While the FBI under Comey made errors and misjudgments regarding the Clinton email investigation and the Steele dossier, multiple official reports and investigations conclude that the Russia investigation was not a hoax and that the Steele dossier played a limited but not central role.
Mostly False
Newly declassified report shows Comey’s FBI failed to properly investigate Hillary’s emails while chasing Steele Dossier lies and the Russia hoax.
FactVerify
Source: factverify.com
At a glance
Verified July 21, 2025Key Evidence
The DOJ OIG report documented errors but no intentional misconduct in FBI investigations of Clinton emails and Russia matters.
cnn.comcnn.comThe Steele dossier: A reckoning
Newly declassified documents show FBI misled Congress on Steele dossier reliability but confirm it was not central to the Russia probe.
Multiple government investigations confirm Russian interference and contacts with Trump associates, disproving claims of a 'hoax'.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The claim contains several components: first, that Comey’s FBI failed to properly investigate Hillary Clinton’s emails; second, that the FBI was distracted by pursuing falsehoods from the Steele dossier; and third, that the Russia investigation was a hoax. Regarding the Clinton email investigation, Comey publicly acknowledged errors such as emails not being properly marked classified and procedural missteps, but he also stated the investigation was conducted thoroughly given the circumstances.fbi.govfbi.govStatement by FBI Director James B. Comey on the Investigation of Secretary...
The Department of Justice Inspector General (DOJ OIG) report found some FBI and DOJ errors in handling both the Clinton email probe and FISA applications related to Russia investigations but did not conclude intentional misconduct or a cover-up.cnn.comcnn.comThe Steele dossier: A reckoning On the Steele dossier, it is true that some FBI officials misrepresented its reliability to Congress and the FISA court, as revealed by newly declassified documents.
However, multiple government reports have found that the dossier played a limited role in initiating or sustaining the Russia probe.nytimes.comnytimes.comWhy the Discredited Dossier Does Not Undercut the Russia Investigation... The claim that the Russia investigation was a 'hoax' is contradicted by extensive evidence including indictments, guilty pleas, and bipartisan investigations confirming Russian interference in the 2016 election and contacts with Trump campaign associates.
While some officials may have erred or overstated aspects of evidence, there is no credible basis to label the entire investigation a hoax. The claim also conflates errors or misrepresentations with intentional deception or failure to investigate. Overall, this statement oversimplifies complex findings and selectively emphasizes criticisms while ignoring broader conclusions from authoritative sources.
Primary trail
Verified Sources5
Open source