GOP analyst Gergen calls Comey decision ‘FBI’s finest hour’

by TheHill.com - 07/06/16 11:47 AM ET

Amid a chorus of GOP criticism of the FBI’s decision not to recommend charges against Hillary Clinton, one Republican political analyst is standing behind the agency’s verdict, calling it “the FBI’s finest hour” on “CNN Newsroom” Wednesday morning.

David Gergen, a former adviser to four U.S. presidents and a senior political analyst for CNN, bucked party lines in an opinion piece as well, calling those who disagree with FBI Director James Comey’s decision “embittered partisans.”

{mosads}”Americans’ trust in public officials and public institutions has fallen abysmally, as we all know,” Gergen wrote. “So far as we can now tell, the country in this instance has been well served by a leader and an FBI that has been diligent, hard-working and fair.”

Comey on Tuesday announced the FBI’s conclusion that Clinton should not face charges for her use of a personal email account and server while secretary of State. Comey blasted her for being “extremely careless” but said she did not intentionally mishandle classified information.

Republicans have slammed Comey’s decision, with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) calling for hearings into the probe and presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump calling Comey’s inaction another example of a “rigged system.”

Kind words for Clinton are nothing new for Gergen, who just last week at the Aspen Ideas Festival called the de facto Democratic presidential nominee an “extremely competent candidate” who “will likely win the presidency.”

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