- The Justice Department's Inspector General released its 568-page report into the investigation of Hillary Clinton's emails.
The Department of Justice Inspector General released a highly anticipated report today on DOJ and FBI's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation.
Here's everything you need to know about the report:
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray says he's well aware of the recent criticism surrounding the FBI, but added the bureau's brand is "doing just fine."
"There's no shortage of opinions about us out there," he said in response to a CNN reporter's question asking if its reputation has suffered. "I will tell you the opinions that I care the most about are the opinions of the people who actually really know us and know us through our work."
Wray said despite the criticism, the FBI's admission rates remain high and thousands of prospective agents have continued to apply to join the bureau.
Thomas O’Connor, president of the FBI Agents Association, defended the bureau's agents, saying the Inspector General's report shows the investigation was not biased.
“It shows that agents perform their duties with a focus on complying with the law and the Constitution," he said in a statement. "We support, as always, the bureau reviewing and utilizing its policies and disciplinary processes to help ensure that we remain the world’s premier law enforcement organization."
FBI Director Christopher Wray, speaking at a news conference, outlined steps the law enforcement agency will take as result of the findings in the Department of Justice's Inspector General's report.
"I take this report seriously and we accept its findings and recommendations. It's also important to note what the Inspector General did not find," he said.
"This report did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations actually impacting the investigation under review."
The report, however, identified "errors of judgment, violations of or disregard for policy, and decisions that, at the very least, in hindsight, were not the best choices," Wray said.
"The OIG's report makes clear we have work to do but let's also be clear on the scope of this report," he said.
Her comment to all that?
"But my emails."
Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the Inspector General's report proves her actions surrounding the Clinton email investigation "had no political motivation or bias."
"The report outlines how I, along with the career prosecutors I oversaw at DOJ, did everything we could to handle a sensitive probe in a highly politicized environment in a way that was non-partisan, impartial, and fair," she said in a statement. "I’m also grateful that the report outlines for the American people the in-depth legal analysis and investigative work done by the outstanding team.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a news conference on the Justice Department's Inspector General findings, said “anyone hoping to use this report to undermine” Robert Mueller's investigation “will be disappointed."
He said if the President was planning to use this to take down the investigation, he “swung and missed."
The report explains in a footnote on the same page that this represents the “sick face” emoticon, which in emoji language is this one: 😷.
Former FBI Director James Comey wanted then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch to appoint a special counsel to oversee the Clinton email investigation, according to the the Justice Department's Inspector General's report.
Comey was also concerned about the appearance of political bias as the Justice Department considered throughout 2016 announcing they would close the investigation without bringing charges. Federal investigators had realized a full year before the 2016 presidential election that they were unlikely to find the evidence for a case, the report said.
Comey raised the possibility with several top Justice Department officials, but a special counsel ultimately wasn’t appointed.
Still, Comey’s concerns about the public appearance of Lynch played into his decision to make a public statement about the investigation without clearing what he would say with Lynch.