Federal Bureau of Investigation accused of ‘double standard’ over Hillary Clinton email probe

Pressed by Chaffetz Thursday on whether Clinton lied, FBI Director James Comey said during a hearing that he had not reviewed Clinton’s testimony because it had not been referred to him by Congress. Chaffetz assured Comey he would soon get a referral.

The FBI advised earlier in the week that no charges be brought over Clinton’s use of a private email account and homebrew server during her time as secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, a recommendation that the Justice Department then followed.

Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued a veiled threat to Comey: “If it wants to avoid giving the impression that the FBI was pulling punches”, he said, “the agency must now be more transparent than ever in releasing information gathered during its investigation”, presumably so that he and other Republicans can transfigure new details into fresh “proof” of criminality.

Fortunately for Hillary Clinton, it seems her Republican opponent for the presidency will be Donald Trump, which likely means the GOP will get another four to eight years to pursue their white whale.

“Sure, I have concerns, and I’m sure that she has her own concerns”. “I am certainly relieved and glad that the investigation has concluded”.

But Clinton should expect some political fallout from the FBI investigation of her use of personal email.

Republican critics had pounced on that revelation as evidence that Clinton lied when she insisted she never sent or received emails marked classified. I am not impressed with Comey’s point that there was but one gross negligrnce prosecution under the statute since 1917, but at least I can understand that Comey thought he was upholding the Constitution by opposing prosecution What I don’t understand is why no one said this to Comey: I understand that you believe that Clinton could not be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, because you believe prosecutors should read intent into the statute.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the GOP-led committee that investigated the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, said lawmakers mighy seek a federal investigation into whether Clinton lied to the committee in testimony past year.

FBI Director James Comey has heard the comparisons between Hillary Clinton and Gen. David Petraeus, and he’s not having it anymore.

Clinton is just the latest in a string of very senior officials investigated for mishandling national security secrets or turning them into after-hours homework.

“I do not think they were careless”, she said.

Clinton and the State Department have said those privately managed emails did not contain any information that was classified at the time they were sent. Her server was so poorly secured the Federal Bureau of Investigation could not eliminate the possibility it had not been hacked by the country’s enemies, Comey said.

A Democratic member of the committee, Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland, defended Mr Comey’s actions by saying: “I firmly believe your decision was based on conviction, not convenience”.

Mr Comey, a Republican who was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama and also served in the administration of former Republican President George W Bush, has built a reputation as a straight shooter who does not bend to pressure from either party.

“Despite the partisan motivations of this hearing, we are glad it took place and that Director Comey had the opportunity to expand upon his remarks from earlier this week”, campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said in a statement.