The FBI is investigating potential leaks to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani the bureau’s director James Comey confirmed Wednesday.
The FBI is investigating potential leaks to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani the bureau’s director James Comey confirmed Wednesday.
Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Comey was responding to a line of questioning from Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who brought up Giuliani’s boast that the ex-mayor knew about the FBI’s discovery of additional Hillary Clinton emails.
Leahy wanted to know if the FBI had sniffed out anyone who had talked to Giuliani, a top surrogate for President Trump’s campaign.
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‘Either they’re lying or there’s a serious problem within the bureau, ‘ the Vermont Democrat pointed out, citing Giuliani claims.
On October 28,2016, Comey had written a letter to lawmakers saying the FBI had discovered a cache of Clinton emails – on the laptop of Anthony Weiner, the husband of one of Clinton’s top aides – and would be looking through them as part of the previously concluded email investigation.
Several days later, Giuliani appeared on Fox News and gleefully said he had already known about the new trove of emails.
‘Did I hear about it? You’re darn right I heard about it, ‘ Giuliani said at the time.
He added that he thought the emails news would come out weeks before.
When Leahy asked Comey if he was aware of any current or former FBI employees who leaked to the former mayor, the director couldn’t yet say.
‘I don’t know yet, but if I find out that people were leaking information about our investigation, whether to reporters or private parties, there will be severe consequences, ‘ the FBI director said.
Additionally, Comey said ‘it’s a matter that I’m very, very interested.’
When Leahy pressed him and asked if there was an ongoing investigation, Comey answered in the affirmative.
‘Correct, ‘ the FBI director said.
Comey said if he did find out who was responsible for the leaks, if Giuliani was indeed speaking the truth, he’d let the senators, who provide oversight to the FBI, know – though added it may not be in a public forum.
