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Obama: Comey not trying to influence the election...
Posted on: October 31, 2016 at 14:06:36 CT
JeffB MU
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http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/white-house-james-comey-clinton-fbi-230540
The White House said on Monday that President Barack Obama does not believe that FBI Director James Comey is trying to influence the election with his decision to review new evidence in the probe into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.
"The president's assessment of his integrity and his character has not changed," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters during the daily briefing. "The president does not believe that Director Comey is intentionally trying to influence the outcome of an election. The president does not believe that he is secretly strategizing to benefit one candidate or one political party."
Comey has come under fierce criticism — including from Clinton's campaign — for telling lawmakers of his decision to revive the FBI's inquiry just 11 days before the election. Donald Trump has seized on the news to try to drive home the idea that Clinton can't be trusted and would enter the White House under a cloud of criminal suspicion.
And while Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid suggested over the weekend that Comey might have "broken the law" with his latest move, the White House was more sympathetic.
"He is in a tough spot," Earnest said.
But in what became a frequent refrain during the briefing, Earnest said his lack of independent information precluded any more reaction from the White House.
"Nobody at the White House has insight into the decision that Director Comey made," Earnest said.
Earnest’s repeatedly contended he would neither “defend or criticize” Comey’s letter or his very public statement about the case in July when he recommended that charges should not be brought against Clinton, but proceeded to scold Clinton and her aides for carelessness with classified materials.
Edited by JeffB at 14:07:45 on 10/31/16
The White House said on Monday that President Barack Obama does not believe that FBI Director James Comey is trying to influence the election with his decision to review new evidence in the probe into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.
"The president's assessment of his integrity and his character has not changed," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters during the daily briefing. "The president does not believe that Director Comey is intentionally trying to influence the outcome of an election. The president does not believe that he is secretly strategizing to benefit one candidate or one political party."
Comey has come under fierce criticism — including from Clinton's campaign — for telling lawmakers of his decision to revive the FBI's inquiry just 11 days before the election. Donald Trump has seized on the news to try to drive home the idea that Clinton can't be trusted and would enter the White House under a cloud of criminal suspicion.
And while Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid suggested over the weekend that Comey might have "broken the law" with his latest move, the White House was more sympathetic.
"He is in a tough spot," Earnest said.
But in what became a frequent refrain during the briefing, Earnest said his lack of independent information precluded any more reaction from the White House.
"Nobody at the White House has insight into the decision that Director Comey made," Earnest said.
Earnest’s repeatedly contended he would neither “defend or criticize” Comey’s letter or his very public statement about the case in July when he recommended that charges should not be brought against Clinton, but proceeded to scold Clinton and her aides for carelessness with classified materials.
Edited by JeffB at 14:07:45 on 10/31/16
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Obama: Comey not trying to influence the election... - JeffB MU - 10/31 14:06:36