Despite conclusions that assert no political bias played a role in the Clinton email investigation, this week’s Inspector General report on the FBI’s handling of the case is rife with glaringly obvious examples to the contrary.
And Trey Gowdy is kind of ticked off about it.
The South Carolina Republican issued a statement indicating the “numerous failures by DOJ and FBI in investigating potential Espionage Act violations by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton” left him “alarmed, angered, and deeply disappointed.”
That’s pretty much in line with most of America.
“Questionable decision making by FBI and DOJ leadership,” he continued, “destroys confidence in the impartiality of the institutions I have long served, respected, and believed in.”
“This is not the FBI our country needs,” Gowdy concluded.
@TGowdySC: This report confirms investigative decisions made by the FBI during the pendency of this investigation were unprecedented and deviated from traditional investigative procedures in favor of a much more permissive and voluntary approach.
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) June 14, 2018
@TGowdySC: This is not the FBI our country needs. This is not the FBI citizens and suspects alike deserve. It is now urgently incumbent on Attorney General Sessions and Director Wray to take decisive action to restore Americans’ confidence in our justice system.
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) June 14, 2018
To recap, the IG report said to the American people – with a straight face – that there was no bias despite:
- FBI Director James Comey and FBI agents investigating Clinton’s use of private emails having themselves used private emails. (RELATED: Rep. DeSantis Puts Hillary In Her Place After She Mocks James Comey).
- Agents receiving free handouts from journalists in exchange for unauthorized media contact. (RELATED: IG Report: FBI Agents Regularly Received Free Handouts From Journalists).
- Agents referring to supporters of President Trump as “retarded.” (RELATED: FBI Agents Refer to Trump Supporters as ‘Retarded’).
- A lead investigator texting that “we’ll stop” Trump from winning the presidency. (RELATED: FBI Agent Peter Strzok Sent Message Vowing to Stop Trump Presidency).
- An FBI attorney declaring his support for Hillary Clinton by declaring “Viva le Resistance.” (RELATED: ‘Viva Le Resistance’: Mueller Team Attorney Sent Anti-Trump Texts).
Yea, no political bias there.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz concluded that there was no evidence that political bias “directly affected the specific investigative actions we reviewed,” though he confessed that “the conduct by these employees cast a cloud over the entire FBI investigation.”
Gowdy is incensed at that conduct.
Rep. @TGowdySC: “It doesn’t matter what Mueller comes up with, some people are going to believe because [FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok’s] level of animus was so high, that you can’t remove the taint.” #SpecialReport https://t.co/jzIMFufscP pic.twitter.com/17JWQKx8gj
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 14, 2018
Gowdy added that the release of the report marked “a dark day… for the FBI and DOJ,” calling on Sessions and Wray to restore America’s faith in the institutions that were once held in such high regard.
