Jeff Pegues touted one of James Comey's "critics" on Friday's CBS Evening News, after the FBI director wrote to Congress that new e-mails related to Hillary Clinton's unauthorized private server had been uncovered in an unrelated investigation. Pegues underlined that "the timing of today's revelation has angered some former Department of Justice employees," and quoted from one such individual's posts on Twitter. However, the journalist failed to mention this former DOJ employee's past as a Democratic operative. [video below]
Pegues devoted the first half of his report to summaring how Director Comey "scolded Clinton for using the private e-mail server, but...stopped short of recommending charges." The correspondent pointed out that "Comey's statement was still drawing the ire of Republicans" months after his July 2016 press conference, where he announced his agency's recommendations on the investigation into Mrs. Clinton. He also included a clip of Comey sparring with Republican Congressman Trey Gowdy during a September 2016 hearing.
The CBS journalist then noted that "Comey has held positions in both Republican and Democratic administrations, and bristles at suggestions that he takes sides." He continued by highlighting the "former Department of Justice employees" who were "angered" by the "timing" of the FBI director's letter to Congress. Pegues zeroed in on "former spokesman Matthew Miller, [who] called the disclosure 'inappropriate' on Twitter, and suggested that Comey had broken a cardinal rule. The Justice Department 'goes out of its way to avoid publicly discussing investigations,' Miller said, especially 'close to an election.'"
What the correspondent left out from his reporting was the fact that Miller, according to his bio page, worked for former Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004, as well as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), before serving as the spokesman at DOJ for Eric Holder, President Obama's first attorney general. Miller disclosed his DSCC past on his Twitter bio, which was briefly visible during the segment (see screen cap at right).
Near the end of his report, Pegues underlined that "Comey has said high-profile investigations make him feel pressured to things quickly, and do it well. Tonight, his critics are wondering if he has failed on both counts." Of course, after his Friday letter to Congress, Comey's loudest critics are now the left side of the political spectrum.
The full transcript of Jeff Pegues's report from CBS Evening News on October 28, 2016:
SCOTT PELLEY: Now, Jeff Pegues has more detail on the FBI's investigation.
JEFF PEGUES (voice-over): In his letter to members of Congress, FBI Director James Comey said that his investigative team briefed him yesterday on the new e-mails. Sources say the messages could total in the thousands.
JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR (from July 2016 press conference): Good morning—
PEGUES: Before today, it looked like the case was over. On July 5, Comey scolded Clinton for using the private e-mail server, but the FBI stopped short of recommending charges.
COMEY: There is evidence to support a conclusion that any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton's position, or in the position of those with whom she was corresponding about those matters, should have known that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation.
PEGUES: About three months later, Comey's statement was still drawing the ire of Republicans.
REP. TREY GOWDY, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA (from September 28, 2016 congressional hearing): Because it looks to me like some things were done differently that I don't recall being done back when I used to work—
COMEY: I hope some day, when this political craziness is over, you will look back again on this — because this is the FBI you know and love. This was done by pros in the right way. That's the part I have no patience for.
PEGUES: Comey has held positions in both Republican and Democratic administrations, and bristles at suggestions that he takes sides. But the timing of today's revelation has angered some former Department of Justice employees. Former spokesman Matthew Miller called the disclosure 'inappropriate' on Twitter, and suggested that Comey had broken a cardinal rule. The Justice Department 'goes out of its way to avoid publicly discussing investigations,' Miller said, especially 'close to an election.'
PEGUES (on-camer): Late today, we learned the e-mails were found on a laptop shared by Abedin and Weiner. Scott, Comey has said high-profile investigations make him feel pressured to things quickly, and do it well. Tonight, his critics are wondering if he has failed on both counts.
PELLEY: Jeff Pegues on the breaking news — Jeff, thank you.
