Two Top Democrats Ask Justice Department to Investigate FBI Leaks

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Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Akron, Ohio, on August 22.Amy Harris/Rex Shutterstock via ZUMA Press

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Two top Democratic lawmakers are asking the Justice Department to investigate the leaks coming from the FBI in recent weeks regarding the probe into Hillary Clinton’s private email server. It’s the first indication of what is likely to be a series of inquiries after the election into the FBI’s willingness to make public comments about its ongoing investigation and its inability to control leaks so close to a presidential election.

On Friday, Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.) sent a letter to Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz asking him to investigate the leaks, including evidence of leaks to Rudy Giuliani, a top adviser to Donald Trump. The letter cites Giuliani’s appearance Friday morning on Fox and Friends, during which he acknowledged receiving inside information from the FBI about Clinton’s investigation before the agency notified Congress of the information. “Did I hear about it?” Giuliani said on air. “You’re darn right I heard about it.” The letter also cites leaks to Fox News host Bret Baier, which resulted in the anchor retracting a story about the FBI’s investigation of the Clinton Foundation.

“These unauthorized and inaccurate leaks from within the FBI, particularly so close to a presidential election, are unprecedented,” the letter says. “For these reasons, we are calling on your office to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the sources of these and other leaks from the FBI and to recommend appropriate action.”