After a relatively long silence in response to the long-awaited IG report on the “midyear investigation,” AKA Hillary Clinton’s e-mail scandal, Donald Trump finally weighed in today on Michael Horowitz’ findings. It amounted to a victory lap complete with an I told you so on James Comey’s firing. The president took to Twitter to congratulate himself on his “good instincts”:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1007577375905861637

It’s true that the IG report reflects the worst on Comey, but Comey has a long way to go to surpass J. Edgar Hoover as the “worst leader, by far, in the history of the FBI.” Still, Horowitz’ report shows an organization out of control, undisciplined and arrogant, which turns out to have reflected its leader all too well. Just the issue of the media leaks alone, in which several if not dozens of FBI agents are trading inside information for perks from the media, demonstrates that the FBI needed new leadership.

It may need more than that. Horowitz has another investigation going into the conduct of the FBI and Department of Justice during the Russia-collusion probe, and that one’s not likely to turn out any better for either organization than the report released yesterday. Peter Strzok’s “we’ll stop him” text and another agent’s “Viva le resistance” [sic] may not have been enough to trip the line on bias for Horowitz on the Hillary probe, but it’s undeniable in relation to any investigation involving Trump.

Hugh Hewitt argued for a second special counsel appointment to determine whether any criminal referrals are needed:

The IG Report is do devastating that USAG Sessions should appoint 2d SC immediately to review its findings, and the Bureau's conduct during 2016 and up to appointment of SC Mueller. I suggest @Boeing GC and former fed judge J. Michael Luttig. The "cloud" has to be cleared.

— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) June 15, 2018

The IG Report is so obvious –from September 28 to October 24 nothing happened, zero, zip, re server investigation while Agent Strzok was texting "we'll stop" @realDonaldTrump — that it will take a SC 2.0 to restore confidence that law if being applied here, not US Atty in Utah.

— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) June 15, 2018

Color me reluctant to add yet another roving prosecutor investigating in the absence of a clear crime. So far, Horowitz has only recommended a criminal referral for Andrew McCabe, and US Attorney John Huber is partnering with the IG on that and other issues. Nothing so far in the IG’s report released yesterday suggests criminal behavior except perhaps for the leaking, and that is something which the DoJ is both capable of and responsible for investigating. Until there is evidence of a crime that creates such a substantial conflict of interest that the DoJ cannot fairly investigate it, we should refrain from setting loose yet another politically untouchable and unaccountable roving prosecutor. If nothing else, the special-counsel option may need to be a last resort after Horowitz finished his current review of FBI/DoJ conduct in the Russia-collusion probe.

What is apparent is that the FBI needs to conduct a thorough housecleaning. Peter Strzok should have gotten a pink slip months ago, and the agents who trade information on ongoing investigations for media perks should be shown the door as well. The Horowitz report describes a law-enforcement organization that’s more interested in politics than professionalism, another reflection of its most recent ex-leader, and its credibility is at a low ebb. That matters when it comes to enforcing the law and prosecuting actual criminals, so Christopher Wray needs to take immediate, broad, and forceful action to remind the bureau of its actual mission. If he can’t handle that, then Trump needs to find an FBI director who can.

Speaking of Strzok, Trump had a word or two to say about him as well this morning:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1007572229935202304

I’m not sure that’s entirely true, either. We’ll know more about the depth of the scandal after Horowitz writes his next report.