Posted on 07/05/2016 4:50:42 PM PDT by Kaslin
I may be alone in saying this, but when the proverbial dust settles, James Comey may have hurt Hillary Clinton more than he helped her in his statement Tuesday concerning the Grand Email Controversy. He may have let her off the hook legally, but personally he has left the putative Democratic candidate scarred almost beyond recognition.
By getting out in front of the Justice Department, the FBI director, speaking publicly in an admittedly unusual fashion, was able to frame the case in a manner that Attorney General Loretta Lynch in all probability never would have.
Read this portion of Comey's transcript and ask yourself how this person (Clinton) could ever serve successfully as president of the United States:
Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case. Prosecutors necessarily weigh a number of factors before bringing charges. There are obvious considerations, like the strength of the evidence, especially regarding intent. Responsible decisions also consider the context of a person’s actions, and how similar situations have been handled in the past.
In looking back at our investigations into mishandling or removal of classified information, we cannot find a case that would support bringing criminal charges on these facts. All the cases prosecuted involved some combination of: clearly intentional and willful mishandling of classified information; or vast quantities of materials exposed in such a way as to support an inference of intentional misconduct; or indications of disloyalty to the United States; or efforts to obstruct justice. We do not see those things here.
To be clear, this is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions. But that is not what we are deciding now.
Look at that last paragraph again, because, if the Republicans have any brains at all, they will be quoting it ad infinitum. "To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions." What Comey is clearly saying (and leaving for us to "decide now") is that--whether you agree with his decision not to indict or no (I don't)—in a normal, real-world situation Clinton would face consequences, quite probably be demoted or even fired, certainly not promoted to the presidency of the United States, for what she did.
Which brings me back to why Comey made this speech.
Yes, I suppose he owed it to the public, as he indicated. But I wonder if the greater motivation was fear that Clinton would be completely exonerated, that she would skate away free once he passed the FBI decision on to the Justice Department. It's hard to imagine Lynch speaking in public about how Clinton and her aides were "extremely careless" about national security, obvious though that was, or the high probability that the Clinton's server, not to mention her cell phone (!), was hacked by foreign powers. There were also several new revelations, such as the surprising fact that there were actually multiple personal servers, not just one. This was prevarication of a high and deliberate order. (Remember how Hillary claimed Powell and Rice did the same thing? What complete and utter horse hockey.) And that her lawyers never actually read her emails before deleting them, relying on the subject lines (how to keep yourself out of trouble).
The proximity of Comey's statement to the Bill Clinton/Loretta Lynch meeting on Lynch's plane should also be noted and is potential grist for the mill for historians in the years to come.
My purpose here is not to exonerate Comey. In all probability he was a more than a bit of a coward, looking for a way out. But that way out may prove to have powerful ramifications. A Hillary indictment, in all likelihood, would have meant a new and more scandal-free Democratic candidate, a Joe Biden perhaps, far more potent than the seriously wounded Clinton who now has even more explaining to do. It's an endless case of be-careful-what-you-wish-for. And if we are to believe Judicial Watch (and I do), it's only just begun:
FBI Director James Comey detailed Hillary Clinton’s massive destruction of government records and grossly negligent handling of classified information. Frankly, there’s a disconnect between Comey’s devastating findings and his weak recommendation not to prosecute Hillary Clinton. Federal prosecutors, independent of politics, need to consider whether to pursue the potential violations of law confirmed by the FBI.
Hurt her more than putting her in jail?
Even Clintonites might have to concede that campaigning while in jail is problematic.
How many people will remember the Email Investigation (if they even know about it) come election day?
When you answer that question you'll know that, with a majority of people now collecting some type of check from the gov’t and illegals being allowed to vote, the game is over.
Trump will need a miracle to pull off a win when you have the entire fed gov’t against you as well as the propaganda mill called the “MSM”.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Feds try to get some indictment against Trump for something in his business dealings before the election.
Remember the Ceausescus.
Exactly. All Comey actually did was make a mockery of the FBI and the rule of law.
Its not the first time and it won’t be the last. For example, Robert Hanssen was an FBI agent and a Soviet spy for 22 years.
How would that differ from the past 8 years of Obamunist subversion and corruption that we’ve been dealing with?
I think he did do a number on Hillary. Clips of what he said against her lies would make a great TV ad.
I think he was saying, as clearly as he could, that the fix is in from Obama and the FBI was overridden.
Wondering if Congress can appoint a special prosecutor.
Yes they can...if Obama signs off on it.
Yea, he destroyed her with his too clever words, just like Chief Justice Roberts destroyed Obamacare. They’re both under someone’s thumb.
but Comey’s statements are very damning!!!
What was in the public record - not including what was obviously implied - last fall was sufficient to convict.
Nothing wasinvestigated in the first place. They claimed to have 150 Agents on this and relatedmatters. They retrieved some email fragments)?) and parsed a story together to clear Hillary and shove it right in our faces. They never looked at the Crime Foundation, the Uranium sales, Pay for Play, Insider Trading, etc... The crimes she got away with were on the table from day one. She admitted them in public and tried to make excuses. Well it worked. Nothing going to stop her unless Trump brings his A Game starting yesterday. The GOP is doing everything to bring down Trump.
Per Fox News, that seems to be the on the table still...
national security violations
Yes, a sickening mockery of a once great nation of laws,
Its pretty obvious to me that the word went out from on high that Comey could go out there and ‘get tough with Mrs Clinton,’ but then that would be the end of it,
It clearly was not his call, he lost control of his now politicized position and utterly failed in his sworn duty to the American people, he did exactly as he was told,
Maybe his ‘tough talk’ routine was intended to soften the blow of sleepless nights to whatever fading bit of a lawman’s conscience he still has remaining,
Clinton and Obama flaunted their lawlessness in our faces with the whole air-force one, presidential podium, 4th of July holiday resolution, speech scheduled at the same moment as the FBI, bold black and white color coordination for the dramatic photo ops,
We’re not supposed to notice all of that, we’re just supposed to get the following from today headlines: ooh and ahh and move on, old news, shes proven innocent, Donald Trump is antisemitic and racist,
Lawlessness is what we have now,
Yes he did. She now must play defense, defending her every move and word against the unstoppable and unrelenting attacks by Don Trump.
Lying Hillary, Crooked Hillary, Sloppy Hillary, Unfit Hillary...
Hoisted upon her own petard!
These so-called theories are always wishful thinking.
The only good news is that jeopardy hasn’t attached and Hillary can still be indicted with a honest and competent justice department. Probably won’t happen, but it is still possible.
Asinine article. Nothing would have scarred here more than to run for president while being indicted by the freaking FBI!!!!
Asinine article. Where does this idiocy come from? Who is stupid enough to come up with these brain dead ideas?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.