Top Democrats say the long-awaited report released by the Justice Department's internal watchdog on Thursday proves that the FBI's handling of the Clinton email investigation helped Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE win the 2016 presidential election.

"It was Trump who benefited from all these mistakes so it hardly reflects deep state or bias against him. ... At the end of the day, the actions reviewed in this report helped Donald Trump win the election, not the other way around," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (D-N.Y.) told reporters on Thursday.

Rep. Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffPelosi, Democrats unveil bills to rein in alleged White House abuses of power Chris Matthews ripped for complimenting Trump's 'true presidential behavior' on Ginsburg Trump casts doubt on Ginsburg statement, wonders if it was written by Schiff, Pelosi or Schumer MORE (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, added that then-FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE and other FBI officials "made serious errors of judgement" that "had the effect of helping the Trump campaign."

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The report, from Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, hammered Comey for poor judgment during the 2016 election, but found no evidence that his key decisions were improperly influenced by political bias in his probe into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE's use of a private email server.

Schumer and Schiff, along with Sens. Mark Warner Mark Robert WarnerDemocrats call for declassifying election threats after briefing by Trump officials It's time to upgrade benefits Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (D-Va.) and Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinFeinstein 'surprised and taken aback' by suggestion she's not up for Supreme Court fight Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Biden leads Trump by 12 points among Catholic voters: poll MORE (D-Calif.), the top Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.); Rep. Jerry Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Schumer: 'Nothing is off the table' if GOP moves forward with Ginsburg replacement Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings Elijah Eugene CummingsBlack GOP candidate accuses Behar of wearing black face in heated interview Overnight Health Care: US won't join global coronavirus vaccine initiative | Federal panel lays out initial priorities for COVID-19 vaccine distribution | NIH panel: 'Insufficient data' to show treatment touted by Trump works House Oversight Democrats to subpoena AbbVie in drug pricing probe MORE (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and House Oversight Committee, held a press conference hours after the inspector general's report was released.

"The actions of the then-FBI director more than one time actually benefited Mr. Trump's campaign and his election chances," Warner said.

Democrats repeatedly brought up Horowitz's finding that "no evidence that the conclusions by department prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations" — all while standing next to a sign that depicted the quote.

Schumer added that the inspector general report "made clear" that Comey mishandled the Clinton investigation.

"We Democrats said that then," he added, referring to the 2016 probe.

Republicans, meanwhile, have seized on the revelation of an inflammatory text message exchange between Peter Strzok, a top investigator into the Clinton email probe and into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, and FBI attorney Lisa Page that was included in the inspector general report.

“[Trump’s] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!” Page texted Strzok in August 2016. “No. No he won’t. We’ll stop it,” Strzok responded, according to the report.

Strzok and Page were removed from special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election after the text messages were obtained by internal investigators in the summer of 2017.

Democrats, on Thursday, warned Republicans and Trump against using the report to try to undercut Mueller's investigation.

"Nothing in this report lays a glove on special counsel Mueller," Schumer said.

Pelosi added that the report "provides no basis for the GOP to challenge the legitimacy of the Mueller investigation."