Des Moines Sun

U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has released internal emails and an FBI Electronic Communication that reveal Department of Justice officials declined to open a criminal investigation into alleged campaign finance violations by Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee. The documents indicate that, despite evidence from FBI agents suggesting Clinton and the DNC concealed payments for opposition research targeting Donald Trump, DOJ officials did not move forward with an inquiry.

In 2022, the Federal Election Commission fined both Clinton and the DNC after it was determined they misreported expenses related to hiring Fusion GPS, which produced the Steele Dossier alleging ties between Trump and Russia. The dossier’s claims were later discredited.

The records show that Richard Pilger from the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section and J.P. Cooney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia decided against opening an investigation at that time. Pilger later played a key role in reviewing Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation, while Cooney served as Smith’s Deputy Special Counsel during that probe.

According to Grassley, “Courageous whistleblowers came to my office years ago to sound the alarm that the Justice Department inappropriately interfered in efforts to investigate potential criminal activity committed by Hillary Clinton and her campaign.” He added, “These records show the same partisans who rushed to cover for Clinton rabidly pursued Arctic Frost, which was a runaway train aimed directly at President Trump and the Republican political apparatus. I appreciate Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel’s efforts to turn over the information I requested, and I’ll continue investigating this matter.”

The disclosed materials were provided by DOJ and FBI officials following Grassley’s oversight request. Additional details are available through links included in Grassley's public statement.