The Justice Department watchdog briefed Tuesday a bipartisan group of lawmakers on its probe into the FBI’s actions during the 2016 presidential election, which also includes its investigation into then-candidate Hilary Clinton, CNN reports.
DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz is finishing up the probe including scrutiny of the actions of former FBI Director James Comey and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. On Tuesday, Horowitz met with Trey Gowdy, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the committee, House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, and top Democrat Jerry Nadler.
Gowdy confirmed they had a meeting, describing it as “useful” and “objective,” declining to give any additional comments. However, since the watchdog investigation is still ongoing, Horowitz could not say much.
Last fall, Republicans on House Oversight and Judiciary Committees opened their own investigation into the FBI and DOJ’s actions in handling the probe into Clinton’s emails. Two closed-door interviews have been held by the committees, with FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and Comey’s chief of staff, James Rybicki. The two panels expect to hold more interviews, while a considerable number of Republicans are adamant that Comey return to Capitol Hill to testify.
Comey, McCabe, and Rybicki have been in the crosshairs of the congressional probes into both the Clinton investigation and the FBI’s handling of the Russia investigation.
Horowitz’s report may be completed in March, but there is also a strong possibility that it gets pushed back to April. Gowdy himself said that he expected it to come out in April.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Wittes pointed out the significance of the report, comparing it to the Nunes memo.
“His report will be more credible than the Nunes memo. Let’s just say Michael Horowitz is not a clown. And you’re talking about a situation inherently less susceptible to the foolishness that gave rise to the Nunes memo,” Wittes said.
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