Changes

The fix was in for Hillary Clinton from the gitgo. The very codename selected for the "matter" - Midyear Exam - suggests the collegial atmosphere of the exercise pointing to final graduation and promotion - Hillary Clinton's election as president. From its origins Deputy Attorney General [[Sally Yates]] and FBI Director Jimmy Comey treated the "matter" as "time sensitive,"<ref>Horowitz Report, pp. 52, 167.</ref> i.e. working under a deadline to clear Hillary Clinton before the 2016 Democratic Nominating Convention.<ref>Horowitz Report, pp. 170-171, 174.</ref><ref>A predetermined endgame differs from a typical "open-end" [[criminal]], [[counterintelligence]], or Special Counsel investigation that sometimes becomes a fishing expedition beyond the original scope or mandate, such as the [[Whitewater]] real estate investigation leading to charges of [[sexual harassment]], [[perjury]], and [[impeachment]], the [[Trump-Russia scam]], or the break-in to Trump attorney [[Michael Cohen]]'s office.</ref>

The fix was in for Hillary Clinton from the gitgo. The very codename selected for the "matter" - Midyear Exam - suggests the collegial atmosphere of the exercise pointing to final graduation and promotion - Hillary Clinton's election as president. From its origins Deputy Attorney General [[Sally Yates]] and FBI Director Jimmy Comey treated the "matter" as "time sensitive,"<ref>Horowitz Report, pp. 52, 167.</ref> i.e. working under a deadline to clear Hillary Clinton before the 2016 Democratic Nominating Convention.<ref>Horowitz Report, pp. 170-171, 174.</ref><ref>A predetermined endgame differs from a typical "open-end" [[criminal]], [[counterintelligence]], or Special Counsel investigation that sometimes becomes a fishing expedition beyond the original scope or mandate, such as the [[Whitewater]] real estate investigation leading to charges of [[sexual harassment]], [[perjury]], and [[impeachment]], the [[Trump-Russia scam]], or the break-in to Trump attorney [[Michael Cohen]]'s office.</ref>

On September 28, 2015, [[Loretta Lynch]], [[Matthew Axelrod]], and [[George Toscas]] met with Jimmmy Comey, [[James Rybicki]], and then FBI Deputy Director Giuliano to coordinate what to say in media and congressional appearances.<ref>Horowitz Report, p. 60.</ref> Lynch instructed Comey not to refer to it as an "investigation," but rather as a "matter," reflecting [[Hillary for America|Clinton campaign]] talking points. Toscas said to Comey, "I guess you're the Federal Bureau of Matters now,"<ref>Matt Apuzzo et al., ''In Trying to Avoid Politics, Comey Shaped an Election'', N.Y. TIMES, Apr. 23, 2017.</ref> provoking laughter around the room.

On September 28, 2015, [[Loretta Lynch]], [[Matthew Axelrod]], and [[George Toscas]] met with Jimmy Comey, [[James Rybicki]], and then FBI Deputy Director Giuliano to coordinate what to say in media and congressional appearances.<ref>Horowitz Report, p. 60.</ref> Lynch instructed Comey not to refer to it as an "investigation," but rather as a "matter," reflecting [[Hillary for America|Clinton campaign]] talking points. Toscas said to Comey, "I guess you're the Federal Bureau of Matters now,"<ref>Matt Apuzzo et al., ''In Trying to Avoid Politics, Comey Shaped an Election'', N.Y. TIMES, Apr. 23, 2017.</ref> provoking laughter around the room.

Two weeks later [[Obama]] intervened on behalf of Clinton on ''60 Minutes''. The OIG found that some people in the DOJ and FBI became suspicious of political bias because of Obama's comments.<ref>Horowitz Report, p. 66.</ref> Calls for a Special Counsel to take over mounted.<ref>Horowitz Report, p.  175 fn 131.</ref> Comey told the OIG that he never considered a Special Counsel after Lynch’s instruction to use the term "matter," or  President Obama’s public comments and intervention in the investigation.

Two weeks later [[Obama]] intervened on behalf of Clinton on ''60 Minutes''. The OIG found that some people in the DOJ and FBI became suspicious of political bias because of Obama's comments.<ref>Horowitz Report, p. 66.</ref> Calls for a Special Counsel to take over mounted.<ref>Horowitz Report, p.  175 fn 131.</ref> Comey told the OIG that he never considered a Special Counsel after Lynch’s instruction to use the term "matter," or  President Obama’s public comments and intervention in the investigation.