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Democrats are still trying to blame everyone but Hillary Clinton for their historic defeat in the 2016 presidential campaign.
During a hearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism Wednesday, Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., could not help but demand an explanation from FBI Director James Comey on his rationale for publicly announcing the reopening of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server just days before the election.
“Why was it necessary to announce 11 days before a presidential election that you were opening an investigation on a new computer without any knowledge of what was in that computer?” Feinstein asked, after blasting Comey and declaring that his letter “had an impact” on the election. The implication is that Comey’s letter stole the election from Hillary Clinton for Donald Trump.
“Why didn’t you just do the investigation as you would normally, with no public announcement?”
.@SenFeinstein at #ComeyHearing blasts Comey for email letter, and silence on Trump/Russia investigation. FBI "had an impact" on election pic.twitter.com/HrCXQLaMAa
— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) May 3, 2017
Comey explains his actions with his letter on Clinton's emails during the 2016 election. https://t.co/eFQGMX6huS
— Daniella Diaz (@DaniellaMicaela) May 3, 2017
Comey explained his decision as facing two options. Either he would speak about how the FBI was reopening the investigation “in a hugely significant way,” or he would “conceal” that it had done so.
He characterized the former option as “really bad,” and the latter as “catastrophic” and “the death of the FBI.” Concern for the integrity of the FBI overrode his concerns about influencing the election.
“It makes me mildly nauseous to think that we might have had some impact on the election,” Comey said.
FBI Director Comey: “It makes me mildly nauseous to think that we might’ve had some impact on the election” https://t.co/BsBQ56fGpV
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 3, 2017
“But honestly, it wouldn’t change the decision. Everybody who disagrees with me has to come back to October 28 with me, and stare at this and tell me what you would do – would you speak? Or would you conceal?”
“Even in hindsight, and this has been one of the world’s most painful experiences, I would make the same decision.”
Comey says staff member worried letter could impact election, but "I can't consider for a second whose political fortunes will be affected." pic.twitter.com/Wzcj1ZP6f6
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 3, 2017
As Guy Benson observes, Comey’s argument for sending the October 28 letter is persuasive.
Comey quite persuasive there on explaining *why* he sent the October letter(s).
Less persuasive in the past defending his July decision.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) May 3, 2017
But when will the FBI director convincingly explain how Hillary Clinton did not intentionally put classified information on a private email server in violation of federal law?
When will the Democrats admit that had Hillary Clinton not acted inappropriately, there would be no FBI investigation for them to complain about?
And, most importantly, when can we finally move on from the 2016 presidential campaign?
