House Judiciary chairman: Comey ‘made a mistake’ by not recommending charges

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R- Va.) said Sunday that FBI Director James Comey’s decision not to recommend charges against Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while secretary of State was a mistake.

{mosads}”But let me just say, with regard to Mr. Comey making a mistake: I think that he is very conscious of the controversy that has existed in the FBI and in the Justice Department,” the House Judiciary Committee chairman said.

“I’ve talked to FBI agents, former FBI agents, prosecutors, former prosecutors, who have scratched their head and been very concerned about how the investigation was conducted and the conclusion that was reached three and a half months ago to not indict.”

Comey sent a letter to members of Congress on Friday alerting them of the discovery of emails potentially pertinent to the investigation into Clinton’s private server. Later Friday, The New York Times reported that the FBI found the emails during a separate investigation into former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.).

In July, Comey announced that the FBI had completed its investigation into Clinton’s server and that the agency would not be recommending charges be brought against the former secretary of State.

Goodlatte noted on Sunday that the basis of Comey’s letter to lawmakers remains unknown.

“And we don’t know what the basis was for Mr. Comey making the decision to further pursue the case,” he said.