FBI Skipped Thorough Analysis of Key Evidence in Clinton Email Probe
Declassified watchdog report reveals bureau declined comprehensive review of thumb drives with potential national security implications
The FBI failed to comprehensively analyze crucial thumb drives containing cyber-intrusion data from the State Department during its investigation of Hillary Clinton's private email server, according to a newly declassified Justice Department Inspector General report.
A confidential source provided the drives with data including emails from former President Barack Obama. Despite an internal draft memo stressing the need to "assess the national security risks" of Clinton's server, the bureau skipped full analysis over privilege concerns about victim data.
"This document shows an extreme lack of effort and due diligence in the FBI's investigation of former Secretary Clinton's email usage and mishandling of highly classified information," said Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Grassley released the appendix to the June 2018 report by former DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
In 2016, the FBI Cyber Division sought access for targeted Clinton-related searches but was denied. Deputy Director Andrew McCabe's request to use them for the Russian interference probe was also rejected over broad parameters.
The drives were queried at least three times, purposes mostly redacted, including by Robert Mueller's team. One search for Clinton yielded redacted results, including "clintonemail.com."
Grassley faulted former Director James Comey for skipping basic steps and leaving evidence unexamined, contrasting it with the "full-throated investigation of the Trump-Russia collusion" based on the "now discredited Steele dossier."
The report also detailed dismissed Russian-language intel alleging Loretta Lynch and Comey interfered to aid Democratic and Republican candidates, respectively. It claimed Debbie Wasserman Schultz told Soros Open Society Foundation contacts the FBI lacked evidence against Clinton because "data was removed from the mail servers just in time," possibly from an Atlantic Council cyber attack.
The intel accused Comey of stalling to hurt Clinton's chances. But lead investigator Peter Strzok's team used keyword searches, finding no hacked communications and deeming it "verifiably false."
Comey defended not notifying Lynch before his July 2016 exoneration statement—issued before key interviews—citing leak fears. The FBI soon launched Crossfire Hurricane into Trump's campaign and Russian ties.
Grassley credited Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel with declassifying the material after nearly a decade.
This story originally appeared on New York Post.