Posted on 04/20/2016 5:28:14 AM PDT by markomalley
A group of former agents has written a letter to FBI Director Comey saying the “future of the bureau” hinges on what happens in the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private email server. The letter from a group of retired agents in Long Island compares the Clinton email scandal to another famous FBI case known as ABSCAM. ABSCAM involved public corruption of politicians who were filmed taking bribes from a fictitious front company. Fox News published the letter over the weekend. It reads:
Dear Director Comey,
The Long Island Chapter of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, hereinafter called the Chapter, would like to extend our ardent support for you and the agents involved in the enormous challenge with which you are confronted– the investigation into an email controversy involving a high government official’s alleged mishandling of classified information on her private email server.
In 1978 a number of agents in the Chapter were directly involved in a sting operation, ABSCAM, a highly publicized investigation of which Judge William Webster said at the outset, “The future of the FBI rests on this case.” Your’s and the bureau’s challenge today is a far cry from what existed thirty-eight years ago. Similarly, it is the Chapter membership’s opinion that not only does the future of the Bureau but also that of the United States of America rests on the outcome of this crucial case. Decisions must be made on facts alone. Much is at stake here– people’s trust in the Bureau for years to come, as well as the Bureau’s reputation among our allies, partners, and friends as the greatest law enforcement agency in the world.
You have the enthusiastic respect of the Chapter, and we are certain of the loyalty of all former agents of the FBI.
It would be easy to read too much into this. This is one group of former agents in Long Island. The suggestion that the future of the country depends on this case sounds like something a group of conservatives might say. In other words, this does not sound like a group of completely disinterested observers. The sound like people who want to see Clinton prosecuted.
On the other hand, it would also be too easy to dismiss this as nothing more than a group of retired partisans. Just because these retired agents seem to have an opinion does not mean they are wrong. For one thing, retired agents probably have more insight into the investigation than non-agents. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are getting leaks from inside the FBI but some of them may still have connections. Their suggestion that the case should turn on the “facts alone” suggests they have a sense of what the facts are and also that they are concerned about political pressure which might impact the decision apart from those facts. Even if these agents don’t have access to insider information on the case, they probably do have a sense of how political pressure works inside the FBI and that concern prompted this letter.
The good news is that Director Comey appears to be that rare individual in the Obama administration who doesn’t feel the need to coordinate his actions with the White House. Some reports have suggested the FBI investigation could be completed next month.
One of our state supreme court justices is a former US Attorney, who knows Comey from those days. I spoke with him regarding this case a month or so ago. He believes Comey will follow the law.
I hope he is right.
So does that mean the FBI goes to hell if they do the right thing?.....Or if they don’t do the right thing.
Barky has had 7 and a half years to politicize every agency of government. Why think the FBI would be an exception ?
The fbi has been politicized already. To restore its credibility, it has to go 10 years without bowing down to political pressure. I doubt it can do that.
:: Decisions must be made on facts alone ::
Implication...political decisions are not dependent on facts.
The FBI legacy rests on Waco, Ruby Ridge and now the recent Death to Americans! exercise in rural Oregon.
If nothing comes of this, going forward every defense lawyer in a Federal case will be able to blow the thing sky high by asking why their client was indicted when Hillary! Clinton was not.
The law applies equally to everyone, or it does not apply at all.
If nothing comes of this, going forward every defense lawyer in a Federal case will be able to blow the thing sky high by asking why their client was indicted when Hillary! Clinton was not.
The law applies equally to everyone, or it does not apply at all.
An excellent point. The ‘comeuppance’ would be at an all time high.
Drama queens just haven’t accepted the fact that the US is a banana republic. The FBI can continue to thrive, it is simply required to allow certain privileged people to operate outside of the law.
What a joke. IRS is as corrupt as it can be. Has anyone gone to jail for targeting citizens? For destroying evidence? Perjury?
NSA, DHS spying on civilians w/o warrants...has anyone been held to acct? What? Do we now live in the old Soviet Union?
The evidence is largely in on Hillary Clinton's mishandling of sensitive documents. She destroyed evidence, perjured herself, obstructed an investigation, conspired to do the same with aides as well as mishandling sensitive documents.
This is only the beginning. The FBI also investigating influence peddling through the Clinton foundation while at the State Dept. Her and Billy both.
If this woman isn't brought to justice, the “rule of law” will mean NOTHING to me. In my mind, Equal Justice is dead. Faith will be all but lost in my mind for this government.
Un-freakin-believeable.
Uh, sorry. Chief rats excluded.
I hope I’m wrong. But just watch.
The law applies only to those who get called on it. The government chooses who to call on it. The law does not apply equally to all, never did and never will.
The argument you suggest will not work. No competent defense lawyer would attempt it. Everybody in the legal system knows that not all criminal acts are prosecuted. The fact that law is uneven and unfair is no defense at all.
If they don't, they will never be able to make and prosecute another national security case - ever. The defense atty for anyone accused will simply point out that the precedent has been set - no punishment for gross negligence, even intentional mishandling, of classified information. A failure to prosecute will be a boon to foreign intelligence agent's recruiting: "Don't worry comrade, if you get caught with this information you're getting for us, nothing will come of it..." So yeah, I bet the CIA, NSA, and other shadowy agencies are looking at this with more than a little interest. This has to be pursued.
You no longer live in a law biding republic. The USA is now a lawless oligarchy, just like Mexico. Vote Trump and maybe the republic can be restored, maybe.
I would add the handling of TWA 800 to that litany.
If the FBI has to go down in flames to protect the Clinton Machine, that’s what will happen. Do not doubt me.
I lost all faith when Xlinton was president. This POS govt. is more corrupt than Mexico's. Bar none.
I'm afraid you are correct. If Comey was inclined to follow the law Clinton would have been indicted months ago. I agree with the letters statements that the fate of the US as we know it will in large part be determined by the outcome of this case. Everyone that has any modicum of intelligence knows she has committed crimes on a level that would send her away for the rest of her days. If we let her walk, we're done.
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