FBI Director James Comey did his best yesterday to convince the nation that the agency’s probe of Hillary Clinton’s e-mail debacle was thorough, transparent and completely free of political interference and contamination. We can all rest assured that the matter has been looked into exhaustively, everyone potentially in the prosecutorial cross hairs was completely open and cooperative, and as director of the agency he couldn’t be more proud of the job of the way the investigation was handled and, more importantly, brought to a close.

Clinton got a few slaps on the wrist from Comey for mishandling classified information and for inspiring similar recklessness by staff and, generally, throughout the State Department (when she was secretary of state). But there was no evidence of criminal conduct, and no “reasonable” prosecutor would seek indictments, Comey said.

The FBI director might have been hoping to put the whole sordid matter to rest with his explanatory news conference yesterday—just as President Barack Obama and the presumptive nominee were making their first campaign appearance together in Charlotte, N.C. Instead, Comey unleashed a firestorm, directly contradicting several claims Clinton previously had made about her private server and emails.

Click on this to watch FBI director James Comey press conference.

Leid Stories discusses Comey’s statements yesterday, and how and why President Obama, his administration and the Democratic Party are all shielding Hillary Clinton.