DOJ alleges 'lack of effort' by James Comey's FBI to probe Hillary Clinton's email in new watchdog report

DOJ alleges 'lack of effort' by James Comey's FBI to probe Hillary Clinton's email in new watchdog report
A DOJ report found that the FBI under then-Director James Comey treated the Hillary Clinton email server scandal like a summer group project they couldn’t be bothered to finish (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: A newly declassified Justice Department report is digging up some old dirt — and Senator Chuck Grassley is making sure it sees the light of day.

According to the Office of Inspector General report, the FBI under then-Director James Comey treated the Hillary Clinton email server scandal like a summer group project they couldn’t be bothered to finish.

Chuck Grassley's 'I told you so' moment over Hillary Clinton email probe

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is dropping a fresh addition to the original 2018 investigation, a piece now known as the “Clinton annex.”

A Judiciary Committee press release noted that "Grassley has sought information from DOJ and FBI about the document since 2018 and again submitted his request to then-Attorney General Bill Barr in 2019...He, along with Sen Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), requested President Donald Trump declassify the document in 2020, and Grassley reiterated the request in 2025."

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) join others in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during the first hearing of the Weaponization of the Federal Government subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on February 09, 2023 in Washington, DC. This was the first hearing of the new subcommittee, created by a sharply divided Congress to scrutinize what Republican members have charged is an effort by the federal government to target and silence conservatives. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Sen Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Sen Charles Grassley (R-IA) join others in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during the first hearing of the Weaponization of the Federal Government subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on February 9, 2023, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The add-on alleges the FBI failed to thoroughly investigate Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was Secretary of State. It claims Comey's FBI cut corners, left key evidence untouched, and generally phoned it in.

“This document shows an extreme lack of effort and due diligence in the FBI's investigation of former Secretary Clinton's email usage and mishandling of highly classified information,” Grassley blasted in a press release.

He pointed fingers straight at Comey’s leadership.

“Under Comey’s leadership, the FBI failed to perform fundamental investigative work and left key pieces of evidence on the cutting room floor,” Grassley continued.

“The Comey FBI’s negligent approach and perhaps intentional lack of effort in the Clinton investigation is a stark contrast to its full-throated investigation of the Trump-Russia collusion hoax, which was based on the uncorroborated and now discredited Steele dossier. Comey’s decision-making process smacks of political infection.”

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey speaks to
Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey speaks to members of the media at the Rayburn House Office Building after testifying to the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees on Capitol Hill, December 07, 2018, in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

What does The Clinton Annex say?

Turns out, the FBI had their hands on a thumb drive packed with potentially incriminating information — including sensitive data from US government agencies, Barack Obama’s emails, and even congressional material. But according to Grassley’s office, Comey, his deputy Andrew McCabe, and controversial FBI agent Peter Strzok didn’t lift a finger to dig deeper.

The report claims these senior officials failed "to perform additional, targeted searches of the drives."

It gets worse. Grassley’s press release says the FBI dropped the ball in exploring how Clinton’s alleged mishandling of classified material could’ve jeopardized national security. She was eventually cleared by Comey in 2018.

Furthermore, the report alleges that the FBI got intelligence suggesting the Obama administration may have actively tried to squash the Clinton investigation — possibly to protect her presidential candidacy. The document also mentions communications between then-Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz and individuals tied to George Soros’s Open Society Foundations.

“The intelligence reports alleged that the Obama administration took efforts to scuttle the investigation into Clinton and protect her candidacy,” Grassley’s release stated.

ST LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 09:  Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with Democ
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the town hall debate at Washington University on October 9, 2016, in St Louis, Missouri (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

But at the time, the FBI “did not make serious investigative efforts” to pursue the intel.

Chuck Grassley feels vindicated as Hillary Clinton probe 'failed to hit the mark'

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently stepped in with what appears to be even more proof of political sabotage.

In a bombshell Friday announcement, Gabbard revealed newly unclassified docs that she claims show “overwhelming evidence” that former President Obama and his national security squad deliberately weaponized intel to cook up the Trump-Russia scandal after Hillary’s loss in 2016.

“Their goal was to usurp President Trump and subvert the will of the American people,” Gabbard posted on X. “No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The integrity of our democratic republic depends on it. We are turning over all documents to the DOJ for criminal referral."

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 27:  US President Barack Obama and Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary C
US President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton acknowledge the crowd on the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 27, 2016, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Aaron P Bernstein/Getty Images)

Grassley, who’s been chasing this paper trail since 2018, is clearly feeling vindicated. “I warned years ago that the Clinton investigation failed to hit the mark, and I’m grateful the American people can finally see the facts for themselves,” he said.

The Iowa Republican also made sure to shout out the new DOJ leadership for helping push this annex into daylight.

“After nearly a decade in the shadows, this information is now coming to light thanks to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel's dedicated efforts to fulfill my congressional request. I appreciate their ongoing commitment to transparency and strongly urge them to continue to fully review this matter, including its national security impact," he said.

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