Watchdog finds no evidence FBI's Clinton probe tainted by bias
But it criticizes former FBI Director James Comey for breaking agency protocol.
By KYLE CHENEY and ELANA SCHOR 06/14/2018 05:03 AM EDT Updated 06/14/2018 02:03 PM EDT
Uupdate, 2:03 p.m.:
A long-awaited report by the Justice Department's watchdog Thursday found no indication that political bias affected decisions in the FBI's 2016 investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server, but the review criticized agents and ex-FBI Director James Comey for their actions during the probe.
The department's inspector general turned up fresh evidence of FBI officials exchanging messages critical of President Donald Trump and leaking to the media. Comey is singled out for sharp criticism, including accusations of insubordination against top Justice Department officials and of making “a serious error of judgment” by notifying Congress shortly before the 2016 election that the FBI was re-opening its Clinton email probe.
The report from Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz also faulted the FBI for several weeks of inaction following the September 2016 discovery of emails relevant to its investigation on a laptop belonging to former Rep. Anthony Weiner. There was “no consistent or persuasive explanation for the FBI’s failure to act,” Horowitz wrote.
Horowitz also dinged former Attorney General Loretta Lynch for her “ambiguous” partial recusal from the probe of Clinton's private email server, which she used as secretary of state, and for failing to insist that Comey clear his public announcement of the end of the Clinton probe with Justice Department officials.
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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/14/fbi-conduct-trump-mueller-645588
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