DOJ watchdog report on FBI handling of Clinton probe expected by spring

The Justice Department’s inspector general is planning to release findings from its review into how the FBI handled the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server by next spring.

In an appearance before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, Michael Horowitz said that the investigation was not yet complete, but that his team had already conducted significant work in the probe.

“We have interviewed dozens of people. We are not at the 100 level yet, but we’re in the dozens range. We’ve reviewed about 1.2 million records in the course of the investigation,” Horowitz said.

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“We are aiming to release the report in late winter, early spring. So hopefully in that March-April time period,” he added. “Obviously, I can’t commit to that, because, as we’ve seen, events can arise, issues can arise that requires us to do additional interviews or get additional records.”

The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General took up the investigation into the FBI’s decision-making during the 2016 presidential election earlier this year amid pressure from lawmakers.

In particular, the inspector general is looking into whether former FBI Director James Comey improperly spoke out about the investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of State.

In July of 2016, Comey announced that his bureau’s investigation into the matter had concluded, and recommended against charges for Clinton, saying that while she acted irresponsibly, her actions were not criminal.

Months later, however, he revealed that the FBI had reopened the Clinton email probe, after investigators uncovered new emails from a computer belonging to former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who was, at the time, married to top Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

Two days before the November election, Comey said that the FBI had not uncovered any new information in the probe. Still, Clinton and some supporters have criticized Comey for revealing so close to the election that the FBI had reopened its investigation.

President Trump fired Comey in May. At the time, the top cop was overseeing the FBI’s investigation into Russian efforts to meddle in the 2016 election, as well as possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.