DOJ watchdog accuses ex-FBI official of leaking 'sensitive' information, accepting gift from media

The Justice Department’s inspector general (IG) issued a report Wednesday accusing a former FBI deputy assistant director of leaking “sensitive” information to a member of the press.

A report from the Office of the Inspector General found the unnamed former official had accepted a gift from a member of the media. 

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In return, the IG report found, the FBI official “engaged in misconduct when the [official] accepted a ticket, valued at approximately $225, to attend a media-sponsored dinner, as a gift from a member of the media, in violation of federal regulations and FBI policy.”

The report provided little information into the nature of what was leaked.

No charges have yet been filed, with the report stating that prosecution of the former deputy assistant director had been “declined” without providing further explanation. The case has been referred to the FBI for potential further action.

A spokesman for the Justice Department did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill on the investigation.

The accusations came as part of the Justice Department IG’s review of the FBI’s conduct during the 2016 campaign season, which recommended that the FBI “consider whether (a) it is appropriately educating employees about both its media contact policy and the Department’s ethics rules pertaining to the acceptance of gifts, and (b) its disciplinary provisions and penalties are sufficient to deter such improper conduct.”

The Justice Department also recently assembled a team of prosecutors to review of the origins of the investigation into President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrat to announce Senate bid Wednesday against Lindsey Graham Harris praises Amash for calling for Trump’s impeachment: He has ‘put country before party’ NY Times reporter wears wedding dress to cover Trump in Japan after last-minute dress code MORE‘s campaign and Russia in 2016.

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