Changes

===James Comey===

===James Comey===

FBI investigator Peter Strzok and Dir. James Comey conspired to obstruct justice. Strzok suggested reducing Comey's finding of [[felon]]ious gross negligence against Hillary Clinton with the obsequious characterization of extremely careless.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/04/politics/peter-strzok-james-comey/index.html </ref> On July 5, 2016 Comey publicly stated that Sec. Clinton and staff were “extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information," and "there is evidence of potential violations of the [[statute]]s regarding the handling of classified information…There is [[evidence]] to support a conclusion that any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton’s position, or in the position of those with whom she was corresponding about the matters, should have known that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation." Comey referred the matter to the Justice Dept. for a prosecutorial decision. In the absence of prosecution, security or administrative sanctions are the norm.<ref>[https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clinton2019s-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system Statement by Director James Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Use of a Personal E-Mail System] (July i5, 2015).</ref> Comey's decision to by-pass DoJ rules and take matters into his own hands may have been part of a counterintelligence ooeration.<ref>https://www.wsj.com/articles/james-comey-is-maxwell-smart-1501022653?mod=e2fb</ref> Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein wrote in a performance review of Comey's behavior,  

FBI director James Comey decided well in advance before the investigation was complete and after he determined Sec. Clinton had committed felonies, not to recommend prosecution. His recommendation came on the heals of President Obama's high profile intervention in the case. Comey perjured himself on numerous occasions about what, when, and why he made the recommendation nit to prosecute Clinton.

 

Comey and Strzok conspired together to obstruct justice. Strzok suggested reducing Comey's finding of [[felon]]ious gross negligence against Hillary Clinton with the obsequious characterization of extremely careless.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/04/politics/peter-strzok-james-comey/index.html </ref> On July 5, 2016 Comey publicly stated that Sec. Clinton and staff were “extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information," and "there is evidence of potential violations of the [[statute]]s regarding the handling of classified information…There is [[evidence]] to support a conclusion that any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton’s position, or in the position of those with whom she was corresponding about the matters, should have known that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation." Comey referred the matter to the Justice Dept. for a prosecutorial decision. In the absence of prosecution, security or administrative sanctions are the norm.<ref>[https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clinton2019s-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system Statement by Director James Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Use of a Personal E-Mail System] (July i5, 2015).</ref> Comey's decision to by-pass DoJ rules and take matters into his own hands may have been part of a counterintelligence ooeration.<ref>https://www.wsj.com/articles/james-comey-is-maxwell-smart-1501022653?mod=e2fb</ref> Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein wrote in a performance review of Comey's behavior,  

{{Quotebox|"The director was wrong to usurp the Attorney General's authority on July 5, 2016, and announce his conclusion that the case should be closed without prosecution.

{{Quotebox|"The director was wrong to usurp the Attorney General's authority on July 5, 2016, and announce his conclusion that the case should be closed without prosecution.

It is not the function of the Director to make such an announcement. At most, the Director should have said the FBI had completed its investigation and presented its findings to federal prosecutors. The Director now defends his decision by asserting that he believed attorney General Loretta Lynch had a conflict. But the FBI Director is never empowered to supplant federal prosecutors and assume command of the Justice Department. There is a well-established process for other officials to step in when a conflict requires the recusal of the Attorney General. On July 5, however, the Director announced his own conclusions about the nation's most sensitive criminal investigation, without the authorization of duly appointed Justice Department leaders.

It is not the function of the Director to make such an announcement. At most, the Director should have said the FBI had completed its investigation and presented its findings to federal prosecutors. The Director now defends his decision by asserting that he believed attorney General Loretta Lynch had a conflict. But the FBI Director is never empowered to supplant federal prosecutors and assume command of the Justice Department. There is a well-established process for other officials to step in when a conflict requires the recusal of the Attorney General. On July 5, however, the Director announced his own conclusions about the nation's most sensitive criminal investigation, without the authorization of duly appointed Justice Department leaders.