Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales questions FBI director James Comey's judgment regarding Clinton emails

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

George W. Bush's former Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, ripped FBI director James Comey on CNN and MSNBC on Monday, calling Comey's controversial decision to write Congress about new Hillary Clinton emails "unusual" and possibly even an "error in judgment."

Republicans and Democrats alike have taken issue with Comey's letter, which was released less than two weeks before the election. "Typically, you don't talk about an investigation and where you are in an investigation," Gonzales told MSNBC. "Of course, that protocol was breached this summer when Director Comey gave his press conference. And granted, these are very unusual circumstances we’re talking about, a presidential candidate."

Gonzales wouldn't say affirmatively that he believed Comey was in the wrong, but he confirmed "it was probably inconsistent with protocol, so in that sense you have to question the decision." On CNN, Gonzales seemed a little more certain about his opinions concerning Comey's decision: "I really worry that [Comey] has made an error in judgment," he said, adding that he was "somewhat perplexed about what the director was trying to accomplish here."

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Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who served under President Obama, has also criticized Comey, calling his decision "incorrect" and " a stunning breach" of protocol. Current Attorney General Loretta Lynch also reportedly opposed the decision to notify Congress about the emails.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.