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FBI director: Obama's views "irrelevant" on Hillary e-mail probe
hot air ^ | 12-10-15 | Morrissey

Posted on 12/10/2015 3:12:07 PM PST by doug from upland

VIDEO AT SOURCE LINK

Some may scoff at this notion, especially after Barack Obama's public assurance that Hillary Clinton's secret and unsecured private e-mail system had not compromised national security. Republicans pressed FBI Director James Comey to explain how Obama could be so certain of that conclusion. Comey, whose reputation as a straight arrow draws respect from both parties in Washington, replied that Obama has no way of knowing it:

"Anybody's view about an investigation they're not involved in is irrelevant," Comey said, and promised that the White House would not influence the investigation.

"We care about finding out what is true, and doing that in a competent, honest, and independent way," he said. "I promise you that's the way we conduct ourselves."

"As I've said many times, we don't give a rip about politics," Comey said.

In other words, the President... acted stupidly on television? Comey sounds exasperated by the issue, and he should be. If Comey's right that White House views are "irrelevant" because they aren't involved, then Obama's remarks on 60 Minutes could be seen as a form of signaling to the investigators as to what he expects them to determine. The Hill notes that this is exactly what got some at the FBI rankled about the interview.

Comey, who has famously bucked higher-ups in the past, isn't likely to countenance that kind of thing stoically. He made that point pretty clear, and the rebuke to the White House should be crystal clear.

That doesn't mean that politics won't come into play, even if Comey succeeds in keeping politics out of the investigation. Sen. Chuck Grassley made his expectations pretty clear, too, and they aren't optimistic:

Even if the search uncovers evidence of wrongdoing, critics warn that the Obama administration would be reluctant to press charges against Clinton or other former State Department officials.

"No matter what the FBI finds, a political appointee of the Justice Department will ultimately make the decision of whether or not to prosecute," Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said on Wednesday. "If the FBI refers the matter to the Justice Department, but the Justice Department refuses to prosecute, the public will not learn the facts that the FBI independently established."

As we have said all along, it's only illegal in practical terms if a prosecutor chooses to file charges and take a defendant to trial. That's out of Comey's hands, at least formally - but his reputation and position could make a decision not to press charges very, very uncomfortable for Obama and Loretta Lynch. If they assume Comey will be irrelevant, they may be taking a high-risk gamble. Comey may be doing some signaling of his own here.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas; US: Illinois; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 2016election; arkansas; election2016; email; fbi; hillary; hillaryclinton; hitlery; illinois; newyork; trump
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1 posted on 12/10/2015 3:12:07 PM PST by doug from upland
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To: doug from upland

So Oholio fires Comey and pardons Clinton just before he leaves office. At this point what difference does it make.


2 posted on 12/10/2015 3:21:26 PM PST by seawolf101
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To: doug from upland

Couldn’t 0bozo remove him and replace him with someone that leans more to his way of thinking?


3 posted on 12/10/2015 3:22:13 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")
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To: doug from upland

Can a FOIA request from a group like Judicial Watch get the FBI results?


4 posted on 12/10/2015 3:22:23 PM PST by Proud2BeRight
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To: doug from upland

“If the FBI refers the matter to the Justice Department, but the Justice Department refuses to prosecute, the public will not learn the facts that the FBI independently established.”

I wouldn’t be to sure of that. With the internet and all, things have a way of mysteriously appearing and spreading.


5 posted on 12/10/2015 3:23:28 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: doug from upland

0bama must be implicated in the probe.


6 posted on 12/10/2015 3:25:53 PM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
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To: combat_boots

I smell a set up. They are setting the stage to let her off the hook. When does the FBI try to convince everyone how independent they are. Big freakin set up.


7 posted on 12/10/2015 3:29:54 PM PST by magua
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To: SkyDancer

I think Comey was appointed to a 10 year term. I may be mistaken. The term length means he can do his job, outlasting the administration and remain apolitical. In theory.


8 posted on 12/10/2015 3:32:00 PM PST by FerociousRabbit
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To: doug from upland

I heard last night an opinion that if Comey finds enough evidence against Clinton, he WILL submit the case to the DOJ for prosecution.

If Lynch declines to prosecute, Comey will resign.

I believe it was the former Assistant Director of the FBI (can’t recall his name) who made this statement.


9 posted on 12/10/2015 3:33:30 PM PST by Signalman
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To: doug from upland

Hey Mr FBI agent, do you not recognize the chain of command?? In case not, it is Obozo, the DOJ and then the FBI. Get it?? You need to get with the truth because American lives are now depending on YOU more than ever. Trash the politics because one of your own family members may be the next muslim terrorist victim.


10 posted on 12/10/2015 3:35:46 PM PST by drypowder
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To: FerociousRabbit

Somewhere I was thinking re: J. Hoover that he was constantly held over from admin to admin so sounded like he could have been replaced by the incoming president. Dunno, just asking.


11 posted on 12/10/2015 3:35:52 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")
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To: doug from upland

a political appointee of the Justice Department will ultimately make the decision of whether or not to prosecute,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) .....And what is the matter with our political system?


12 posted on 12/10/2015 3:35:57 PM PST by Safetgiver ( Islam makes barbarism look genteel.)
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To: SkyDancer

Just checked. It’s a 10 year term.


13 posted on 12/10/2015 3:43:39 PM PST by FerociousRabbit
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To: SkyDancer

Nixon did that. Comey has a 10-year term to insulate him from politics, but if Obama wants him gone, he will be gone.

The bumper sticker that resulted was from Nixon firing Archibald Cox:

IMPEACH NIXON, THE COX-SACKER


14 posted on 12/10/2015 3:52:35 PM PST by doug from upland (Some of you keep telling yourself -- Romney would have been as bad or worse.)
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To: doug from upland

keep the investigation going until president Trump takes over... then we can watch her lose AND then get thrown in jail


15 posted on 12/10/2015 3:53:58 PM PST by Mr. K (If it is HilLIARy -vs- Jeb! then I am writing-in Palin/Cruz)
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To: FerociousRabbit
doug from upland wrote: " Nixon did that. Comey has a 10-year term to insulate him from politics, but if Obama wants him gone, he will be gone.

The bumper sticker that resulted was from Nixon firing Archibald Cox:

IMPEACH NIXON, THE COX-SACKER

16 posted on 12/10/2015 4:00:28 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")
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To: SkyDancer

I have never seen that bumper sticker - too funny!


17 posted on 12/10/2015 4:04:53 PM PST by FerociousRabbit
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To: FerociousRabbit

No, the FBI Director is an appointment by the President who is confirmed by the Senate. He can be replaced at any time.


18 posted on 12/10/2015 4:10:06 PM PST by Robert DeLong (u)
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To: FerociousRabbit

I stand corrected, it is indeed a 10 year term, however, most do not last that long because they resign.


19 posted on 12/10/2015 4:13:50 PM PST by Robert DeLong (u)
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To: doug from upland

Please arrest her on October 31st, 2016.


20 posted on 12/10/2015 4:14:10 PM PST by struggle
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