Richard Painter, who served two and a half years as the chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bushfiled, has filed a complaint against the F.B.I. with the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates Hatch Act violations, and with the Office of Government Ethics.

Painter stated in a NY Times opinion piece:

"[Comey's] letter was sent in violation of a longstanding Justice Department policy of not discussing specifics about pending investigations ....

"[A] public communication about a pending F.B.I. investigation involving a candidate for public office that is made on the eve of an election is thus very likely to be a violation of the Hatch Act and a misuse of an official position. 

"We cannot allow F.B.I. or Justice Department officials to unnecessarily publicize pending investigations concerning candidates of either party while an election is underway."