[SFConservative]

... he had to take what they said at face value unless there was directly contradictory evidence.

That may be so by his procedures, but that makes his office useless as a serious investigative function. He had a huge pile of indirect evidence staring him in the face, suggesting that what he was being told is very likely untrue. He should have dug deeper, procedures be damned, or be ashamed to accept his paycheck.

[Freee-dame]

. he had to take what they said at face value unless there was directly contradictory evidence.

Horowitz could have made this clear in his summary. Instead, he left it unclear, giving the propaganda media the opportunity to continue to attack Trump.

[M-cubed]

... he had to take what they said at face value unless there was directly contradictory evidence.

That may be so by his procedures, but that makes his office useless as a serious investigative function <<—

BINGO!....With approximately 1,600 employees, the OIG performs audits, investigations, and evaluations, to establish policy recommendations for decision-makers and the public. = A Fox guarding a Henhouse...

establish policy???...Like an FBI agent robs a bank...IG says to FBI...you need a policy not to hire Bank robbers....My work is done now...