FBI Director James B. Comey under fire for his controversial decision on the Clinton email inquiry
Source: Washington Post
This time the loudest criticism has come from Clinton and her supporters, who said Friday that Comey had provided too little information about the nature of the new line of investigation and allowed Republicans to seize political ground as a result. The inquiry focuses on Clinton emails found on a computer used by former congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), now under investigation for sending sexually explicit messages to a minor, and top Clinton aide Huma Abedin, who is Weiner’s wife. The couple have since separated.
“It is extraordinary that we would see something like this just 11 days out from a presidential election,” John Podesta, the chairman of Clinton’s presidential campaign, said in a statement. “The Director owes it to the American people to immediately provide the full details of what he is now examining. We are confident this will not produce any conclusions different from the one the FBI reached in July.”
Officials familiar with Comey’s thinking said the director on Thursday faced a quandary over how to proceed once the emails, which number more than 1,000 and may duplicate some of those already reviewed, were brought to his attention.
Comey had just been briefed by a team of investigators who were seeking access to the emails. The director knew he had to move quickly because the information could leak out.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-director-james-b-comey-under-fire-for-his-controversial-decision-on-the-clinton-email-inquiry/2016/10/28/fbad009c-9d57-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_comey-810pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Foggyhill
(1,060 posts)If he had said that those emails were on a device shared by huma and weiner and this was related to the weiner investigation this would not have exploded
GreydeeThos
(958 posts)Comey is a Republican first. His actions are career ending, but that is what Republicans do.
SunSeeker
(57,482 posts)
WIProgressive88
(314 posts)
mwrguy
(3,245 posts)Upin
(115 posts)
former9thward
(33,424 posts)FBI Directors are appointed to a 10 year term. Presidents can't remove them.
Arkansas Granny
(32,264 posts)that these are copies of emails that have already been investigated. If that is the case, I don't see why it was decided to reveal this info such a short time before the election, unless, of course, you want to do political damage and influence the election.
forthemiddle
(1,459 posts)It matters if they contained classified information, and were on yet another computer that Huma, whom I assume had the security clearance, and Anthony Wiener, who I assume didn't have clearance had in their home.
Maybe I am wrong, but its where the emails, were, not what the emails were about (assuming again, classified info).
LisaL
(47,345 posts)Nobody as far as I can tell.
Upin
(115 posts)It was there but there was no intent etc.. etc..
LisaL
(47,345 posts)Upin
(115 posts)You were talking about the new, or 'new but already investigated' e-mails.
LisaL
(47,345 posts)There is no information suggesting there was anything of any importance in these emails.
Upin
(115 posts)Other than the implication that whatever is there was enough to kick the whole thing off again.
The odds they will find anything more than what was found in the previous batches is extremely unlikely though.
LisaL
(47,345 posts)That's why is rumor and innuendo.
Upin
(115 posts)It was either that or keep it under wraps and have it come out later and look like a cover up.
LisaL
(47,345 posts)If he doesn't know anything about the significance of the emails, why is he sending letters to congress just days before the election?
Upin
(115 posts)... and he gets to frame the narrative instead of the FBI.
or...
He manages to keep a lid on it until Nov 6th and then the FBI gets accused of cover ups and favoratism.
The least shitty of three shitty choices.
LisaL
(47,345 posts)Unless you think FBI reports to Trump.
Upin
(115 posts)We heard for months and months and even more months every time there was a new batch of e-mails to be investigated and reviewed.
When a new batch pops up, keeping it close-hold until post election would speak to partisanship and favoritism. I suspect Comey is trying to rebuild a reputation of political neutrality after the shit storm he just thought he had left.
Maybe Trump finds out about it the way most people do. Friends, folks looking for a favor, reporters, a lapse in security etc.. etc...
Maybe you think that they shouldn't review this new batch in the first place? Then that comes out and it looks like partisanship again.
No matter what it would have come out eventually.
wordpix
(18,652 posts)got out via Wikileaks to begin with 
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Your allegations, while creative, are not supported by evidence.
Upin
(115 posts)That records were kept or that there was correspondence between the FBI and the investigating committes?
anneboleyn
(5,613 posts)is not the same as an official, vague-ass, maximum damage letter from the director of the FBI Comey sent to repubs in congress. The idea that the FBI had to wait or report the day after the election is a false choice. The FBI is supposed to wait until they know the emails actually matter. That might not happen until December or January or who knows.
Ka hrnt
(308 posts)Either say something and be slammed by Democrats (and mess with the election) or say nothing, have it leak, and be slammed by Republicans. I would say his screw-up was being too vague in the letter, allowing the right-wingers to take this as "re-opening" the investigation, when it's just going to amount to adding some pickles to the nothingburger.
LisaL
(47,345 posts)He doesn't even have the emails, for crying out loud.
Ka hrnt
(308 posts)LisaL
(47,345 posts)FBI handles numerous investigations into numerous people. Why was he afraid this one going to leak as opposed to all the others?
George II
(67,782 posts)Upin
(115 posts)Way back in the yonder days of earlier this summer...
yardwork
(68,938 posts)beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)obvious attempt at sabotaging the presidential election
groundloop
(13,561 posts)I agree that Comey shouldn't hold the position he does, not after his obvious political partisanship, but him getting fired right now would only add to the shit-storm. He certainly needs to be replaced by President Clinton at her earliest possible convenience, or even better, fired by President Obama after the election.
former9thward
(33,424 posts)FBI Directors are appointed to a 10 year term and can't be fired at the whim of a president.
anneboleyn
(5,613 posts)Unfortunately I don't think people know how malicious and potentially damaging this is -- the msm is talking on and on about Watergate, etc. Absolutely dreadful. Comey sending a vague letter ONE WEEK BEFORE A CLOSE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION is a pretty obvious abuse of power (imho)
former9thward
(33,424 posts)He was accused of misusing official funds. Not the case here.
wordpix
(18,652 posts)How about a woman this time?
Sand Rat Expat
(290 posts)As former9thward pointed out, FBI Directors serve a 10-year term. They can't just be summarily fired by the President, at least not without a compelling (i.e., they were found guilty of some crime) reason. If Comey decides to stick it out and weather the storm, he's in until 2023, a year before Hillary leaves office if she's re-elected in 2020.
Absent finding something that unequivocally shows wrongdoing by Comey, and then successfully prosecuting him for it, he's here to stay.
And how about the best person for the job, regardless of their gender? If Hillary's judgment is that the best person for the job is a woman, terrific. If she gets the opportunity to select a new director and decides to choose a man, who cares, as long as the person selected is the best person for the job?
riversedge
(79,285 posts)THE only thing I understand at this moment is that Comey is attempting to sabotage Hillary's election to the presidency!!
Daniel Dale @ddale8 9h9 hours ago
James Comey's explanation to FBI employees: "...there is significant risk of being misunderstood." https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/10/28/read-the-letter-comey-sent-to-fbi-employees-explaining-his-controversial-decision-on-the-clinton-email-investigation/?utm_term=.d288039e4744#comments …
LisaL
(47,345 posts)wordpix
(18,652 posts)and if Trumpty Dump wins, it will be largely on you, you POS. 
FreeStateDemocrat
(2,654 posts)Mitt Romney’s campaign in the 2012 presidential election and in has now made a major contribution to Rump's election!
safeinOhio
(36,913 posts)I would think this would open the door for the IRS or the President to open up and release trump's tax records. It too may be important and we won't know until we see them. While the director has broke with a policy that doesn't, or has never released information about an on going case, let's extend that to the IRS.
former9thward
(33,424 posts)It is illegal to release IRS tax returns. There is no law saying what the FBI can release in an investigation.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Upin
(115 posts)... imagine if/when it comes out weeks or months from now and it gives the appearance of a cover up.
This stuff always comes out.
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)HRC should laugh at any Republican name mentioned for a high ranking position in her cabinet.
LisaL
(47,345 posts)wanderingcat
(5 posts)This is a simple, if perhaps stupid or naive comment. Other servers have been illegally hacked, both government and others. Despite the political bs, none of Hillary's emails seem to endanger the security of the US.
dubyadiprecession
(7,304 posts)FreeStateDemocrat
(2,654 posts)Pressure was brought to bear to make him disclose unsubstantiated innuendo so pressure needs to be applied to make him be accountable to the American electorate for his politically partisan actions.
LisaL
(47,345 posts)dubyadiprecession
(7,304 posts)Should we make assumptions on that as well?
briv1016
(1,570 posts)He was following orders and now is the fall guy after it blew-up in there face. We should be trying follow this back the source. (RNC)
wordpix
(18,652 posts)moonscape
(5,635 posts)I don't see Comey as carrying water for Trump or the GOP.
My impression of Comey had been positive because of his courageous behavior when he went to Ashcroft's side. And I saw interviews with him a couple of times and was impressed. He has a reputation for ethics, and so it was alarming when he editorialized about Clinton's email issue at that press conference. And now this, which is unconscionable.
However, I don't see him as a guy lurking just to spring something like this, rather as someone so pressured behind the scenes that he compromised his integrity, and more importantly that of the FBI. He needs to go, but I don't see him as an evil man, just sadly, a weak one in the end.
anneboleyn
(5,613 posts)reason to "warn" about new emails one week before the election. The vague language allows republicans to run with the story and could easily lead to the election of a dangerously unstable, entirely inexperienced "candidate" who listens to no one but himself and has ties to Russia. That is precisely the reason that FBI folks are supposed to be silent about investigations until a determination is made. Comey's letter is an obvious curveball.
DeminPennswoods
(17,288 posts)I think the story is changing pretty quickly from Clinton to Comey.
I doubt this hurts her. Sure, it gives CNN, MSNBC and FoxNews something to yap about, but the regular press seems to be moving smartly away from "Clinton emails" to stories about Comey getting blasted from all quarters incl his own FBI staff, DoJ and other prosecutors.
Just a bit ago CNN host tried to fact check the Dem surrogate on about the email possibly involving Clinton and he turned it around on her saying she was right and that no one knows if the email do or don't involve her and that's Comey needs to provide all the details. The CNN host seemed a little taken aback before turning to whoever Trumper was on.