Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
Former FBI Director James Comey is back in the news.
Memos about the FBI investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email system recently obtained by Congress show a draft concluded the former Secretary of State was “grossly negligent” – a conclusion that carries a criminal charge.
The Hill reports:
An early draft of former FBI Director James Comey’s statement closing out the Hillary Clinton email case accused the former secretary of State of having been “grossly negligent” in handling classified information, newly reported memos to Congress show.
The tough language was changed to the much softer accusation that Clinton had been “extremely careless” in her handling of classified information when Comey announced in July 2016 there would be no charges against her.
The change is significant, since federal law states that gross negligence in handling the nation’s intelligence can be punished criminally with prison time or fines.
The story quotes the memo, “There is evidence to support a conclusion that Secretary Clinton, and others, used the email server in a manner that was grossly negligent with respect to the handling of classified information.”
Obviously, the big question is why did the conclusion change and was it changed because of political pressure.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) wrote to the new FBI Director Christopher Wray wanting answers.
Despite the controversy, Comey is preparing to cash in on his public visibility.
Comey released the title of his upcoming book, ABC News reports:
The title of former FBI Director James Comey’s tell-all book has been revealed: “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership.”
“In his forthcoming book, former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions,” according to the book’s description on Amazon. It will be available on May 1, 2018.
In addition, Comey has a new Twitter handle perhaps to promote his book as Gizmodo speculates:
Former FBI director and Anchorman enthusiast James Comey just joined Twitter. Well, to be precise, Comey just confirmed that the account that once had the handle @projectexile7 and the name Reinhold Niebuhr indeed belongs to him. It now bears the username @Comey and sports a little blue “verified” checkmark. Oh and also he’s writing a book that you can buy next spring.
