washington u.s. justice department thursday say would probe federal bureau investigation decision announce inquiry hillary clinton email shortly november presidential election move blame factor defeat justice department office inspector general say statement investigation would focus part decisions lead public statements fbi director jam comey regard clinton investigation whether may base improper considerations controversy involve clinton use private email server official correspondence secretary state president barack obama include message late determine contain classify information office inspector general michael horowitz say decide open review response request numerous chairmen rank members congressional oversight committees various organizations members public although fbi ultimately decide refer clinton case prosecution democrats say comey announcement damage voters right election face complaints move politically motivate law enforcement authorities include fbi custom disclose information investigations end criminal charge review find evidence misconduct officials involve would refer disciplinary action statement comey say fbi would cooperate fully grateful horowitz probe professional independent ... hope much able share conclusions observations public everyone benefit thoughtful evaluation transparency regard matter brian fallon clinton spokesman tell msnbc thursday comey action cry independent review senator dick durbin democrat u.s. senate say comey statements fair professional consistent policies federal bureau investigation president-elect donald trump swear jan. 20 power dismiss probe federal law permit u.s. presidents dismiss inspectors general federal agencies long president provide congress write justification removal 30 days advance often lead crowd chant lock election campaign trump candidate repeatedly accuse clinton illegal conduct email debate october vow would jail matter become president since say would pursue prosecution pre-election announcement comey publicly announce status agency investigation clinton email two time 2016. july comey hold press conference testify congress explain fbi decide refer clinton prosecution explain extremely careless charge gross negligence federal crime october less two weeks nov. election comey send members congress letter say fbi resume investigation new email find computer disgrace former representative anthony weiner husband one clinton top aid u.s. attorney general loretta lynch inform comey day send letter would conflict official justice department guidance instruct employees never select time investigative step ... purpose affect election comey ask whether explicitly direct send letter lynch never give comey order senior government official tell reuters time nov. comey say investigation weiner computer produce new evidence would incriminate clinton republican senator chuck grassley chair senate judiciary committee thursday commend horowitz open probe conspicuously absent though specific reference attorney general failure recuse probe particularly meet former president bill clinton say grassley statement half-hour meet take place june board lynch plane park tarmac phoenix draw criticism lynch politically bias unfit oversee investigation hillary clinton email server critics comey decisions also say could violation hatch act 1939 law bar government employees interfere u.s. elections fbi investigate pre-election decisions clinton email