Some say that James Comey did a favor for Hillary Clinton by announcing that the FBI would re-open the Clinton email investigation. They say that the disclosure will defeat any post election claims that the election was rigged. Maybe, but speculative. The announcement had a far more serious and detrimental impact on current presidential politics.
@
Mr. Comey’s job was to determine whether criminal intent was present when Mrs. Clinton decided to use her private server for State Department communications. When the FBI director concluded his initial investigation in July, he announced that he recommended that no criminal charges be brought against Secretary Clinton. But he chose not to stop there. Rather than adhering to his job description, or leaving the announcement to Justice, Mr. Comey used the occasion of announcing the results of the investigation into intent (a simple “no” would have done) to make a blistering attack on Mrs. Clinton for being careless with confidential information. The commentary was unnecessary. Rather than simply announce his decision, Mr. Comey used his pulpit to disparage Mrs. Clinton during her presidential campaign.
Then came an investigation of Andrew Weiner. Obtaining a warrant to examine the computers of both former Congressman Weiner as well as his wife, Huma Abedin, Comey announced the discovery of recently found emails involving Clinton aide Ms. Abedin. This he said, might reopen the investigation of Mrs. Clinton. It was always unlikely that these emails will establish any intent that was not uncovered in the original investigation. Indeed, Mr. Comey conceded that many of the emails could be duplicates of those already reviewed by the FBI.
Mr. Comey has been criticized by the President, as well as Justice, for not only discussing an ongoing investigation but for interfering with the presidential election. His letter to Congress disclosing the recent discovery was out of protocol and unnecessary. At least one senator has suggested that Mr. Comey will appear before Congress during a senate investigation.
Late on Sunday, Mr. Comey announced there was no evidence of criminal intent uncovered as a result of the newly discovered emails. If this announcement was intended to act as damage control, it will benefit only Mr. Comey, in both keeping his job and fending off congressional investigators.
As one source reports:
“Prior to his (Comey’s) Oct. 28 announcement, Clinton had opened a significant lead over Republican Donald Trump in most public polling following a string of strong debate performances. But the polls tightened considerably as Clinton’s email practices once again took center stage.”
The consequence of Mr. Comey’s announcement nine days ago already interfered with the election process. The nation’s attention shifted from Trump’s shameful videotaped comments about women back to Clinton and her emails for the duration of the campaign.
There is a remedy. Undo the bias. Vote!
