FBI's Comey reportedly argued against confirming Russian election interference
FBI Director James Comey reportedly disagreed with the government's decision earlier this month to confirm suspicions that Russia was meddling in the U.S. election, a former FBI official told CNBC on Monday, because it was too close to Election Day. "He believed it to be true," the official said, "but was against putting it out before the election."
On Oct. 7, the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement saying the U.S. was "confident" Russia had directed hacks on American political institutions, including the Democratic National Committee, in efforts "intended to interfere with the U.S. election process." The FBI source told CNBC that Comey argued privately against making the disclosure because of the impending election, and ultimately saw to it that the FBI not be named in the statement.
In light of that, Comey's decision to disclose Friday new developments in the investigation of Hillary Clinton's private email server — just 11 days before Election Day — has left some government insiders "perplexed," CNBC reports, citing the official. But the former FBI employee said it was a matter of personal credibility:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Comey took a different approach toward releasing information about the discovery of emails on a laptop that was used by former Congressman Anthony Weiner and his estranged wife Huma Abedin, the official said. "By doing a press conference [back in July], and personally testifying and giving his opinion about the conduct, he made this about James Comey and his credibility," the official said. "You can see why he [made the new announcement], from his perspective, once he had had that press conference." [CNBC]
The FBI declined to comment on CNBC's report. Read the whole thing here.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Political cartoons for October 27Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include improving national monuments, the NBA gambling scandal, and the AI energy vampire
-
Donald Trump’s week in Asia: can he shift power away from China?Today's Big Question US president’s whirlwind week of diplomacy aims to bolster economic ties and de-escalate trade war with China
-
The Icelandic women’s strike 50 years onIn The Spotlight The nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
