The following is a timeline of events that Director Comey says persuaded him to not allow the Department of Justice the opportunity to announce the closure of the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s personal email server.
Required Reading
2015
September 7th, 2015 — Hillary Clinton tells the Associated Press that the FBI’s investigation into her personal email server was not criminal in nature, but rather more akin to a security review
September 28th, 2015 — Attorney General Lynch uses the word “matter” to describe the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server; also, reactions by senior FBI officials
October 1st, 2015 — Comey uses the word “matter” to describe to the New York Times the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server; also, reactions by senior FBI officials
October 11th, 2015 — President Obama’s interview with 60 Minutes; also, reactions by senior FBI officials
October 26th, 2015 — Senator John Cornryn calls for a special counsel
October 28th, 2015 — Letter sent by 44 lawmakers to Attorney General Lynch, requesting the appointment of a special counsel; also, Lynch’s recollection of the letter
2016
January 29th, 2016 — During a White House press briefing, Josh Earnest says Hillary Clinton is not a target of the FBI’s investigation; also, reactions by the officials in the Department of Justice
March 2016 — The FBI receives a highly-classified intel document (“the Renteria Memo”); it claims that Director Comey is slow-walking the FBI’s investigation for the benefit of Republicans; also, that Attorney General Lynch is being secretly controlled by the Clinton campaign
March 9th, 2016 — Loretta Lynch advises the White House to stay silent on the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s personal email server
April 10th, 2016 — Fox News panelists recap President Obama’s interview
April 11th, 2016 — MSNBC’s Morning Joe criticizes President Obama’s interview
April 12th, 2016 — Director Comey holds a high-level meeting with senior DOJ and FBI officials to discuss the possibility of announcing a declination in the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s personal email server
Late April 2016 — In a meeting with Baker, McCabe, and Rybicki, Director Comey suggests the possibility of himself announcing the end of the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s personal email server
May 2nd, 2016 — Director Comey drafts his initial statement for declining prosecution into Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email server
May 6th, 2016 — Director Comey’s draft statement is sent out to senior FBI officials for feedback
May 16th, 2016 — Director Comey’s draft statement is sent out to more FBI officials for feedback
May 17th, 2016 — Senator Grassley sends a letter to Director Comey, inquiring about the possibility for a special counsel
May 17th-18th, 2016 — Senior FBI officials suggest that details be provided of how classified material was handled on Hillary Clinton’s personal email server; also, whether or not gross negligence should be considered
May 31st, 2016 — In a meeting with senior FBI officials, Lisa Page suggests that using “gross negligence” in Comey’s draft statement could be unconstitutionally vague and overly confusing
June 6th-7th, 2016 — Edits to Comey’s draft statement are entered into Strzok’s work computer. The term “grossly negligent” is removed from the draft statement, and “extremely careless” is moved to the front
June 10th-12th, 2016 — A revised draft of Comey’s statement excludes the term “gross negligence” (replaced by “extremely careless”), and extra emphasis is given to explain the nature of handling classified material
Mid-June 2016 — Director Comey becomes concerned about the possibility that the Renteria Memo could be leaked (no reason given), which he says could interfere with AG Lynch’s ability to credibly decline prosecution against Hillary Clinton
June 13th - July 4th, 2016 — Senior FBI officials discuss further possible edits to Director Comey’s draft statement
June 27th, 2016 — Former President Bill Clinton speaks briefly with Attorney General Lynch aboard her private jet in Phoenix, Arizona; shortly thereafter, she receives an ethics waiver to stay in charge of the FBI’s investigation
June 29th, 2016 — ABC15 News Phoenix scoops that former President Bill Clinton had spoken privately with Attorney General Lynch aboard her private jet on June 27th
June 30th, 2016 — Director Comey edits his draft statement to emphasize that his decision to not prosecute Hillary Clinton will not have been in any way influenced by the Department of Justice
June 30th, 2016 — House Majority Whip Steve Scalise calls for the appointment of a special counsel
July 1st, 2016 — Attorney General Loretta Lynch publicly announces that she will accept the FBI’s recommendation on whether or not to prosecute Hillary Clinton, but will not formally recuse from the case
July 2nd, 2016 — Hillary Clinton is interviewed by the FBI and DOJ
July 5th, 2016 — Director Comey declines prosecution against Hillary Clinton
July 12th, 2016 — Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates is provided a defensive debriefing about the Renteria Memo
August 2016 — Attorney General Lynch is provided a defensive debriefing about the Renteria Memo
2017
April 22nd, 2017 — The New York Times publishes the first known account of the Renteria Memo, but does not mention Renteria by name
May 3rd, 2017 — Senator Grassley questions Director Comey about the Renteria Memo, citing the New York Times
May 16th, 2017 — On Fox News, Trey Gowdy suggests that Director Comey’s decision to single-handedly announce the closure of the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton was influenced by the Renteria Memo
May 24th, 2017 — The Washington Post reports a more detailed account of the Renteria Memo, going so far as to mention Renteria by name
June 8th, 2017 — Comey says that former President Bill Clinton’s surprise meeting aboard AG Lynch’s private jet is what ultimately had persuaded him to independently announce the closure of the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton
2018
April 15th, 2018 — In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, former Director Comey discusses the FBI’s determinations with regards to the Renteria Memo
April 17th, 2018 — On Good Morning America, former Director Comey discusses the significance of former Attorney General Lynch’s non-recusal from the FBI investigation
April 17th, 2018 — Former Director Comey explains some of his decisions during the 2016 election cycle on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert
April 18th, 2018 — In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, former Director Comey discusses why he chose himself to be the one to announce the end of the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton
June 18th, 2018 — Senator Kennedy questions Inspector General Horowitz about the Renteria Memo
Addendum
