What Did Director Comey Really Tell Us?
Yesterday we all saw, or heard, the breaking news of FBI Director Comey’s detailed press conference and text of the press release. That is the key – detailed. As a legal investigator for a living of nearly 30 years, I review and dissect statements daily – because the facts are in the details. What most people heard was ‘no charges’; more accurately it was no recommendation of charges, but I’ll get to that.
You can read my minimal comments and the relevant text, exactly quoted, of Director Comey’s speech here - www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/blog---author-thoughts/unfit-to-run-for-or-be-president. I also detailed three specific quotes:
- "There is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information."
- "There is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information."
- My favorite, "This is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. Those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions."
However, the most important quotes are these, which are not in my emotional response:
- “…the FBI is completing its investigation and referring the case to the Department of Justice for a prosecutive decision.”
- This will be an unusual statement in at least a couple ways.
-- First, 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.
-- Second, I have not coordinated or reviewed this statement in any way with the Department of Justice or any other part of the government. They do not know what I am about to say.
Then Director Comey went on the lay the case out before the American people in a public forum in which he could not be stopped or censored. He continued, with every listener expecting him to close with recommending her indictment. He did not – and it left everyone stunned; from supporters to opponents. Who was not stunned were those that all variously met in the week leading up to this press conference.
Why would Director Comey do this? First, he knew there would be no charges – because the Attorney General had said, only a few days before, that she “fully expects to accept the recommendations” of the FBI investigations. He responded to her wiggle room with his own – here is the case of the FBI, which you do not want us to report; and here is the recommendation you wanted. I do not think he was ordered to; pressured yes. What do the above details mean?
“…the FBI is completing its investigation and referring the case to the Department of Justice for a prosecutive decision.”
I am a published author and recognized expert in the process of private investigations. One of my mantra’s is to COMPLETE the investigation, not just conduct. He was clearly telling the American people the investigation was not complete. The timeline he was under left him no ability to announced any conclusions after completing the investigation. The president was leaving that morning with the subject of the investigation to campaign – and she needed ‘cleared’ first.
He concluded this statement by making it clear that he was tossing the ball into the AG’s court.
- This will be an unusual statement in at least a couple ways. In other words, get ready and take careful notes.
-- First, 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.
Again, get ready and take careful notes – I’m about to tell you things you would not otherwise hear. I am about to tell the American people that they have an important decision to make and the information I am going to detail should help in that decision.
-- Second, I have not coordinated or reviewed this statement in any way with the Department of Justice or any other part of the government. They do not know what I am about to say. Due to circumstances beyond my control, and undue pressure, I am about to throw myself under the bus – but I am at least going to do all I can to keep control of the circumstances. I may have been pressured to announce a pre-determined outcome, but I will not be pressured into lying to the American people.
Director Comey then laid out the full case against Hillary Clinton for the American people to indict her at the voting booth. He risked his career to protect his future, and exposed the administration and the Clintons for who they all are – a criminal enterprise that intends to be above the law. As I wrote in 2013 – the RICO Administration (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization) at www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/blog---author-thoughts/the-rico-administration.
Yesterday we all saw, or heard, the breaking news of FBI Director Comey’s detailed press conference and text of the press release. That is the key – detailed. As a legal investigator for a living of nearly 30 years, I review and dissect statements daily – because the facts are in the details. What most people heard was ‘no charges’; more accurately it was no recommendation of charges, but I’ll get to that.
You can read my minimal comments and the relevant text, exactly quoted, of Director Comey’s speech here - www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/blog---author-thoughts/unfit-to-run-for-or-be-president. I also detailed three specific quotes:
- "There is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information."
- "There is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information."
- My favorite, "This is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. Those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions."
However, the most important quotes are these, which are not in my emotional response:
- “…the FBI is completing its investigation and referring the case to the Department of Justice for a prosecutive decision.”
- This will be an unusual statement in at least a couple ways.
-- First, 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.
-- Second, I have not coordinated or reviewed this statement in any way with the Department of Justice or any other part of the government. They do not know what I am about to say.
Then Director Comey went on the lay the case out before the American people in a public forum in which he could not be stopped or censored. He continued, with every listener expecting him to close with recommending her indictment. He did not – and it left everyone stunned; from supporters to opponents. Who was not stunned were those that all variously met in the week leading up to this press conference.
Why would Director Comey do this? First, he knew there would be no charges – because the Attorney General had said, only a few days before, that she “fully expects to accept the recommendations” of the FBI investigations. He responded to her wiggle room with his own – here is the case of the FBI, which you do not want us to report; and here is the recommendation you wanted. I do not think he was ordered to; pressured yes. What do the above details mean?
“…the FBI is completing its investigation and referring the case to the Department of Justice for a prosecutive decision.”
I am a published author and recognized expert in the process of private investigations. One of my mantra’s is to COMPLETE the investigation, not just conduct. He was clearly telling the American people the investigation was not complete. The timeline he was under left him no ability to announced any conclusions after completing the investigation. The president was leaving that morning with the subject of the investigation to campaign – and she needed ‘cleared’ first.
He concluded this statement by making it clear that he was tossing the ball into the AG’s court.
- This will be an unusual statement in at least a couple ways. In other words, get ready and take careful notes.
-- First, 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.
Again, get ready and take careful notes – I’m about to tell you things you would not otherwise hear. I am about to tell the American people that they have an important decision to make and the information I am going to detail should help in that decision.
-- Second, I have not coordinated or reviewed this statement in any way with the Department of Justice or any other part of the government. They do not know what I am about to say. Due to circumstances beyond my control, and undue pressure, I am about to throw myself under the bus – but I am at least going to do all I can to keep control of the circumstances. I may have been pressured to announce a pre-determined outcome, but I will not be pressured into lying to the American people.
Director Comey then laid out the full case against Hillary Clinton for the American people to indict her at the voting booth. He risked his career to protect his future, and exposed the administration and the Clintons for who they all are – a criminal enterprise that intends to be above the law. As I wrote in 2013 – the RICO Administration (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization) at www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/blog---author-thoughts/the-rico-administration.
RSS Feed