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U.S. NEWS Friday 30 august 2019

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Watchdog: Comey violated FBI

policies in handling of memos

By ERIC TUCKER garded Comey as one of that there was salacious
Associated Press his principal antagonists in and unverified information
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- a law enforcement com- about his ties to Moscow
mer FBI Director James munity he sees as biased circulating in Washington;
Comey violated FBI policies against him, cheered the a dinner at which Comey
in his handling of memos conclusions on Twitter. He says Trump asked him for
documenting private con- wrote: "Perhaps never in loyalty and an Oval Of-
versations with President the history of our Country fice meeting weeks later
Donald Trump, the Justice has someone been more at which Comey says the In this Dec. 17, 2018, file photo, former FBI Director James Com-
Department's inspector thoroughly disgraced and president asked him to ey speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill Washington.
general said Thursday. excoriated than James drop an investigation into Associated Press
The watchdog office said Comey in the just released former national security ad-
Comey broke bureau rules Inspector General's Report. viser Michael Flynn. FBI employment, in order to Comey said he considered
by giving one memo con- He should be ashamed of One week after he was achieve a personally de- his memos to be personal
taining unclassified infor- himself!" fired, Comey provided a sired outcome," it adds. rather than government
mation to a friend with in- The White House in a sep- copy of the memo about After Comey's firing, the FBI documents, and that it
structions to share the con- arate statement called Flynn to Dan Richman, determined that four of the never would've occurred
tents with a reporter. Com- Comey a "proven liar and his personal lawyer and a memos contained informa- to him to give them back
ey also failed to return his leaker." close friend, and instructed tion classified at either the to the FBI after he was fired.
memos to the FBI after he But the report denied Trump him to share the contents "secret" or "confidential" The inspector general's of-
was dismissed in May 2017, and his supporters, who with a specific reporter level. The memo about the fice disagreed, citing poli-
retaining copies of some have repeatedly accused from The New York Times. Flynn interaction that Com- cy that FBI employees must
of them in a safe at home, Comey of leaking classified Comey has said he wanted ey sent to Richman did not give up all documents con-
and shared them with his information, total vindica- to make details of that con- contain any classified infor- taining FBI information once
personal lawyers without tion. It found that none of versation public to prompt mation, the report said. they leave the bureau.q
permission from the FBI, the the information shared by the appointment of a spe-
report said. him or his attorneys with cial counsel to lead the
"By not safeguarding sensi- anyone in the media was FBI's investigation into ties
tive information obtained classified. The Justice De- between Russia and the
during the course of his FBI partment has declined to Trump campaign. Former
employment, and by using prosecute Comey. FBI Director Robert Muel-
it to create public pressure Comey seized on that ler was appointed special
for official action, Comey point in defending himself counsel one day after the
set a dangerous example on Twitter, saying, "I don't story broke.
for the over 35,000 current need a public apology The inspector general's of-
FBI employees — and the from those who defamed fice found Comey's ratio-
many thousands more for- me, but a quick message nale lacking.
mer FBI employees — who with a 'sorry we lied about "In a country built on the rule
similarly have access to or you' would be nice." of law, it is of utmost impor-
knowledge of non-public He also added: "And to all tance that all FBI employ-
information," the report those who've spent two ees adhere to Department
said. years talking about me 'go- and FBI policies, particularly
The report is the second in ing to jail' or being a 'liar when confronted by what
as many years to criticize and a leaker' — ask your- appear to be extraordinary
Comey's actions as FBI di- selves why you still trust circumstances or compel-
rector, following a separate people who gave you bad ling personal convictions.
inspector general rebuke info for so long, including Comey had several other
for decisions made during the president." lawful options available to
the investigation into Hillary At issue in the report are him to advocate for the
Clinton's use of a private seven memos Comey appointment of a Special
email server. It is one of wrote between January Counsel, which he told us
multiple inspector general 2017 and April 2017 about was his goal in making the
investigations undertaken conversations with Trump disclosure," the report says.
in the last three years into that he found unnerving or "What was not permitted
the decisions and actions unusual. was the unauthorized dis-
of Comey and other senior These include a Trump Tow- closure of sensitive inves-
FBI leaders. er briefing at which Comey tigative information, ob-
Trump, who has long re- advised the president-elect tained during the course of