During Donald Trump's first term as president, the Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, and IRS reportedly did not aggressively pursue investigations into various high-profile individuals perceived as adversaries to Trump, including James Comey, Hillary Clinton, Adam Schiff, and Hunter Biden. Newly declassified records imply that multiple investigations were delayed, shut down, or inadequately pursued.
1. Investigations into Comey, Clinton, and Schiff:
• The DOJ and FBI slow-walked or declined to pursue investigations into potential criminal actions by Comey, Clinton, and Schiff, among others.
• James Comey authorized leaks of classified information, which were later deemed inappropriate but not prosecuted.
• Adam Schiff potentially leaked classified information, but the DOJ did not charge him with any wrongdoing.
2. Slow-Walking of Hunter Biden's Case:
• Investigations into Hunter Biden began during Trump’s term but faced delays due to DOJ interventions. IRS whistleblowers claimed that the handling of the case was abnormal, particularly during the election season to avoid impacting the election's outcome.
3. Ineffective Leak Investigations:
• The FBI conducted multiple investigations into media leaks related to allegations of collusion between Trump and Russia but failed to hold anyone accountable for these leaks.
• Various investigations reportedly ended without conclusions or prosecutions due to uncooperative witnesses and DOJ's reluctance to pursue charges.
4. Clinton Foundation Inquiry:
• An IRS criminal probe into the Clinton Foundation was initiated but abruptly halted. Whistleblowers noted changes in the IRS's approach, leading to investigations that did not progress.
5. Uranium One Controversy:
• The DOJ under Trump did not conduct a thorough inquiry into the Uranium One deal, which involved a Canadian company being sold to a Russian entity, despite allegations it was linked to the Clintons.
6. Durham's Investigations:
• Special counsel John Durham's investigations, which included looking into the FBI's handling of Trump-Russia allegations, resulted in minimal prosecutions and did not yield significant accomplishments regarding accountability for the scandal.
7. Overall Pattern of Inaction:
• A consistent pattern emerged of the DOJ and related agencies not pursuing politically sensitive cases vigorously during Trump's first term, contributing to perceptions of bias and partisanship within law enforcement agencies.
The handling of investigations into high-profile individuals during Trump’s presidency shows a significant reluctance on the part of the DOJ, FBI, and IRS to pursue alleged wrongdoings related to Trump’s adversaries. This raises questions about the integrity and impartiality of federal investigations in politically charged environments. The future actions of the DOJ under different leadership may reveal whether these investigations will be revisited with greater intensity.
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