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2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumDems and GOP Justice officials: James Comey is damaging our democracy
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/james-comey-is-damaging-our-democracy/2016/10/29/894d0f5e-9e49-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html?utm_term=.3c763293f562The Justice Department has a proud history of enforcing the federal criminal law without fear or favor, and especially without regard to politics. It operates under long-standing and well-established traditions limiting disclosure of ongoing investigations to the public and even to Congress, especially in a way that might be seen as influencing an election. These traditions protect the integrity of the department and the publics confidence in its mission to take care that the laws are faithfully and impartially executed. They reflect an institutional balancing of interests, delaying disclosure and public knowledge to avoid misuse of prosecutorial power by creating unfair innuendo to which an accused party cannot properly respond.
Decades ago, the department decided that in the 60-day period before an election, the balance should be struck against even returning indictments involving individuals running for office, as well as against the disclosure of any investigative steps. The reasoning was that, however important it might be for Justice to do its job, and however important it might be for the public to know what Justice knows, because such allegations could not be adjudicated, such actions or disclosures risked undermining the political process. A memorandum reflecting this choice has been issued every four years by multiple attorneys general for a very long time, including in 2016.
When they take their vows and assume office, senior officials in the Justice Department and the FBI become part of these traditions, with an obligation to preserve, protect and defend them. They enjoy a credibility established by generations of honorable public servants, and they owe a solemn obligation to maintain that credibility. They are not to arrogate to themselves the choices made by the Justice Department and honored over the years.
SNIP
As former deputy attorneys general in the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, we are troubled by the apparent departure from these standards in the investigation of Hillary Clintons email server. First, the FBI director, James B. Comey, put himself enthusiastically forward as the arbiter of not only whether to prosecute a criminal case which is not the job of the FBI but also best practices in the handling of email and other matters. Now, he has chosen personally to restrike the balance between transparency and fairness, departing from the departments traditions. As former deputy attorney general George Terwilliger aptly put it, Theres a difference between being independent and flying solo.
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Dems and GOP Justice officials: James Comey is damaging our democracy (Original Post)
pnwmom
Oct 2016
OP
+1, They KNOW... KNOW ... if they allow Comey to do this then a dem FBI head can
uponit7771
Oct 2016
#7
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,834 posts)1. Seems like Comey has lit an exploding cigar.
This thing is blowing up on him, not on Hillary.
Cha
(297,601 posts)2. Thank you, pnwmom!
pnwmom
(108,991 posts)3. You're welcome, Cha!
world wide wally
(21,754 posts)4. What happened to law and order?
enough
(13,262 posts)6. Exactly. (nt)
brer cat
(24,598 posts)5. "There is a difference between being independent and flying solo."
Comey is taking a well-deserved beating for this! I would love to see President Obama and AG Lynch hand him his ass.
uponit7771
(90,359 posts)7. +1, They KNOW... KNOW ... if they allow Comey to do this then a dem FBI head can
... do the same thing !!!