U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Legislative Affairs

 

 

Of?ce of the Assistant Attorney General Washington, D. C. 2053 0

The Honorable Robert W. Goodlatte

Chairman NOV 1 '3 2017
Committee on the Judiciary

US. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Gocdlatte:

This responds to your letters dated July 27, 2017, and September 26, 2017, in which you
and other Members request the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate various matters,
including the sale of Uranium One, alleged milaw?il dealings related to the Clinton Foundation
and other matters. We are sending identical responses to the other Members who joined your
letter.

As noted during our prior meeting in response to your letters, the Department of Justice
(Department) takes seriously its responsibility to provide timely and accurate information to
Congress on issues of public interest, and seeks to do so in a non?political manner that is
consistent with the Department?s litigation, law enforcement, and national security
responsibilities. Additionally, the Department?s leadership has a duty to carefully evaluate the
status of ongoing matters to ensure that justice is served and that the Department?s
communications with Congress are accurate and complete.

To further that goal, the Attorney General has directed senior federal prosecutors to
evaluate certain issues raised in your letters. These senior prosecutors will report directly to the
Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, as appropriate, and will make
recommendations as to whether any matters not currently under investigation should be opened,
whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources, or whether any
matters merit the appointment of a Special Counsel. This will better enable the Attorney General
and the Deputy Attorney General to more effectively evaluate and manage the caseload. In
conducting this review, all allegations will be reviewed in light of the Principles of Federal
Prosecution. (U SAM 9?27.000)

As you know, consistent with longstanding policy, the Department does not ordinarily
con?rm or deny investigations, and this letter should not be construed to do so. While this
policy can be frustrating, especially on matters of great public concern, it is necessary to ensure
that the Department acts with fairness and thoughtfulness, and always in a manner consistent
with the law and rules of the Department.

The Honorable Robert W. Goodlatte
Page Two

In addition, you must know the Department will never evaluate any matter except on the
facts and the law. Professionalism, integrity, and public confidence in the Department?s work is
critical for us, and no priority is higher.

Your letter referenced various allegations related to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation?s (FBI) handling of the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton?s use of a personal email server. On January 12, 2017, the Department?s Inspector
General (IG) sent a letter to you and other Members advising that the of?ce was initiating a
review of, among other things: 

- Allegations that Department or FBI policies or procedures were not followed in
connection with, or in' actions leading up to or related to, the FBI Director? public
amiouncement on July 5, 2016, and the Director?s letters to Congress on October 28 and
November 6, 2016, and that certain underlying investigative decisions were based on
improper considerations;

- Allegations that the FBI Deputy Director should have been recused from participating in
certain investigative matters; 

- Allegations that Department and FBI employees improperly disclosed non-public
information; and

- Allegations that decisions regarding the timing of the release of certain Freedom of
Information Act documents on October 30 and November 1, 2016, and the use of a
Twitter account to publicize the same, were in?uenced by improper considerations.

These investigations include issues raised in your letters. In addition, the Department has
forwarded a copy of your letters to the IG so he can determine whether he should expand the
scope of his investigation based on the infmmation contained in those letters.

Once the review is complete, the Department will assess what, if any, additional
steps are necessary to address any issues identified by that review.

We will conduct this evaluation according to the highest standards of ustice. We hope
this information is helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact this of?ce if we may provide

additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.

ours,

phen E. 
Assistant Attorney General