Did Director Comey Abuse His Power?
Parallax News presents big debates broken down into multiple perspectives.
Last week, FBI Director James Comey set off a frenzy with his letter to Congress about the potential of new information in the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email use. The effects of Comey’s letter are still reverberating in the presidential race, which has become increasingly tight as the voting deadline is just days away. Polls show 42% of undecided voters are now less likely to vote for Clinton due to Comey’s letter. Pundits and politicians have spent recent days in a media brawl over whether the FBI director, who has previously registered as a Republican, was attempting to manipulate the popular vote.
I. Chuck Schumer
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D — N.Y.) suspects that Comey’s letter was politically motivated, as it was sent less than two weeks before the election. The senator called the act “appalling” and said he’s lost faith in the FBI director. Schumer and others note that the letter does not refer to any damning evidence, but admits that the FBI is unsure whether the new information is relevant to Clinton’s case. The letter was even sent before the FBI obtained a warrant for the emails in question. Schumer and other Democratic leaders therefore view Comey as unfairly undermining Clinton’s candidacy by raising unfounded suspicion. The move has been widely panned by Democrats, including President Obama and Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and even some prominent Republicans have been critical.
II. Tom Cotton
Sen. Tom Cotton (R — Ark.) applauded Director Comey for announcing new potential evidence in the Clinton investigation. Cotton believes the announcement was rightly made before the election. The letter updated Comey’s earlier sworn testimony to Congress, while drawing awareness to the extent of Clinton’s legal troubles. The Arkansas senator dismisses the “crocodile tears” about Comey’s move being politicized, as the alternative would have been to keep voters in the dark. Responsibility, Cotton says, ultimately lies with Clinton for breaking government rules and setting up a private email server. According to Cotton, the fact that some emails may have wound up on the laptop of her aide’s husband, under investigation for sexting with a minor, reveals how reckless Clinton’s behavior was. “This is not an FBI or Director Comey problem,” Cotton said. “This is a Hillary Clinton problem.”
III. Harry Reid
Sen. Harry Reid (D — Nev.) went a step further in his censure of Comey, insinuating that the FBI director actually broke the law. Reid points to the Hatch Act, a law that prohibits most members of the executive branch from meddling in elections. The Nevada senator suspects Comey abandoned this legal requirement of political neutrality in order to besmirch Clinton’s image. Reid accuses Comey of applying a “double standard” against Clinton. FBI investigations about Clinton are carried out in public, Reid says, while those concerning Trump are kept under wraps. The senator cites rumored inquiries into Russia’s connections with Trump and members of his campaign. Reid argues that Russia is a foreign power hostile to America, yet information about a potential relationship with Trump is shrouded while even questionable new facts in Clinton’s longstanding case are made headline news.
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Further Reading: Bloomberg / Independent Journal Review / USA Today
This brief was written by Jared Metzker.
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