Inspector general concludes Comey violated FBI policy and set a 'dangerous example' with Trump memos


The Department of Justice's inspector general has concluded former FBI Director James Comey violated the bureau's policies in his handling of memos documenting conversations with President Trump.
In a Thursday report, the inspector general said Comey, who the DOJ will not prosecute, violated the requirements of his FBI employment agreement, The Washington Post reports. Comey secretly kept some memos at his home and leaked information from one, which described Trump asking him to let an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn go, to The New York Times through an intermediary.
The former FBI director "failed to live up" to his "responsibility" and "set a dangerous example for the over 35,000 current FBI employees" by not "safeguarding sensitive information," the report says. However, it also says there is no evidence that Comey or his attorneys leaked classified information from his memos to the media, a claim Trump has repeatedly made. Still, Comey was "not authorized to disclose" the "sensitive investigation information" he did, and the FBI's policies make clear that "employees may not, without agency permission, remove records from the Department - either during or after employment," the report says.
Subscribe to 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 celebrated the release of this report Thursday, highlighting the conclusion that he didn't leak classified information and saying a private apology from those who claimed he did "would be nice."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
How will the new tax deductions on auto loans work?
the explainer Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited
-
Is Trump actually going to prosecute Obama for 'treason'?
Today's Big Question Or is this just a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?
-
5 best movie sequels of all time
The Week Recommends The second time is only sometimes as good as the first
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein