By Kevin Hart
FBI Director James Comey is on a permanent hot seat after his agency’s decision to not prosecute presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her mishandling of classified information while secretary of state.
Now Comey seems to be trying to quiet a rebellion within his own ranks.
Comey sent a memo to FBI employees yesterday attempting to explain why the FBI let Clinton walk, and why it published the notes from its investigation just before a long holiday weekend.
The highly unusual move seems to indicate that Comey felt he had some explaining to do, and that career FBI officials were baffled by some of his recent decisions.
In his memo, first reported by CNN, Comey tried to claim that the decision to not prosecute Clinton was not political, nor a close call. He also said the late-Friday document dump occurred because it was simply the first day the materials were available.
But don’t expect many members of the public — or even many reporters — to buy either explanation.
The memo comes after Comey reportedly received heat from former FBI agents who said the decision to recommend criminal charges against Clinton should have been a slam dunk. Politicians ranging from former Texas Governor Rick Perry to House Speaker Paul Ryan have openly questioned whether Comey was influenced by political pressure.
After the release of the investigation notes last Friday, House Republicans are calling for new hearings on whether Clinton failed to secure classified information on her home-brew private server.
Comey has been fielding calls to resign over his handling of the Clinton case. Now it seems possible that some of those calls may be coming from within FBI headquarters.
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