FBI Director James Comey will testify to Congress Thursday on his findings about Hillary Clinton’s secret email account, the House Oversight Committee announced.
Mr. Comey said Tuesday that Mrs. Clinton may well have broken laws on handling of classified information, but he said he doubted prosecutors would try to make the case — so he wasn’t recommending charges.
Republicans on Capitol Hill said he should have laid out his findings without making a recommendation, leaving it up to prosecutors to decide what to do.
“The FBI’s recommendation is surprising and confusing,” Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz said. “The fact pattern presented by Director Comey makes clear Secretary Clinton violated the law. Individuals who intentionally skirt the law must be held accountable. Congress and the American people have a right to understand the depth and breadth of the FBI’s investigation.”
Democrats blasted the snap hearing, saying Republicans are fighting a political battle in trying to pressure Mr. Comey.
“The only emergency here is that yet another Republican conspiracy theory is slipping away,” said Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the committee.
Mr. Comey said a prosecutor wouldn’t pursue the case against Mrs. Clinton based on questions about whether her intent rose to the level of criminal behavior.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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