IG investigation of Comey

  By Florida Bill                                           

                                                 What ever became of the "investigation" into the gumshoe techniques used by FBI Director James Comey in his examination of Hillary Clinton and her handling of classified emails?  She was reckless and sloppy, but committed no crime, reported Comey in a highly publicized news conference last July.  
                                  Because of accusations that he had caved in to pressures and had given Mrs. Clinton a get-out-of-jail-free card, Inspector General Michael Horowitz announced last Jan.12 that he would review the matter from start to finish and determine if there was misconduct on the part of Comey.
                                   Nearly four months have now passed and nothing from the IG.  The office of the Inspector General exists to provide oversight and monitoring of the Department of Justice with the FBI and its fleet of well paid attorneys.   Is this one of those "investigations" which is announced with great fanfare, but then just disappears like mist on a foggy day?
                                    FBI Director Comey, an appointee of President Obama,  began an investigation in the Fall of 2015 into Hillary Clinton's alleged mishandling of classified emails and documents when she was Secretary of State.  Coupled with the allegations that she was fast and loose with sensitive emails were reports of her corrupt practices in administering the billion dollar "Clinton Foundation,"  and her granting of governmental favors to big money donors, including those from other countries.
                                    During his probe, Comey passed out grants of immunity like pieces of chocolate to witnesses who then reportedly declined to be interviewed.  There was no grand jury and computers were withheld from FBI scrutiny. Then Comey's boss, 
 Atty Gen. Lynch,  held a sneak and improper meeting with Clinton's husband, the former President, raising allegations that a "fix" had been put in. 
                                     On July 5, 2016, as the presidential campaign was on fire, the 56-year-old Comey held a news conference to announce that the FBI could not recommend prosecution of Mrs. Clinton.  He dodged any mention of the "Clinton Foundation" and Democrats celebrated her exoneration. 
                                      The smoke and stench from the FBI determination did not go away and 11 days before the November 8 election, Comey said that he was reopening the email investigation because of the discovery of 650,000 emails connecting Mrs. Clinton in some way to the disgraced ex-congressman Anthony Weiner who was the estranged husband of her closest aide, Huma Mahmood Abedin.  But then a few days later and three days before the election, he said that the new emails had been reviewed and that Clinton was in the clear of any wrong doing. At that point, President Trump noted that reviewing 650,000 emails in a few days was virtually impossible.                                                                                                                              Following the election and the unanticipated victory of Donald Trump, IG Horowitz got into the controversy with his news conference announcing the investigation of the FBI director.  Because of Comey's peculiar detective methods, Horowitz said that he will explore "allegations that Justice department or FBI policies or procedures were not followed." ... and that when finished he will issue a report detailing what has been found.   He explained further that he would review  Comey's behavior, and that the investigation would be broad, and thorough and that he could recommend criminal charges for anyone found to have violated a law.  An investigation of the successor to J. Edgar Hoover is a pretty unusual occurrence, and it seems strange that it has apparently lost traction--and media attention--so quickly. 
                                       Both Republicans and Democrats have called for Comey to resign.  One Democratic senator proposed that a congressional committee investigate Comey, claiming that his blunders and misconduct caused Mrs. Clinton to lose the election. 
                                       After the dust of the election had lifted and Trump was inaugurated, it was anticipated that the new President would tell Comey to resign, but reports circulated that the new President met with Comey and decided to retain him in the job.   Some Trump supporters have continued to urge him to discharge Comey and to appoint South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy, an aggressive attorney and a former state prosecutor,  to replace him. At this point, it appears that Director Comey is just "twisting in the wind."                                        
                                    During a recent hearing by the senate's judiciary committee, Comey testified that he has been interviewed relevant to the IG examination of his behavior and that, surprisingly, he thought that the review of his leadership in the email investigation was a good idea.  "I felt that I did everything right, but if I did something wrong, I want to know about it," he said.
                                    I haven't seen any report from Horowitz on the findings or status of his investigation.  However, he promised to deliver a report at the conclusion of the review, and he should be held to his word.  In Washington, too many promises of one thing or another, seem to magically disappear. So we'll see.                                                                         xxx