2016.... LONG AFTER the documents, media, records of any kind had been subpenaed in multiple civil cases.
Secondly, if they lied about it, not to the media or the public, but the feds, that is a federal crime in itself..
Remember, Hastert didn’t go down (pardon the bad pun) for playing “Hide the Salami” with young boys. His 18 month problem came from lying to the feds about it.
Also, pizzing off Federal Judges is not a smart move, and at least two judges may find that this was ignoring their Orders to Produce.
Had a matter where the other side did not produce after 3 orders to do so. Judge said to opposing counsel: “Counselor: Tomorrow morning, (pointing down) RIGHT HERE. Bring all 350 pages... or bring your toothbrush!”
(Meaning you are going for contempt if the docs are not produced.)
And Martha Stewart would not have gone to jail if she hadn’t lied to a federal investigator.
I would think this has to do with destroying other types of files, not the files under subpoena but files created afterwards, and unrelated to the investigation (of course it is possible they are slipping some things through). The DNC and her campaign are private organizations and are entitled to destroy their own documents, redundant copies of information (such as in order prevent too many copies of campaign information, fundraising data, opposition research, private communications etc from floating around).
I hate the fact that these politicians play both sides of the fence though. They are private organizations, not public. They are entitled to Constitutional protections - many of which have been greatly eroded by invasive and abusive laws and regulations. But as they are private, they should not be receiving 1 penny in public funds. Taxpayers should not be paying for primaries or caucuses or campaigns. But we do. They behave like private citizens but expect to be treated like public institutions. It is just one more on a long list of things this country needs to fix.
Since they are receiving public funds, the information should never be totally destroyed and should be available under FOIA. I am not sure what the law states but that is the way it should be. Private = protected. Public = open to all. IMO of course.