Months after probing Clinton server scandal, Comey's FBI had its own private email issue, memos say

Just the News ^ | August 26, 2025 | Steven Richards & John Solomon

[Twotone]

Months after he refused to charge Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election for using a private, unauthorized server to transmit classified information, then-FBI Director James Comey's inner circle used personal email accounts to further a plan to make an "unauthorized disclosure" to journalists, newly declassified memos reveal.

When investigators in a criminal probe codenamed "TROPIC VORTEX" sought permission in 2019 to gain access to those private emails, federal prosecutors turned them down, according to the memos recently uncovered by current FBI Director Kash Patel and declassified for release to Congress by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington DC "issued a prosecutorial declination decision for TROPIC VORTEX," the FBI memo shutting down the probe stated.

The memos are the latest evidence that FBI agents on the front lines had serious concerns about illegal leaks and abuses of classified information allegedly involving major figures in Washington like Comey, now Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Clinton. The efforts at investigating were repeatedly thwarted.

[Thank You Rush]

I wish someone would would make up their mind...the story involving Clinton has referred to her work on a “private server” and others as “private emails.” This refers to Comey’s work as “private emails.” I’m inclined to believe Clinton’s WAS also private emails and never a server.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

This story is the tip of the iceberg. Government officials probably do this all the time on a number of issues where they want to leak to the press without it being documented in government email storage (which can’t be deleted).

[FrankRizzo890]

The story at the time had it that she had a server in the bathroom of the house in NY.

[MCSETots]

Good question. Don’t know about Comey, but Clinton used “clintonemail.com” which was traced (via the IP address, I believe) to an actual server computer located in the Clinton mansion. So it was an actual “private email server.” Additionally, after getting the SOS position, she had her IT from the Clinton Foundation (as opposed to an authorized government IT guy) set up a computer in her SOS office which bypassed the government security and was used transfer data (including classified) outside the State Department. The act of setting up that separate computer showed a clear intent to commit the crimes that were alleged.

A lot of the people involved with the various scandals used gmail, yahoo and other “non-secure” (or technically “unsecure”) private email ACCOUNTS to avoid discovery of their activities.

[BeauBo]

In Hillary Clinton’s case, there was an actual physical private email server.

It is not hard to do. You can install common email server software (like Microsoft Exchange) on a typical personal computer or laptop, and then just leave it powered on and connected to the Internet. If it is only going to handle a low volume of emails, there is no need for special hardware.

The advantage to criminal conspirators is that the server can have a backup copy of the emails (evidence), that you can keep in your possession, for quick destruction if things get hot.

[Liz]

Newly declassified memos reveal:
<><>months after Comey refused to charge Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election for using a private, unauthorize d server to transmit classified information,
<><>then-FBI Director James Comey’s inner circle used personal email accounts to further a plan to make an “unauthorized disclosure” to journalists.