G-Man Under Fire: The Justice Department’s inspector general has announced an investigation into FBI Director James Comey’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, particularly his disclosure 11 days before the election that he might have new information.

Comey is a Republican appointed by President Obama.

The IG isn’t looking at Comey’s decision not to prosecute Clinton, but rather his public description of her as “extremely careless” when she was Secretary of State about her use of private email; his revelation 11 days before the election that he was reopening the investigation; and his ultimate announcement just three days before Nov. 8 that he was closing it again.

The Justice Department and the FBI are not supposed to talk about criminal investigations, but Comey was stuck in the middle of a bitter political campaign with Clinton’s email troubles at the heart of the debate.  The Clinton campaign believes that Comey’s actions may have swayed a large number of undecided voters to Donald Trump.

It’s possible the IG investigation will never happen. The next attorney general, appointed by Trump, can end it.

Advice and Consent: Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense is talking tougher about Russia than his new boss. Ret. Gen. James Mattis told a Senate committee yesterday that, “There’s a decreasing number of areas where we can engage cooperatively and increasing numbers of areas where we’re going to have to confront Russia.”

Mattis revealed several points of disagreement with Trump, including his desire to adhere to the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump says he wants to break. “I think it is an imperfect arms control agreement — it’s not a friendship treaty,” he said. “But when America gives her word, we have to live up to it and work with our allies.”

Rep. Mike Pompeo, who’s up for CIA director also gave answers contrary to the president-elect. He said he would pursue an investigation of Russian hacking to influence the election, and he’s against the use of torture.

Nation: Baltimore has reached an agreement with the Justice Department to put its police department under federal monitoring aimed at reforming the whole department. The Baltimore PD came under scrutiny after the death of black arrestee Freddie Gray as the result of injuries suffered in a police van. — The EPA yesterday accused Fiat Chrysler of installing deceptive software to help about 104,000 diesel SUV’s and pickups defeat emissions tests. It’s similar to the Volkswagen scandal, that has cost that company billions of dollars.

The Bromance Brothers: President Obama surprised Vice President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a rare honor, for Biden’s long service in government. When he heard what Obama was saying, and saw the medal in the hands of a military aide, Biden quickly turned his back and controlled tears. Obama called Biden “my brother” and said, “This also gives the internet once last chance to talk about our bromance.”

Obama and Biden knew each other in the Senate before both were elevated to the White House, but they have become such good friends they’ve been the butt of jokes about their “bromance.”

End Zone: The San Diego Chargers announced yesterday that after 56 years, they are moving to Los Angeles. Die-hard Charger fans collected at the stadium, cried, and dumped their Chargers’ jerseys and gear.

The Chargers are leaving because San Diego voters refused to build them a new stadium. They are now the “LA Chargers” with a lightning bolt in their new logo, moving to a city where fans arrive at the game late, leave early, and talk about movie scripts in between.

Down East: Hold on to your duck boots, Donald Trump has pulled the Maine outdoor gear company L.L. Bean into one of his daily political controversies. Trump tweeted his thanks to Linda Bean, granddaughter of the company’s founder, for her financial support of his candidacy, “Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L.Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L.Bean.”

Some liberal customers and groups are already saying boycott LL Bean, whose chief executive says the company does not endorse political candidates or guarantee that you’ll be comfortable with them when it’s 30 degrees below zero.

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