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.
Muslim Mayor of Dearborn Invites Rapper Booted from Stadium Tour Over Anti-Israel Rant to Perform in City
Internet Trolls Karen Bass After She Deflects Blame for City’s Crumbling Roads
Most of School’s 9/11 Curriculum Focuses on Muslim Acceptance, Teachers Told Not to ‘Center’ on the Terrorists
Congress faces AI test as debate explodes over industry regulation
El-Sayed grilled on Piker, Israel and socialist ties after Mike Rogers skips Senate debate
US military releases footage of massive operation to rescue injured airman stranded inside Iran
Multiple death sentences in different states are set to be carried out within 24 hours: ‘Not very common’
Texas Senate candidate Talarico said US was ‘backsliding’ on democracy in resurfaced clip
7 Republicans rebel against Trump, vote with Dems to rein in Iran war powers
Fourth Florida resident dies after contracting flesh-eating bacteria linked to oysters
Washington Democrat claims majority of recent DHS arrestees posed ‘no threat to public safety’
Injured climber crawls ‘through the night’ to safety after falling 500 feet down California mountain
Republican upsets party-backed rival to challenge first openly trans member of Congress
Lawmakers throw out ‘Trojan horse’ activists they say are engaged in American subversion
Watch: Accused Child Sex Predator Literally Faints in Front of Judge After Learning Penalty He’s Facing
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.
Muslim Mayor of Dearborn Invites Rapper Booted from Stadium Tour Over Anti-Israel Rant to Perform in City
Internet Trolls Karen Bass After She Deflects Blame for City’s Crumbling Roads
Most of School’s 9/11 Curriculum Focuses on Muslim Acceptance, Teachers Told Not to ‘Center’ on the Terrorists
Congress faces AI test as debate explodes over industry regulation
El-Sayed grilled on Piker, Israel and socialist ties after Mike Rogers skips Senate debate
US military releases footage of massive operation to rescue injured airman stranded inside Iran
Multiple death sentences in different states are set to be carried out within 24 hours: ‘Not very common’
Texas Senate candidate Talarico said US was ‘backsliding’ on democracy in resurfaced clip
7 Republicans rebel against Trump, vote with Dems to rein in Iran war powers
Fourth Florida resident dies after contracting flesh-eating bacteria linked to oysters
Washington Democrat claims majority of recent DHS arrestees posed ‘no threat to public safety’
Injured climber crawls ‘through the night’ to safety after falling 500 feet down California mountain
Republican upsets party-backed rival to challenge first openly trans member of Congress
Lawmakers throw out ‘Trojan horse’ activists they say are engaged in American subversion
Watch: Accused Child Sex Predator Literally Faints in Front of Judge After Learning Penalty He’s Facing
McCabe did so in the following exchanges with North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows:
Meadows. So is this common practice, in normal investigations of every type, to do a memo 2 months ahead of time to lay out what you’re going to say with a conclusion? So let’s take it outside of this particular person. How many other times does that happen?
Mr. McCabe. No, sir, it’s not common.
Mr. Meadows. So this is a unique situation where he did it this one time?
Mr. McCabe. This is the only time I am aware of, sir.
…
Mr. Meadows. Is this case so unique that you would have a prepared document 2 months ahead of interviewing the witness? Is that normal protocol within the FBI?
Mr. McCabe. It is not normal protocol within the FBI to release a statement about a case —
Mr. Meadows. That’s not the question I asked, Mr. McCabe.
Mr. McCabe. — we believed we were going to —
Mr. Meadows. Is it normal protocol — is it normal protocol to draft a letter by the FBI 2 months before you interviewed the witness to draw a conclusion? Is that normal protocol?
Mr. McCabe. I have not seen that before, sir.
Mr. Meadows. So your answer is no, it’s not normal protocol?
Mr. McCabe. I’m not aware of that protocol. I’ve never seen that. I haven’t been through an experience like this in the pendency of my career. So, no, I’ve never seen that before.
Mr. Meadows. I yield back.
Muslim Mayor of Dearborn Invites Rapper Booted from Stadium Tour Over Anti-Israel Rant to Perform in City
Internet Trolls Karen Bass After She Deflects Blame for City’s Crumbling Roads
Most of School’s 9/11 Curriculum Focuses on Muslim Acceptance, Teachers Told Not to ‘Center’ on the Terrorists
Congress faces AI test as debate explodes over industry regulation
El-Sayed grilled on Piker, Israel and socialist ties after Mike Rogers skips Senate debate
US military releases footage of massive operation to rescue injured airman stranded inside Iran
Multiple death sentences in different states are set to be carried out within 24 hours: ‘Not very common’
Texas Senate candidate Talarico said US was ‘backsliding’ on democracy in resurfaced clip
7 Republicans rebel against Trump, vote with Dems to rein in Iran war powers
Fourth Florida resident dies after contracting flesh-eating bacteria linked to oysters
Washington Democrat claims majority of recent DHS arrestees posed ‘no threat to public safety’
Injured climber crawls ‘through the night’ to safety after falling 500 feet down California mountain
Republican upsets party-backed rival to challenge first openly trans member of Congress
Lawmakers throw out ‘Trojan horse’ activists they say are engaged in American subversion
Watch: Accused Child Sex Predator Literally Faints in Front of Judge After Learning Penalty He’s Facing
McCabe’s statements on the matter may take on renewed significance after the release of FBI emails last week showing, among other things, that Comey’s agency in 2016 sought to “expeditiously” accommodate a request for information from Clinton’s lawyer. Judicial Watch obtained and released the emails between controversial former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.
“These incredible documents show the leadership of the FBI rushed to give Hillary Clinton her FBI interview report shortly before the election,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton charged. “And the documents also show the FBI failed to timely document interviews in the Clinton email ‘matter’ – further confirming the whole investigation was a joke.”
Story cited here.
