Will New IG Report Make Criminal Referrals?

Paul Sperry seems to say "yes." But note he doesn't say the IG report will make criminal referrals; he says it includes "reasonable grounds" for such referrals.

Is that a distinction worth noting? You'll see why I ask in a moment.

Sara A. Carter's sources, on the other hand, say there might be at least one criminal referral, but the draft being circulated for comment does not actually contain any criminal referrals.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz's report, which is expected to be released within the next three to four weeks to the public, has been turned over to current and former officials for review, as first reported in The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

The draft, however, does not include any recommendations for criminal prosecution. If there was any evidence collected by the Inspector General's office of criminality, Horowitz would then refer the matter to the Department of Justice and submit a criminal referral to prosecutors.

"It would be up to the Inspector General to make the recommendations but there is an expectation that there will be at least one referral for prosecution," said a source familiar with the findings, who added that it is not conclusive as the Inspector General’s office never discusses ongoing investigations.

Sperry and Carter might be reporting the same ambiguous information using different words. Maybe Sperry's sources mean to say that while the draft does not itself make any criminal referrals, the information contained within it provide "reasonable grounds" for such a referral, which may come later.

In other words: While the draft does not make the criminal referral, it amasses information to support such a referral. Which could then later result in a referral.

Also, Carter's report does not preclude such a referral; indeed, one source says the general expectation is that "at least one" such referral will issue.

But it's not in the draft.

Note that this report is only about the FBI's/DOJ's handling of the Hillary email "matter." (Always say "matter," never say "criminal investigation" -- as Comey's boss lady ordered, and as he dutifully obeyed.)

The investigation into the FBI's/DOJ's handling of the Trump investigation was only ordered in March and that investigation will take additional months, I figure.

posted by Ace of Spades at 07:46 PM

| Access Comments