Comey’s Actions Stymied Efforts of IG to Get at the Truth

Reminder: The Report didn't exonerate “anybody that touched” Crossfire Hurricane

Nick Arama reporting for RedState

Former FBI Director James Comey claimed he was vindicated in the wake of the release of the IG report on Monday. 

So it was all lies. No treason. No spying on the campaign. No tapping Trumps wires. It was just good people trying to protect America. https://t.co/9nurCaIBq2

— James Comey (@Comey) December 9, 2019

He claimed last year the thought there was any FISA abuse was “nonsense.” 

FLASHBACK: James Comey, December 2018

"I have total confidence that the FISA process was followed and that the entire case was handled in a thoughtful, responsible way... I think the notion that FISA was abused here is nonsense." pic.twitter.com/ct2eoyLVbu

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 11, 2019

But the IG report showed there really was a horror show of abuse under his command and the Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz finished Comey off in his testimony today, saying no one who touched the case was vindicated.

Graham: “The former FBI director James @Comey said this week that your report vindicates him. Is that a fair assessment of your report?”

Horowitz: “The activities we found here don’t vindicate anybody who touched this.”
pic.twitter.com/EaQGCgjHbv

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 11, 2019

Horowitz testified that he wasn’t able to get certain answers, so he couldn’t effectively say whether there was bias or not. 

Horowitz: "There is such a range of conduct here that is inexplicable and the answers we got were not satisfactory" pic.twitter.com/uA05o5xDcn

— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizRNC) December 11, 2019

Attorney General Bill Barr pointed out how Horowitz was limited in getting at the truth.

One reason was the nature of IG which was limited to investigating internal matters. He doesn’t have subpoena powers or the ability to call a grand jury, he’s not able to prosecute crimes. 

Barr pointed out one of the big problems was due to James Comey and some of the others who refused to renew their security clearances, so they were unable to be questioned about certain aspects of what they did, since they could no longer hear or be asked about classified information.

AG Bill Bar takes issue with the IG finding that political bias didn't play a role in the FBI investigation. He takes particular issue with how the IG determined whether or not there was improper motive. Barr is waiting for a full investigation, which can compel testimony. pic.twitter.com/s1RUMIPwsF

— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) December 10, 2019

From Washington Examiner: 

But in Barr’s view, Comey’s decision, which limited what he could be asked, meant a full account of the FBI’s actions still had not been discovered.

Barr explained his divergence with the DOJ watchdog by pointing out Horowitz, as inspector general, “starts with limited information” and “can only talk to people who are essentially there as employees” and “he’s limited to the information generally in the FBI.”

Barr said Horowitz’s approach was “a very deferential standard” of accepting people at their word “as long as there’s not contradictory testimonial or documentary evidence,” and so, therefore, in his view, Horowitz hadn’t fully decided the issue of whether there were any improper motivations.

But there’s a silver lining.

U.S. Attorney John Durham doesn’t have that limitation, he’s looking beyond the FBI, he can prosecute and he can subpoena people. 

And he’s going to have such fun with Comey.