[nathanbedford]

On balance I believe yours is the more likely scenario.

The meeting was conducted not to clear the way for Loretta Lynch to resign thus immunizing the Obama administration from the failure to indict but to deliver bad news to Clinton and to strike a deal.

I believe the FBI is under extreme pressure not just from the public but from its own foot soldiers to recommend an indictment because the violation of law is so unambiguously clear that no self-respecting law enforcement officer could believe otherwise. There have been several articles to the effect of the FBI rank-and-file will revolt if there is no indictment. If Loretta Lynch arranged this sub Rosa meeting with Clinton to tell him that an indictment could not be avoided, she might have been laying out the terms under which Hillary withdraws from the race and accepts a pardon. The meeting was necessary to get the ascent of Hillary and Bill and to work out the timing.

The timing is important because, if one accepts that Brack Obama despises the Clintons, he is in a position now to remove her from the race and substitute a candidate of his own choosing. He could be motivated not only by dislike of the Clintons but by a belief that she cannot win, given her baggage.

I am not naïve, I don't trust anything coming from any member of this administration, I just simply believe that the consensus and momentum in the rank and file FBI will be difficult to resist and, in any event, Obama is not personally inclined to resist it.

[Cboldt]

-- I believe the FBI is under extreme pressure not just from the public but from its own foot soldiers to recommend an indictment ... --

Maybe it is just semantics, but entertain this for me.

The police and FBI investigate many things. Sometimes the investigation concludes with a finding that there isn't enough evidence, or in fact the target is innocent. Does the investigator forward those files to a prosecutor?

Hell no.

When an investigator forwards a file, that is way of saying "there is probable cause a crime has been committed. Here are the facts." The investigator is done, other than appearing to testify before a GJ or in conjunction with a trial.

In other words, every time an investigator forwards a file, he is recommending an indictment, at least to the extent his competency allows him to make recommendations.

But the law vests all, 100% of the decision to proceed (and how to proceed) with a prosecutor, not the investigator. It is totally out of line for an investigator to "recommend an indictment." There are no "prosecutors in the FBI." Investigation and prosecution are two very separate functions.

[DugwayDuke]

nathanbedford wrote: “If Loretta Lynch arranged this sub Rosa meeting with Clinton to tell him that an indictment could not be avoided, she might have been laying out the terms under which Hillary withdraws from the race and accepts a pardon. The meeting was necessary to get the ascent of Hillary and Bill and to work out the timing.”

Rather doubt AG would ‘lay out terms’ but do agree she might present the probable outcome of the investigation and tell Clinton when the outcome will be announced. The AG will leave it up to the Clintons on how they should proceed.

Fully expect Clinton to drop out (best interest of the party and the nation, blah, blah, blah.). Fully expect Biden to jump in. Hard to say how that would work out. Could result in complete implosion of democrat party.