Former AG Holder 'Deeply Concerned' With Comey's Decision
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Former Attorney General Eric Holder is assailing FBI Director James Comey for divulging that the bureau has reopened its investigation of Hillary Clinton's emails, saying he unleashed "a torrent of conspiracy theories and misrepresentations.''
Holder wrote in an editorial published late Sunday in The Washington Post that he is "deeply concerned" with Comey's decision "to write a vague letter to Congress about emails potentially connected to a matter of public, and political, interest."
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Holder was referring to Comey's notification to the Republican heads of congressional committees that the scrutiny of Clinton's emails was being resumed in light of information turned up in connection with an unrelated investigation.
"That decision was incorrect,'' Holder wrote. "It violated longstanding Justice Department policies and tradition. And it ran counter to guidance that I put in place four years ago laying out the proper way to conduct investigations during an election season."
That probe appears to center on a laptop belonging to Anthony Weiner. The disgraced former congressman and estranged husband of Clinton confidante Huma Abedin is at the center of several sexting scandals which led to the federal investigation.
It's unclear whether the material on the device was from Clinton, nor is it known if the emails in question are new or duplicates of the thousands the former secretary of state and her aides have already turned over.
Law enforcement sources said investigators secured a search warrant Sunday to begin examining the emails.
Holder wrote that the department also has a practice of not commenting on ongoing investigations as well as "not taking unnecessary action close in time to Election Day that might influence an election's outcome."
"Director Comey broke with these fundamental principles. I fear he has unintentionally and negatively affected public trust in both the Justice Department and the FBI," Holder wrote.
He said he respects Comey but "good men make mistakes.''
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