Posted on 02/08/2016 5:27:42 PM PST by smoothsailing
February 8, 2016
by Michael Walsh
Just the thing to propel her into the New Hampshire primary tomorrow:
In a letter disclosed Monday in a federal court filing, the FBI confirms one of the world's worst-kept secrets: It is looking into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server.
Why say this at all, since it was widely known to be true? Because in August in response to a judge's direction, the State Department asked the FBI for information about what it was up to. Sorry, the FBI said at the time, we can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation.
Now, in a letter dated February 2 and filed in court Monday, the FBI's general counsel, James Baker, notes that in public statements and congressional testimony, the FBI "has acknowledged generally that it is working on matters related to former Secretary Clinton's use of a private email server."
Baker says the FBI has not, however, "publicly acknowledged the specific focus, scope or potential targets of any such proceedings." He ends the one-paragraph letter by saying that the FBI cannot say more "without adversely affecting on-going law enforcement efforts."
The letter was filed in one of the Freedom of Information Act cases brought against the State Department over access to documents from Hillary Clinton's time as secretary of state. This one was filed by Judicial Watch.
Meanwhile, over at the Justice Department, the pressure is mounting on attorney general Loretta Lynch to step aside for a special prosecutor:
Loretta Lynch is on the edge of the spotlight, about to be dragged to the center. If the FBI finds sufficient evidence to launch a criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton or one of her top aides for mishandling classified information, Lynchâs Justice Department will have to decide whether to press ahead.
Even if no evidence of wrongdoing is found, Clinton's many critics are unlikely to take the word of an appointee of President Obama's and will doubt that justice has been served. Already, top Republicans are calling for a special prosecutor to be brought in and evaluate the situation. No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn (Texas) took to the floor of the Senate last week to call for a special counsel to be appointed "because of the conflict of interest by asking Attorney General Lynch to investigate and perhaps even prosecute somebody in the Obama administration."
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) agrees that Lynch ought to consider a special counsel, a representative said, to reassure the country that decisions are made "without regard to any political considerations." The Justice Department, however, has so far declined the request.
It's almost over for Mrs. Clinton. The question for the Democrats is: what do they do now? Notes Salon:
It would be hard to overstate what Bernie Sanders has already achieved in his campaign for president, or the obstacles he's had to surmount in order to achieve it. Not only has he turned a planned Hillary Clinton coronation into an exercise in grass-roots democracy, he's reset the terms of the debate. We are edging closer to the national conversation we so desperately need to have. If we get there, all credit goes to Bernie.
A prominent Democratic donor worried about the party's chances of winning the presidency emailed dozens of fans of Vice President Joe Biden on Friday, urging them to remain prepared to donate if Biden jumps into the race.
The donor, Bill Bartmann, cited new polling showing Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont nearly tied with the Hillary Clinton, eroding the 30-point lead the former secretary of state held at the end of last year. Bartmann and other party insiders are concerned that Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, is too far to the left to win against a Republican in the Nov. 8 presidential election.
"We cannot afford to lose the White House," Bartmann wrote in the email, seen by Reuters. The email drew a string of affirmative responses, also seen by Reuters.
Biden announced in October that he would not seek the presidency, despite support from a group of backers under the name "Draft Biden 2016." But whispers have continued among some donors who hope that Biden could be convinced to run after all should Clinton's campaign prove fruitless.
Or, to put it in terms the Clintons can understand: criminal.
Ooooo! Special prosecutors! Special investigators! How special!
Smoke and mirrors.
the FBI had to respond to a FOIA request. It wasn’t their choice. On the other hand, the leaks for the past few months are obviously intended to show that Clinton’s excuses are without merit and to put the administration on notice.
No, we would already be in a federal prison
Wow. Only took them 3+ years. Government efficiency at its finest.>>> ten minutes to find the so called error in tax filing.
She.
Doesn’t.
Care.
She has been bulletproof all these years and has no idea what her reality will be.
Make the wiping motion again, Hil, laughing at us and mocking us while you are wearing that ugly size 2X orange garbage bag suit.
WE will get the last laugh.
Dozens I tell ya....DOZENS!......lol...(also noted...1/2 of them were rejected as spam)
The idea that thereâs some kind of a criminality involved in here is, I think, patently ludicrous.
An indictment would come from a grand jury after charges were filed. Petraeus wasn’t charged or indicted. Hillary most likely will go the same way unless there’s massive bribery and tax evasion.
If that’s the case, Obama is in a corner.
You or me would be sitting at home with an ankle bracelet and no passport hoping the judge said 5 and not 10 years in a few weeks. But I am “little people” not the elite.
I could care less about a danged investigation. I want to see her in one of her favorite outfits, a pants suit made of prison ORANGE!!!
On the other hand someone, somewhere may decide the Clintons’ usefulness has run out. If that’s the case a tragedy may be waiting in their future.
I am afraid you are right. Too big to jail.
If needed I’m thinking Obama will pardon her.
I’m sure FBI pets are being found dead on doorsteps all over DC but come on, if this were the R candidate, the only question he would be asked ever on all debates, on the trail, would be, Are you being investigated by the FBI? How can you expect voters to vote for you when you are under suspicion of many federal crimes?
HOW CAN WE LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS?
The FBI needs to call a presser and recommend that the Just Us dept indict her. That is all they need to do.
There’s a body of thought that Hillary can pardon herself after taking office. Then her only jeopardy would be impeachment and conviction by Congress.
Of course after just being elected, the MSM would say that “the people have spoken” and no impeachment.
She won’t be indicted.
“Hillary Rodham Clinton Is Under Investigation”
It all depends on what the definition of is is.
Holy Jeebus that took a while
With Loretta Lynch in charge? You remember the first Indiana Jones movie?
Can't state the names of potential targets? Everyone knows it is Hillary and maybe others. How can compromise an investigation when everyone knows Hillary is the target?
...Rumor is that if the AG fails to act some of the FBI persons would go public at that point.....
The FBI info will get out one way or the other. If the AG doesn’t indict, the FBI report will be leaked out over a long period of time. The Obama White House will be under tremendous pressure to bring Hillary to justice.
What does Obama do? In any case, Hillary is finished as a politician. This will be very interesting to watch unfold. Looks like Biden/ Warren for the Dem ticket, though I don’t know how the Sander’s people are going to take being robbed at the last minute. A split Dem party going into the 16 election?
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