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.

US announces all forces withdrawn from Iraq after 12-year anti-ISIS mission

Senate hopeful’s ‘treading water’ narrative crumbles under $500K campaign payouts to family

Woke NFL Asks DHS to Remove Hall of Fame Defender from Clip of Agency Vowing to Stop Migrant Caravan

Inside the neighborhood living on the edge of America’s tech frontier

Watch: Lindsay Clancy’s Defense Team Screams at Black Media Member While Entering Courthouse for Retrial Hearing

Liberal stronghold set to adopt eye-popping minimum wage amid business exodus

US faces another major Middle East troop withdrawal, but threat remains

Republicans worry they’ve ‘glossed over’ voters’ affordability concerns

John McGuire touts his Trump endorsement as safe red seat suddenly looks shakier

Ohio cancer patient sues hospital after surgeon allegedly amputated wrong leg

Utah man released after decades on death row as DNA evidence excludes him from 1985 killing

Repeat offender with lengthy rap sheet accused of gunning down Kentucky trooper during traffic stop

Eric Schmitt defends perjury trap airball at Jack Smith hearing: ‘Not a mistake’

Fox News Hires Former Top Andrew Cuomo Aide Who Helped Run Major Cover-Up

Woman on Death Row for Satanic Murder Says She Feels ‘a Kinship’ with Lindsay Clancy

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.