DOJ IG: Comey Violated FBI Policies In How He Handled Infamous Trump Memos

TPM ^ | Agust 29,2019 | By Josh Kovensky and Tierney Sneed

[Hojczyk]

Former FBI Director Jim Comey violated bureau rules and procedures in his handling of certain memos he drafted after his May 2017 firing, the Justice Department Inspector General said in a report released on Thursday.

The report said that both the memo he had handed over to a friend to be leaked to the press, as well as memos Comey shared with his attorneys, were improperly transmitted without seeking authorization from the FBI.

However, the Inspector General’s investigation found no evidence that “Comey or his attorneys released any of the classified information contained in any of the memos to members of the media.”

In the report, Inspector General Michael Horowitz said the violations came regardless of the memos’ classification levels because Comey failed to release the memos to the FBI after he was fired and failed to ask permission to retain them instead.

Comey tweeted a response after the report’s release, saying that he didn’t “need a public apology from those who defamed me, but a quick message with a ‘sorry we lied about you’ would be nice.”

James Comey ✔ @Comey DOJ IG "found no evidence that Comey or his attorneys released any of the classified information contained in any of the memos to members of the media." I don’t need a public apology from those who defamed me, but a quick message with a “sorry we lied about you” would be nice.

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The Inspector General also knocked Comey for not informing the FBI that he had shared a memo with his attorneys when the FBI informed him that parts of the memo were being retroactively classified.

[Will88]

Maybe DOJ declined because Comey will be charged in something even worse!!!!!

People keep saying that, but there have been uncountable cases where people were charged with a long list of crimes they committed. No just charging with the biggest and most serious crime.

Why doesn't Barr just file it all away until all the investigations are complete? Why does he have to say he won't file charges with every individual batch of evidence that is released?

I wonder what Joe Digenova will say about this one? He's sticking his neck out defending Barr.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Just mind-boggling circular reasoning.

So, because Comey violated policy by not turning over the memos or asking to keep them, he skates.

So if I don’t pay my taxes but don’t ask the government if I have to, I skate too? Right?

If I drive without a license and violate all the speed laws, I skate too, because I didn’t ask the DMV for permission to drive illegally or speed? Right?

This has to be the most tortured logic I’ve seen lately. It is bad enough when people skated for committing crimes “without intent”. Now you have to get permission to break the law, or you are not guilty of breaking the law.

FU-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U-U!!!!!!!!!!!1

[FreeReign]

I can’t get too mad at Barr. It was shortly after he took over that Mueller ended his investigation, which Sessions permitted to continue indefinitely. Barr also refused to prosecute the phony obstruction case that Mueller was trying to push.

It's as if there was a deal made.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Is there any downside to violating “procedures?” If not, why have them in the first place?

[Cen-Tejas]

Expounding on your post, yes we all know that DOJ/FBI took a stumble. I laugh every time either are mentioned. And the only hope those two agencies ever have to regain some respect from the American people is to prosecute and imprison some of their own past and present agents. And, please don’t tell me that there is no evidence for prosecuting Comey.