Comey’s Draft Statement Exonerating Clinton Two Months before Her FBI Interview Was Not Normal Protocol

WASHINGTON — “This is the only time I am aware of, sir.” “I have not seen that before, sir.” “I’ve never seen that.”

These are just some of the words utilized by former acting FBI director Andrew McCabe when asked during closed door testimony about an email penned by disgraced ex-FBI chief James Comey circulating a draft statement exonerating Hillary Clinton in the private email server case a full two months before the FBI interviewed Clinton and other witnesses in the criminal probe.

Documents previously released by the FBI show that Comey on May 2, 2016 sent the email in question to McCabe, FBI general counsel James Baker and chief of staff and senior counselor James Rybicki. Clinton was interviewed by the FBI on June 2, with Comey later testifying that she was not sworn in and that the interview was not recorded.

Two months before Clinton’s FBI interview, Comey circulated the draft statement testing language to be used for not recommending charges against Clinton.

Former Rep. Bob Goodlatte, who served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee at the time of McCabe’s December 21, 2017 testimony, read aloud Comey’s email. A transcript of the testimony was released three weeks ago by House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Doug Collins, R-Ga, although the portion in question did not receive media attention.

Inside the ‘digital lockdown’ for US officials as Trump arrives in China

Move to oust Nancy Guthrie sheriff fails as Pima County supervisors refer perjury allegations to AG

Marco Rubio spotted in Nike tracksuit aboard Air Force One during trip to China, igniting memes online

Rubio wears Nike tracksuit aboard Air Force One in parody of Maduro capture

High school student with history of anger issues charged with murder of homeless woman in Las Vegas

Nebraska’s Pillen wins Republican renomination in bid for second term as governor

Lawsuit: ChatGPT Told Florida State Shooter that Killing Children Would Get Him ‘More Attention’ Than Targeting Adults

House GOP launches new task force, probes alleged Medicaid fraud in Ohio

Republican Ricketts wins GOP primary in Nebraska, advances to key Senate showdown

Poll: Rubio Opens Up Double-Digit Lead on Vance, AOC Leads 2028 Democratic Field

Big city Democrat mayor arrested at ICE protest faces voters in re-election bid

BREAKING: All Tenn. Dem Reps Have Been Removed from Every House Committee Possible as Punishment for Redistricting Chaos

Fake Black Woman Rachel Dolezal Resurfaces After Decade, Has Entered Digital Version of World’s Oldest Profession

Trump expected to name ICE veteran with private detention ties as agency’s acting director

Gay Couple Who Acquired 5 Boys Arrested on Child Sex Charges

Goodlatte read Comey’s email as follows:

The penultimate paragraph of the May 2 draft reads as follows: Accordingly, although the Department of Justice makes final decisions on matters such as this, I am completing the investigation by expressing to Justice my view that no charges are appropriate in this case.

Goodlatte noted that “this paragraph is virtually identical to what Director Comey eventually said more than 2 months later on July 25, 2016, in recommending no charges against Secretary Clinton. It seems to confirm that the FBI, including the Director, had made up its mind not to charge Secretary Clinton before interviewing her.”

McCabe disputed that characterization, retorting, “It may seem that way reading it now. But I know that Director Comey had not made up his mind at that time.”

is no evidence that Comey tested language to use if charges were to be filed against Clinton. Indeed, McCabe admitted as much when he was asked whether Comey similarly prepared a statement recommending charges in the Clinton email case.

McCabe then repeatedly stated that he is not aware of any other precedent similar to Comey’s draft statement against recommending charges two months before Clinton was interviewed.