The Justice Department Inspector General has launched a review of the actions of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Department of Justice leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
The review will include FBI Director James Comey's news conference in July and his two letters to the Hill in late October and early November.
Before the Nov. 8 election, Comey sent a letter to lawmakers that said the FBI discovered new emails related to Clinton.
They were found as part of an on-going probe of disgraced former New York congressman Anthony Weiner.
The FBI later said it would not change its conclusion.
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz announced today that:
In response to requests from numerous Chairmen and Ranking Members of Congressional oversight committees, various organizations, and members of the public, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will initiate a review of allegations regarding certain actions by the Department of Justice (Department) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in advance of the 2016 election.
Cognizant of the scope of the OIG's jurisdiction under Section 8E of the Inspector General Act, the review will examine the following issues:
- Allegations that Department or FBI policies or procedures were not followed in connection with, or in actions leading up to or related to, the FBI Director's public announcement on July 5, 2016, and the Director's letters to Congress on October 28 and November 6, 201, and that certain underlying investigative decisions were based on improper considerations;
- Allegations the FBI Deputy Director should have been recused from participating in certain investigative matters;
- Allegations that the Department's Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs improperly disclosed non-public information to the Clinton campaign and/or should have been recused from participating in certain matters;
- Allegations that Department and FBI employees improperly disclosed non-public information; and
- Allegations that decisions regarding the timing of the FBI's release of certain Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents on October 30 and November 1, 2016, and the use of a Twitter account to publicize same, were influenced by improper considerations.
The review will not substitute the OIG's judgment for the judgments made by the FBI or the Department regarding the substantive merits of investigative or prosecutive decisions.
Finally, if circumstances warrant, the OIG will consider including other issues that may arise during the course of the review.
Is this the final action of a desperate-to-maintain-his-legacy Obama administration to ensure this topic never goes away and that blame for Hillary's loss is placed anywhere but on her and her campaign.
The White House has - obviously - denied any involvement in the decision:
- *EARNEST SAYS W.H. NOT INVOLVED IN JUSTICE DEPT AUDITOR DECISION
- *EARNEST SAYS INSPECTOR GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS 'INDEPENDENT'