law, and past department practice. our review also included a fact-based detailed assessment of certain specific investigative and prosecutorial decision that were the subject of controversy. it was necessary to select particular investigative decisions because it would not have been possible to recreate and analyze every decision made in a year-long investigation. in examining these decisions, we considered the question we considered was not whether a particular decision was the most effective choice, but rather whether the documentary and testimonial evidence indicated the decision was based on improper considerations, including political bias. this approach is consistent with the oig s handling of such questions in past reviews when assessing discretionary judgment calls and recognizes and respects the institutional oversight role of the oig.
or been undisclosed. as detailed in our report, we found that the inappropriate political messages that we uncovered cast a cloud over the mid year investigation so doubt about the credibility of the f.b.i. s handling of it, and impact the reputation of the f.b.i. we found the implication that senior f.b.i. employees would be willing to take official action to impact a presidential candidate s electoral prospects to be deeply troubling and against the core values of the f.b.i. and justice department. with regard to the decision to close the investigation without prosecution, we found no evidence that the conclusions by the prosecutors were the result of improper considerations including political bias, rather were exercises of those prosecutors prosecutorial discretion, an exercise based on their assessment of the facts, the
decision not to prosecute mrs. clinton, was warranted by the nature of the evidence that the f.b.i. found. while f.b.i. agents had strong political opinions, even biases against donald trump and in favor of mrs. clinton in his view the inspector general s view, because that bias did not affect the ultimate outcome, there was no violation of d.o.j. regulations. he did reveal a continuing investigation as to whether former f.b.i. director james comey violated d.o.j. regulations by distributing copy of his memoranda he wrote to himself about his meeting with the president to other persons. sandra: as you can see this is a live look inside the hearing room. the inspector general michael horowitz in the front of your screen there has just walked into the room and taking his seat now. we also have both chairmen of both committees a joint committee hearing. chairman bob goodlatte and trey gowdy are in the room.
analysis. unfortunately, your key finding that the decision not to charge secretary clinton was based on an assistment of the facts, law and past department practice and not on bias or improper consideration is now subject to the treatment that president trump and some of my republican colleagues will give it. i mean there was total bias the president argued on the white house lawn just last week. what are we to make of this disconnect between what the report says and what the president and his allies say it says? why is it that no matter how many times we litigate this question, house republicans can think of nothing better to do than endlessly investigate hillary clinton for this same conduct? why is it that after half a dozen investigations found no wrongdoing at benghazi the majority spent million else of dollars on their committee. when that body found no wrongdoing why is it that the majority moved on to conspiracy
interviewed several key witnesses and reviewed tens of thousands of documents while we appreciate the i.g. and his staff for a very detailed investigation, it is critical for the public to also hear what was not included in the report due to the i.g. s refusal to question, quote, whether a particular decision by the f.b.i. and d.o.j. was the most effective choice, end quote. here is what has been observed by these committees. questionable interpretation by d.o.j. and f.b.i. of the law surrounding mishandling of classified information. foreign actors obtained access to some of mrs. clinton s emails including at least one email classified secret. director comey appeared to have pre-determined the exoneration of mrs. clinton at least two months before the investigation concluded. the department of justice determined any charge of gross negligence was off the table reading an intent standard into