When FBI Director James Comey on Friday hurled a political bombshell about new emails that might (or might not) be relevant to the closed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private server, he changed the focus of the presidential campaign in the closing days.
When FBI Director James Comey on Friday hurled a political bombshell about new emails that might (or might not) be relevant to the closed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private server, he changed the focus of the presidential campaign in the closing days.
His action represents a dreadful mistake that does not serve the American public or the best interest of his agency.
His disclosure violates longstanding policy and puts the FBI in the unenviable position of being an active player in an election. The Department of Justice and its various divisions have a well-founded practice of not commenting on existing ongoing investigations. They don’t even acknowledge them — for good reason: To maintain public trust in the ability of the department to avoid political influence. To ensure a fair investigation. And, above all, to prevent investigations from unfairly or unintentionally casting public suspicion on public officials who have done nothing wrong.
That leads us to the next point: Comey’s 166-word statement was practically content-free. It contained nothing of substance that materially changes what we already know. Yet it casts suspicion on Clinton and her campaign even though Comey admits they might have done nothing wrong. Despite the eagerness of some Republicans to suggest otherwise, the investigation has not been reopened.
An FBI director has never made such a disclosure to Congress so close to an election. To justify a break in that tradition would require far more substantial information than Comey claims to have in his possession. If hard evidence turns up that a presidential candidate has violated the law, the FBI director could indeed be obliged to say so, disregarding tradition. But by Comey’s own admission, the bureau has yet to determine whether “this material may be significant.”
Comey can erase some of the damage by taking firm action to dispel the uncertainty created by his unwise decision to involve the FBI in the election. If the agency knows nothing, it should say so clearly and loudly.
— Miami Herald