Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Monday he’s considering appointing a special counsel to look at whether the FBI properly handled the investigation into Russia’s purchase of uranium rights and donations to the Clinton Foundation while Hillary Clinton led the State Department.
In a letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Virginia Republican, Mr. Sessions said he wouldn’t confirm or deny whether there was an investigation but that he has asked senior prosecutors to evaluate “certain issues” raised by Mr. Goodlatte.
He said that review will help him and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein decide “whether any matters merit the appointment of a special counsel.”
Mr. Sessions also said the Justice Department’s inspector general is looking into whether then-FBI Director James B. Comey botched procedures in his handling of the investigation into Mrs. Clinton’s secret emails.
The letter came a day before Mr. Sessions is to testify to the House committee.
Republicans have questioned a deal approved during the Obama administration that give Russian companies control of about 20 percent of U.S. uranium deposits.
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The deal was approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which is made up of nine top government officials — including Mrs. Clinton at the time.
Some Russian investors also made donations to the Clinton Foundation.
Meanwhile, a report in The Hill newspaper last month said the FBI had been investigating Russian bribery of U.S. officials at the time of the deal and suggested Mrs. Clinton and other CFIUS officials either knew or should have been told of the investigation at the time they approved the deal.
One special counsel, Robert Mueller, is conducting an investigation into Russian meddling in last year’s election and has announced charges against several former Trump campaign officials stemming from their dealings with Russian operatives or pro-Russian interests.
Mr. Sessions recused himself from the decision to name that special counsel because of his own role in the Trump campaign.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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