Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz and FBI Director Christopher Wray testified on Capitol Hill Monday in regards to the findings of final week's inspector normal's report.
In Horowitz's opening assertion, he advised lawmakers they reviewed over 1.2 million paperwork and interviewed greater than 100 witnesses in over 17 months.
One of the massive revelations that got here throughout the three-hour listening to is that former FBI director James Comey is below investigation for his leaked memos whereas on the FBI detailing interactions with President Trump.
"Question number one, Mr. Horowitz, are you investigating the handling of his memo and does that include the classification issues, and should Mr. Comey expect a report when it's complete?" requested Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R-Iowa) chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"We received a referral on that from the FBI. We are handling that referral and we will issue a report when the matter is complete," replied Horowitz.
Grassley mentioned he invited Comey to testify on the listening to in the present day as nicely, however his lawyer mentioned he was in another countrya assertion Grassley questions after a tweet from Comey on June 16 exhibiting him in Iowa.
Comey legal professional mentioned he was in another country & couldn’t testify 2day however he was tweeting from Iowa lately I desire being in Iowa too however ppl deserve solutions abt FBI conduct
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) June 18, 2018
So good to see new development in Iowa and throughout the nation. pic.twitter.com/3UeDofNVaC
— James Comey (@Comey) June 16, 2018
The inspector normal's report on the Clinton e mail probe launched final Thursday revealed what House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) is looking an "extreme bias" in opposition to President Trump.
"Now we see that whole process of that investigation was handled with extreme bias and questionable actions and people need to be held accountable," mentioned House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) on Fox News' "Special Report" with Bret Baier.
The "bias" was revealed a collection of communications despatched by FBI brokers. Most notably, a textual content from agent Peter Strozk.
Former FBI legal professional Lisa Page texted Strozk saying: "Trump's not ever going to become president right? Right?!"
Strozk responded: "No. No, he won't. We'll stop it."
While Democrats argue the inspector normal's report concluded the bias proven within the textual content messages didn't influence the FBI's determination to not prosecute Hillary Clinton in 2016, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) says it exhibits a "serious problem with the culture at FBI headquarters."
"If we can look at just one or two investigations and find this much bias, I can only imagine what else is out there," Hatch mentioned throughout the listening to.
Hatch additionally pressed Wray on how the FBI plans to deal with their concern with leaks to the media.
Wray assured lawmakers they've arrange a new "dedicated leak investigation unit" to fight this concern.
And one other sizzling subject on the desk throughout the listening to: whether or not or not the FBI director believes Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation into Russia's interference within the 2016 election is a "witch hunt".
"I do not believe special counsel Mueller is on a witch hunt," Wray advised Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT).
Horowitz and Wray will seem earlier than the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.