GOP Reacts After IG Horowitz Declares Comey Violated FBI Policy: ‘[He] Is A Proven Liar & Leaker’

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Posted By: Lindsey Michelle August 29, 2019

President Trump and Republicans reacted on Thursday after the release of a highly anticipated report by the Justice Department’s inspector general of former FBI Director James Comey and his handling of memos documenting private conversations with the president.

The IG report states that Comey “violated standard procedures” during his time in the Trump administration; stating he set a “dangerous example” after leaking.

The Justice Department’s internal watchdog, Michael Horowitz, found the former FBI Director, who as Director, is held to the highest standards because he sets the example, “violated FBI rules,” his FBI employment agreement, and more specifically he took matters into his own hands to achieve a personal outcome. The Inspector General said that’s the appointment of the special counsel when he had other options that didn’t violate policy.

The report reads in part, “We have previously faulted Comey for acting unilaterally and inconsistent with department policy… What was not permitted was the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive investigative information, obtained during the course of FBI employment, in order to achieve a personally desired outcome.”

The IG’s report documented “numerous violations” by the former FBI director, including giving one memo, #4, which contained unclassified information to a friend, with instructions to share the contents with a reporter, and failed to notify the FBI after he was dismissed in May 2017 that he had retained some of the memos in a safe at his home.

The IG report states: “On May 14, 2017, Comey used his personal scanner and private email account to provide electronic copies of Memos 2, 4, 6, and 7 to one of his personal attorneys. Three days later on May 17, that attorney provided, via a personal email account, copies of these four Memos to two other attorneys, who were also part of Comey’s legal team.” (Continued Below)

President Trump ripped Comey on Twiter writing: “Perhaps never in the history of our Country has someone been more thoroughly disgraced and excoriated than James Comey in the just released Inspector General’s Report. He should be ashamed of himself!”

The White released a scathing statement and began by asserting that “James Comey is a proven liar and leaker.”

“The Inspector General’s report shows Comey violated the most basic obligations of confidentiality that he owed to the United States Government and to the American people, “in order to achieve a personally desired outcome.” Because Comey shamefully leaked information to the press—in blatant violation of FBI policies—the Nation was forced to endure the baseless politically motivated, two-year witch hunt.  Comey disgraced himself and his office to further a personal political agenda, and this report further confirms that fact,” the statement read. (Continued Below)

President Trump’s official tweet:

The official statement from the White House:

 

Senate Judiciary Chairman, Lindsey Graham (R-SC), responded and tweeted, “The Inspector General’s report is a stunning and unprecedented rebuke of a former Director of the FBI. This is the first of what I expect will be several more ugly and damning rebukes of senior DOJ and FBI officials regarding their actions and biases toward the Trump campaign of 2016.”

He added, “I appreciate the time and effort Mr. Horowitz and his team spent documenting the off-the-rails behavior of Mr. Comey regarding the leaking of law enforcement materials to the media. I also appreciate Mr. Horowitz for reinforcing the proper standards expected of senior DOJ and FBI officials. Well done Mr. Horowitz.”

Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Doug Collins (R-GA), suggested the IG report’s findings are evidence that there needs to be further inquiry into the origins of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election that was spearheaded by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Comey’s leaked memos, which among other things indicated Trump was pressuring him to ease off an investigation into former adviser Michael Flynn, helped spur Mueller’s appointment.

Collins stated, “Today’s IG report confirms James Comey violated the FBI’s own standards and was dishonest about how he handled classified material. It’s time to restore Americans’ confidence that federal law enforcement is committed to justice and free from political gamesmanship.”

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Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) tweeted, “Now we know why Comey didn’t want to prosecute Clinton—he didn’t see a problem mishandling sensitive information. After clearing her, he did it too! Comey, like Clinton, thinks he’s above the law.”

“Comey failed to live up to this responsibility. By not safeguarding sensitive information… and by using it to create public pressure for official action, Comey set a dangerous example for the over 35k current FBI employees—and the many thousands more former FBI employees,” Jordan added.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-OH), wrote, “The IG Report on Director Comey is out: “We conclude that Comey’s retention, handling, and dissemination of certain Memos violated Department and FBI policies, and his FBI Employment Agreement” It says he ‘set a dangerous example for the over 35,000 current FBI employees’ Wow”.

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“Regarding the IG report, what’s perhaps most rich: James Comey constantly described himself as acting in favor of a thorough process and transparency—even as he routinely hid information from President Trump about the dossier’s shoddy credibility and Clinton paid-for origins,” Meadows continued.

What’s most striking about this IG report on James Comey: his actions weren’t the result of carelessness or an oversight of rules. This was deliberate and intentional. He broke FBI protocol, knowing what he was doing. And it seems he did so for the purpose of targeting Trump,” Meadows added.

Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) responded to Comey and wrote, “The responsibility to protect sensitive law enforcement information falls in large part to the employees of the FBI… Former Director Comey FAILED to live up to this responsibility.” -Inspector General Report”

Gaetz added, “Hey @Comey, the facts are in: “Comey failed to live up to this responsibility” “Comey set a dangerous example for…current FBI employees” “We conclude that Comey’s retention, handling, and dissemination of certain Memos violated Department and FBI policies” -IG Report

One section of the report that drew considerable criticism from Republicans was former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s assertion that Comey only shared the information about his conversations with Trump with a “very, very small group” of close advisers.

“A ‘very, very small group’ is usually how coups work,” GOP national spokesperson Elizabeth Harrington tweeted.

(Related: In Response To IG’s Findings, Comey Says He Didn’t Leak; Herridge Proves Otherwise: ‘Horowitz Found That Comey Is A Leaker’)