US Democrats have blamed FBI Director James Comey's handling of the inquiry into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.
In yet another aftershock from the chaotic presidential campaign, the US Justice Department inspector general has opened an investigation into department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) actions before the election, including whether FBI Director James Comey followed established policies in the email investigation of Hillary Clinton.
Democrats have blamed Comey's handling of the inquiry into Clinton's use of a private email server, and his late-October 2016 public letter about the case, as one reason for her loss to Republican Donald Trump.
Workers are now putting final touches on preparations for January 20 Inauguration Day festivities, and the new probe will not change the election results. But it revives questions of whether the FBI took actions that might have influenced the outcome.
IG Michael Horowitz, the department's internal watchdog, will direct the investigation, which comes in response to requests from members of Congress and the public. Comey said he was pleased about the review and the FBI would cooperate fully with the inspector general.
"I hope very much he is able to share his conclusions and observations with the public because everyone will benefit from thoughtful evaluation and transparency regarding this matter," he said in a statement on Thursday.
One part of the review will concern Comey's news conference in July 2016 in which he said the FBI would not recommend charges against Clinton for her use of a private email system during her tenure as secretary of state. Trump repeatedly criticised that practice, contending it put national security secrets at risk.
Trump also declared at raucous rallies during the campaign that he would seek a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton and that she would be in jail if he were elected. But he said after the election that he did not intend to seek a new investigation of her.
Comey, during his announcement in the summer, broke protocol when he chastised Clinton and her aides as "extremely careless" in their email practices. It's highly unusual for federal law enforcement officials to discuss a criminal case that ends without charges being filed.
Comey reignited the email controversy on October 28 when he informed US Congress that agents would be reviewing a cache of emails between Clinton aide Huma Abedin and Clinton for any new evidence related to Clinton's handling of sensitive State Department material.
That move boiled in the campaign for nine days, before Comey announced on November 6 -- two days before Election Day -- that the inquiry had found no new evidence of wrongdoing.
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