The White House on Thursday touted the results of a Department of Justice watchdog report that criticized former FBI Director James Comey’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the report “reaffirmed the president’s suspicions about Comey’s conduct and about the political bias of some members of the FBI.”
The report faults Comey for poor judgment during the 2016 presidential campaign, but did not find any evidence showing his decisions in the Clinton email probe were improperly influenced by political bias.
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It did raise questions about the role of FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok, whose texts with FBI lawyer Lisa Page suggested he “might be willing” to take actions to stop Trump from becoming president, according to the inspector general.
Strzok told Page in a text message that “we’ll stop it,” after he was asked, “[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!”
Trump has long been anticipating the inspector general report, believing it would vindicate his claims that the Russia investigation has been tainted by bias.
“What is taking so long with the Inspector General’s Report on Crooked Hillary and Slippery James Comey. Numerous delays. Hope Report is not being changed and made weaker! There are so many horrible things to tell, the public has the right to know. Transparency!” he tweeted on June 5.
The report did not touch on the origins on the Russia probe.