FBI Director Comey Dismantles Right-Wing Media’s Attempt To Scandalize Limited Immunity For Aides In Clinton Email Case

Comey: Immunity Agreements Used In Clinton Case Are “A Fairly Normal Tool In Investigations”

Written by Media Matters Staff

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During the House Judiciary Committee’s annual Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation hearing, FBI Director James Comey dismantled an attempt to scandalize the immunity deals granted to long-time Clinton aide Cheryl Mills and Heather Samuelson in the now-closed FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. Right-wing media has long tried to scandalize various grants of immunity in the email investigation, most recently by falsely claiming that the limited immunity provided to Mills and Samuelson for a specific laptop search was broad and suggesting it is proof of criminal wrongdoing. However, as Comey notes, the form of immunity that was granted is “a fairly normal tool in investigations.” From the September 28 House Judiciary Committee's Annual Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Hearing, as aired on Fox News' America's Newsroom: 

REP. BOB GOODLATTE (R-VA): Both Cheryl Mills and Heather Samuelson were granted immunity for production of these computers, these laptops. Why were they then allowed to sit in on the interview with Secretary Clinton? 

JAMES COMEY: The Department of Justice reached a letter agreement with the two lawyers to give them what's called 'Act of Production Immunity', meaning nothing that's found on their -- the laptop they turn over will be used against them directly -- which is a fairly normal tool in investigations -- they were, Ms. Mills in particular was, a member of the Secretary Clinton's legal team. And so, Secretary Clinton decides which of her lawyers come to voluntary interviews with the FBI.