Report: Comey wanted to go public with Russia findings last summer
The FBI director wanted to go public with information that Russia possibly interfered in the 2016 election but was blocked by the Obama administration.
According to a Wednesday report by Newsweek, FBI Director James Comey had wanted to go public with the information that there was the possibility that Russia was interfering with the 2016 election but was blocked by the Obama administration.
As early as July, intelligence officials believed that Russia was interfering, but it was not until October that the Obama administration formally accused Russia, and a January report found that the Russians wanted to “undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process” as well as undermine the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.
Comey reportedly had a draft of an op-ed that he wanted to share with the public concerning the Russian interference and shared that information during a meeting with then-Secretary of State John Kerry, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch and a few others. However, Obama administration officials wanted a more concerted and coordinated front involving multiple agencies in their announcement.
The report indicated that the Obama administration was slow to move because of the lead that Hillary Clinton seemed to have in the election, as most of them thought it was a sure thing that she would be the next President of the United States. Still, it was that slowness that had many in the Clinton camp feeling bitter against the Obama administration, according to the New Yorker.
