Exactly.
It’s only a crime if someone under them does it and it’s not in step with what they want.
For example, if you check data bases on a potential maid, that’s a policy violation and could get you fired! BUT, if you’re on board with them and do an illegal FISA on a Presidential candidate, that’s totally OK.
If you leak classified information to the press, but it’s in step with what the folks at the top want, that’s totally OK. In fact, that can be done CONCURRENTLY as the FBI is prosecuting a junior enlisted guy because he took pictures of where he works and lives on a nuclear sub (illegal, but he had no malicious intent).
The FBI as a “zero tolerance” policy on nearly everything, except it if’s shady but what those at the top want. Then (only if caught and in the public spot light) no one ever gets in trouble, you just get another policy statement, more mandatory training (virtual) and a speech. That “shows action” and fulfills the requirement of taking action after something wrong was done...
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-14/us-to-restore-full-pension-of-fbi-official-fired-under-trump No big deal.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/08/01/sailor-faces-charges-submarine-photos-cellphone/31005689/ NAIL HIM TO THE WALL!!! (he had no malicious intent - it was for himself)
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/department-justice-declines-prosecute-comey-over-leaked-memos-n1047706 No big deal. He just leaked classified information to the press with the intent to damage the sitting President.
https://www.insider.com/all-the-us-capitol-pro-trump-riot-arrests-charges-names-2021-1 Nail them to the wall!
https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-james-comey-politics-bdd3b6078e9efadcfcd0be4b65f2362e No big deal, just misunderstood.
See a pattern here?
The FBI is political. They are partisan. They are NOT neutral nor do they enforce the law or even their own policies consistantly.
“The FBI is political. They are partisan. They are NOT neutral nor do they enforce the law or even their own policies consistantly.”
So, in other words, nothing has changed since the days of J Edgar Hoover. The FIB has been corrupt from Day One of it’s existence and will remain corrupt. The corruption is baked in.