Press Releases

Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement:

“Director Comey and the FBI have conducted a thorough and objective investigation into the use of a personal email server by Secretary Clinton and the presence of classified information on that server.  I appreciate the enormous difficulty of the forensic investigation and the professionalism of the Bureau in its conduct of a case of singular interest and importance to the public.  Throughout the course of the last year, I have been provided access to some but not all of the emails Director Comey is referring to, and I concur with both the Director’s criticism of the State Department’s handling of classified information and his conclusion that in the absence of any intent to violate the law, no prosecution is warranted.

“As the Ranking Member on the Intelligence Committee, I have a deep interest in the protection of the nation’s classified information and have awaited making my own judgment and urged others to do the same until the FBI concluded its investigation.  While I have requested the opportunity to review all of the 110 emails the Director has referred to, based on the emails provided thus far I have no reason to doubt the good faith conclusions of the agencies responsible for such classification determinations.

“While I recognize the Bureau’s recommendation will be the subject of controversy – any conclusion would have been – as a former prosecutor I believe it is supported by the facts.  Moreover, I believe that those who disagree with the Bureau’s decision should not leap to assume some base or illicit motive, and the legislative branch should have respect for the institutional prerogatives of other and co-equal branches of government.  Poor practices in the handling of classified information at the State Department have been an issue during several administrations and are now the subject of corrective action; nonetheless, we should consider whether any additional steps are necessary to preserve the inviolability of our classified information.”

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