Jeff Sessions admits there is not enough evidence for the FBI to investigate Hillary Clinton
Republicans wanted the appointment of a second special prosecutor
Andrew BuncombeNew York
Tuesday 14 November 2017 23:12
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said there is insufficient basis to launch a special investigation of Hillary Clinton - dashing the hopes of Republicans who believe she should face the same scrutiny as Donald Trump and his administration.
Earlier this week, it was reported Mr Sessions was considering appointing a special counsel to examine Ms Clinton’s use of a private email server, various accusations levelled at the Clinton Foundation and the sale of uranium to Russia in 2010 when she was secretary of state. Many believed Mr Sessions was responding to Mr Trump, who had angrily told a radio interviewer it was “very discouraging to me” the Department of Justice was not “going after Hillary Clinton.”
But appearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Mr Sessions appeared to pour cold water on the idea of establishing such a probe, saying he did not believe there was a sufficient basis for doing so.
Mr Sessions was pressed by Republican congressman Jim Jordan from Ohio, who demanded to know “what it would take to get a special counsel”.
“It would take a factual basis that meets the standards of the appointment of a special counsel,” Mr Sessions replied.
The congressman said it was already known the Clinton campaign had paid the company that produced the so-called Steele Dossier, which contained a series of explosive allegations about Mr Trump, many of them gathered by a former British intelligence agent.
“That’s what it looks like, and I’m asking you: Doesn’t that warrant - in addition to all the things we know about James Comey in 2016 - doesn’t that warrant naming a second special counsel,” asked Mr Jordan.
Mr Sessions said: “That’s the only thing I can tell you, Mr Jordan. You can have your idea, but sometimes we have to study what the facts are and to evaluate whether it meets the standard that requires a special counsel.”
The Attorney General then said Mr Comey was no longer the FBI Director and praised incumbent Chris Wray. But Mr Jordan would not be satisfied.
“He’s not here today, Attorney General Sessions, you are, and I’m asking for a special counsel,” he said.
Mr Sessions responded: “And I would say, ‘Looks like’ is not enough basis to appoint a special counsel.”
