"These new standards present a compelling case for public transparency around the fate of the FCIC referrals," Elizabeth Warren said in letter to FBI Director James Comey. | AP Photo Warren, invoking Clinton, demands FBI explain failure to charge bankers

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is trying to leverage the FBI's unusual embrace of transparency around Hillary Clinton's email investigation as a means to get answers about why more banking executives were not punished after the 2008 financial crisis.

The Massachusetts Democrat is calling on FBI Director James Comey to explain how the bureau responded to referrals that the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission made to the Justice Department regarding potential wrongdoing by financial institutions and executives in connection with the meltdown.


"Your recent actions with regard to the investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton provide a clear precedent for releasing additional information about the investigation of the parties responsible for the financial crisis," Warren said in a letter to Comey being sent on Thursday.

On July 5, Comey held a news conference on the FBI's investigation into the private email server used by the Democratic presidential nominee while she led the State Department. He later appeared before Congress to talk about it.

Warren wants similar treatment. She is asking Comey to release investigative materials related to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission's suggestions and agree to a public hearing.

"These new standards present a compelling case for public transparency around the fate of the FCIC referrals," she said. "If Secretary Clinton's email server was of sufficient 'interest' to establish a new FBI standard of transparency, then surely the criminal prosecution of those responsible for the 2008 financial crisis should be subject to the same level of transparency."

In addition, Warren is asking Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz to investigate the department's response to the commission.

The 11 referrals cited by Warren include former Citigroup Chief Executive Officer Chuck Prince and former Citigroup board member Robert Rubin, who served as Treasury Secretary in President Bill Clinton's administration.

"This failure is outrageous and baffling, and it requires an explanation," Warren said in a letter to Horowitz.