Consciousness of Guilt is a legal concept used to establish intent.

The following is a straightforward explanation (from California but should be essentially the same for the U.S. Codes). Note that two types of consciousness of guilt are 1.) making false statements and 2.) concealing or destroying evidence. Perhaps the director of the FBI and the head of the Department of Justice need a refresher course.

From http://www.lacriminaldefenseattorney.com/…/Consciousness-of… :

“Consciousness of Guilt is both a concept and a type of circumstantial evidence used in criminal trials by prosecutors. It refers to a powerful and highly incriminating inference that a judge or jury may draw from the statements or conduct of a defendant (accused) after a crime has been committed suggesting that the defendant knows he or she is guilty of the charged crime. In other words, the defendant’s conduct after the crime is circumstantial (indirect) evidence that the defendant intended to commit the crime, or, in fact, committed the crime. “