuaded him not to do so for the time being.

The retreat from his declassification decree issued just four days ago underscores the ongoing tensions between the White House and the Justice Department over the probe by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is examining whether any Trump associates may have conspired with the Kremlin to interfere in the election.