DOJ veterans weigh in on Comey’s HRC speech: “I don’t even think J. Edgar Hoover ever did this”

[Night Watchman]

From Salon...

When FBI Director James Comey took the podium at the J. Edgar Hoover Building on Tuesday to address the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email system during her time as secretary of state, he acknowledged at the outset that his remarks would be unusual.

“I am going to include more detail about our process than I ordinarily would, because I think the American people deserve those details in a case of intense public interest,” Comey explained, stressing that he had not coordinated with the Department of Justice or any other government agency before delivering his statement.

~

According to Nick Akerman, a former federal prosecutor who also served as an assistant special prosecutor with the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, Comey overstepped the bounds of his office with his statement.
~
“What was so unusual and what was beyond the pale here was that the director of the FBI got up and basically announced the decision, which is never done by the FBI,” Akerman said. “I don’t even think J. Edgar Hoover ever did this.”

http://www.salon.com/2016/07/09/i_dont_even_think_j_edgar_hoover_ever_did_this_doj_veterans_weigh_in_on_fbi_director_james_comeys_handling_of_clinton_email_probe/

Yes, I have selectively included those parts of the article which impugn Director Comey for shitting all over Secretary Clinton while "exonerating" her. His job was to recommend indictment or recommend the contrary, not to editorialize!

[NWCorona]

1. I agree. His speech was very baffling.

[politicaljunkie41910]

5. Many agents have expressed this exact thought. I also pointed that out in a previous post.

The agents who condemned Comey have said that what he did goes against FBI policy, and is never done for good reason. The FBI when making a decision to not prosecute an individual limits its statement to just that. After a thorough review of the facts we have concluded that the defendent did not commit a criminal offense and will not be charged. To do as Comey did and start making declarations that Clinton and others had been extremely careless, is to indict them or accuse them of guilt without a trial. The reason that this is never done, is because, even if the FBI had brought an indictment, they (the FBI) would still have had to prove their case, beyond a reasonable doubt, at a trial.

[Night Watchman]

6. Mediaite: President Obama Should Fire FBI Director James Comey

http://www.mediaite.com/online/president-obama-should-fire-fbi-director-james-comey/

I agree.

[ismnotwasm]

3. He sounded unprofessional

And bitter. When pressed by Rebublcans he had to reiterate that no one sensible would prosecute the case, and not because of evidence--there never was any "there" there-- but because of the lack of it. So he choose to spin it.

The most interesting thing to come out of this mess was the revelations of how antiquated the State departments set up was. Hopefully they're fixing it.

[transatlantica]

4. Comparing Comey to Hoover is a bit over the top, isn't it? nt

[pnwmom]

7. What other Director of the FBI has attempted a smear job like that

on someone he wasn't going to indict?

Goodwin doesn't recall any similar statement and neither do I. Do you?

“I do not recall a time when the F.B.I. has made a statement like this involving a case,” said Booth Goodwin, a former U.S. attorney and Democrat who expressed his “utmost respect” for Comey.

“I found it particularly odd that the director referred to the Justice Department as somehow independent from the FBI when in fact the FBI is an agency within the Department of Justice,” Goodwin said. “His direct report is Deputy Attorney General [Sally] Yates. If someone was going to make such a statement, it should have come from Deputy Attorney General Yates or Attorney General Lynch.”

[transatlantica]

16. the connotation is that Comey is worse than Hoover

Mentioning Hoover automatically raises a red flag regarding misconduct, massive violation of civil rights, etc. which is inappropriate IMO.

[pnwmom]

18. No. I'm saying that no Director since Hoover has made such an inappropriate

statement regarding a person the FBI did not recommend be charged with a crime.

But if you can cite any other Director who has, please do.

[DLCWIdem]

13. aren't you the poster who likened the Comey debacle to Kabuki theater and thought

That Hillary did break the law.

[transatlantica]

14. no

[DLCWIdem]

15. sorry. I thought i remembered yr id from that thread.

[CajunBlazer]

8. I think that this article amouts "Republican talking points" - other opinions?

[jalan48]

9. Why did Obama appoint this guy in the first place?

[Warren DeMontague]

11. I think he was a holdover from the Bush Administration.

[jalan48]

12. A holdover from one of the worst Presidential Administrations in US history?

I don't get it.

[Warren DeMontague]

10. I think it's worth remembering that Comey also asserted last year that cops are afraid to do their

jobs because people with cell phones are "allowed" to film them under the 1st Amendment.

Sort of ironic given recent events.

[Night Watchman]

19. Here's the Video

Comey in October speaking at the University of Chicago Law School:

[Cha]

17. K&R!