The FBI will conduct political bias training and take several other steps in response to a Justice Department inspector general report that found several examples of bias in the ranks of the agency.
While the IG said it found no evidence that this bias affected the outcome of its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server, the FBI nonetheless agreed that “the appearance of bias is disconcerting and potentially damaging to the FBI’s ability to perform its mission.”
The FBI agreed to take steps to address eight major issues raised by the IG report, including that political bias might have influenced certain decisions during the Clinton probe. The FBI said it would quickly start training to ensure that doesn’t happen.
“[T]he FBI is instituting new political bias training, drawing from, among other sources, the training, guidance, and practices of the federal judiciary. To commence within 120 days, training will begin with senior leadership and the Senior Executive Service (SES) ranks, with the objectives of discussing the OIG Report, lessons learned, and the need for scrupulous, unwavering adherence to the policies and procedures intended to combat potential political bias,” the FBI as part of its formal reply to the IG report.
The training will also talk about the importance of “maintaining a work environment free from political bias.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray has asked Paul Abbate, the associate deputy director, to establish “working group to provide recommendations, within 120 days, on the staffing, structuring, and supervising of sensitive investigations in order to ensure that the full suite of the FBI’s investigative strengths, a balance of operational experience, and proper resources are provided such that every future sensitive investigation is conducted to the highest standards of the [FBI].”
The FBI said it has also already opened investigations into allegations of misconduct by FBI employees, which at the conclusion is recommended to the Bureau’s Office of Professional Responsibility and could lead to a court referral.
The IG report found that former FBI Director James Comey ignored FBI policies by announcing a reopening of the investigation into Clinton’s private email server, just before the election. In response, the FBI said it would take steps within the next month to remedy the problem.
“The FBI will implement the OIG’s recommendation that the FBI adopt a policy on the appropriateness of employees addressing uncharged conduct in public statements,” it said. “The Director is also tasking the FBI’s OGC to develop, within 30 days, guidance requiring prior consultation with DOJ preceding any public reference to FBI charging recommendations in criminal investigations.”
Media leaks from the FBI were another major issue raised by the report, and the FBI said it would take steps here as well.
“Leaks or unauthorized communications are not taken lightly, are never condoned, and may result in discipline, up to and including termination, and potentially prosecution,” the FBI said, adding that OPR is looking into what disciplinary measures are needed for bureau personnel.
“As an additional step, the FBI will ensure that, within 30 days, all personnel are fully aware of the media policy and the serious potential consequences for noncompliance,” the FBI said.
Former Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was found to have failed to fully recuse himself from the investigation, and in response, the FBI said it would develop a new framework on recusal policy within the next two months.
To combat the use of personal email that the IG found among FBI employees, the FBI said it would examine whether more training is needed in this area to prevent future use of private email.
It also said it would take steps to ensure FBI equipment is not used to send political messages.
“Based on its review of these messages, the OIG separately recommended that the FBI add privacy warning banners to FBI-issued mobile devices and consider assessing whether employees are properly trained on the use of text messages and instant messages and whether it should provide additional guidance about the use of FBI devices for non-governmental purposes,” the FBI said.
In response to the recommendation, the FBI said it will “implement the suggested warnings in the most technologically expeditious and feasible manner.”
