FBI Director James Comey says he doesn't mind if people disagree with the results of the agency's probe of Hillary Clinton's email server – but he won't tolerate insults suggesting his investigators are "weasels" who bowed to political pressure.
In testimony before a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, an emotional Comey insisted: "We are honest people and … whether or not you agree with the result, this was done the way you want it to be done," Politico reports.
"You can call us wrong, but don’t call us weasels," he declared. "We are not weasels."
Comey also flatly rejected claims of favoritism in his recommendation that neither Clinton nor any of her aides be prosecuted for having classified information on the former secretary of state's email server.
"I knew there were going to be all kinds of rocks thrown, but this organization and the people who did this are honest, independent people," he said, Politico reports. "We do not carry water for one side or the other. That’s hard for people to see because so much of our country, we see things through sides."
"We are not on anybody’s side," he said.
It was at the at least third time Comey’s been on Capitol Hill since the Clinton email probe was closed, Politico reports, and despite the second-guessing from GOP lawmakers about the method and outcome of the FBI Clinton probe, Comey said no prosecution was warranted.
"As painful as this is for people, this was not a close call," he said, Politico reports. "This was done by pros in the right way."