Consultation with the Public Integrity Section is not required at this initial stage, although it is always welcome. If the results of the preliminary inquiry suggest that further investigation is warranted, the United States Attorney’s Office should contact the Public Integrity Section. Specifically, consultation with the Public Integrity Section, and with higher-level Department officials in the event agreement is not reached, is required for all grand jury and “full” investigations 38 of election fraud. Consultation with the Public Integrity Section is also required prior to filing any complaint or information, or prior to requesting a grand jury to act upon a proposed indictment that charges any of the election fraud offenses discussed in this chapter. In practice, consultation typically proceeds as follows: • The results of the preliminary investigation are submitted to FBI Headquarters and the Public Integrity Section, together with the recommendation of the United States Attorney’s Office as to whether further investigation is warranted. At this point, if the matter has merit, it is discussed informally between the Section and the Assistant United States Attorney responsible for the matter, and, on occasion, between the Section and the FBI. • The Public Integrity Section may suggest that additional investigation be conducted before determining whether a full-field or grand jury investigation is warranted. The Section may also request a preliminary investigation of a complaint in order to determine whether a federal crime may have occurred, and, if so, whether federal prosecution of that offense is appropriate. It generally involves an FBI interview of the complainant and follow-up on certain investigative leads arising from the interview. 38 In connection with election crime matters, a “full” FBI investigation is, essentially, anything beyond an assessment, and includes the FBI terms “preliminary investigation” and “full investigation.” DIOG §§ 6 & 7. It is typically a broad-based investigation that often accompanies a grand jury investigation. Its purpose is to develop sufficient evidence of federal crimes to support federal charges. 81