Comey admits FBI errors in Durham report, but defends 2016 actions.

The FBI’s investigation of former President Donald Trump was done “the right way,” according to former Director James Comey. In a recent interview with MSNBC, Comey defended the bureau’s actions, despite the findings of Special Counsel John Durham’s report.

“There were ‘definitely’ mistakes made in the bureau’s probes, but in complex investigations, there’s always going to be mistakes. It doesn’t mean the FBI isn’t competent, honest, and independent,” Comey said.

The Durham Report

John Durham’s report highlighted how the FBI opened its probe into Trump ahead of the 2016 election by relying on unverified information from Australia. The report also detailed how the treatment of Trump differed dramatically from how the bureau acted after it received derogatory information regarding Trump’s rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

• The FBI misled the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC)
• Failed to corroborate any substantive allegations in the Clinton-funded dossier on Trump
• Ignored hundreds of exculpatory statements made by Trump aides who were being secretly recorded by FBI informants

Despite these findings, Comey defended the FBI’s actions and praised the FISC, saying it “works very well” and is “incredibly valuable.”

Former Officials Refuse to Talk to Durham

Comey was one of several former top FBI officials who refused to talk to Durham during his investigation. Andrew McCabe, Kevin Clinesmith, Peter Strzok, and Bill Priestap also declined to be interviewed.

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) have asked Durham why his office did not take steps to compel testimony from the former officials.

Despite the missteps identified by Durham, the FBI has said that it has implemented “dozens of corrective actions” and will continue to work with “rigor, objectivity, and professionalism.” However, a newly released document showed that the bureau abused its spy powers against both Black Lives Matter protesters and Jan. 6 defendants, years after the Carter Page fiasco.