Devlin Barrett describes how an agency seized with righteous certainty waded into the most important political moment in the life of the nation, and had no idea how to back out with dignity. So it doggedly stood its ground, compounding its error. In a momentous display of self-preservation, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, and key Justice Department officials decided to protect their own reputations rather than save the democratic process. Once they made that determination, the race was lost for Clinton, who was helpless in front of their accusation even though she had not intended to commit any crime.