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, Lynch’s 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.
#investigatonsolong
o i’d totally hit it
I believe at the end of the day if you can get enough delegates you can win, primaries be damned.
I am reading a whole lot of wishful thinking here on this topic. Everyone has thier hopes up. If the past is any indicator of the future, Clinton will be let off the hook by Obama and crew at just the right time in this campaign. The press will announce it an old issue and MoveOn.org will swing into action. We will all be left with our mouths open, eyebrows raised, and shaking our heads at the unbelievable lies being told out in the open. Sorry folks..don’t get your hopes up we will be cursed with the Clintons for a long time coming.
“What happens if Clinton win the dem nomination then end up indicted and in prison? Who will Trump run against? He win by default?”
You have to feel sorry for the late Gus Hall. All those quadrennially frustrating years, and finally, an opening...!
In order to understand this statement, it needs to be parsed, as we need to do in all Clinton scandals.
"This is a security review.." What is "this"? Is "this" an FBI probe, an investigation by the State Department IG, or a DoJ investigation?
"...that was requested..." Who requested the "security review"? Hillary herself? The DoJ? The FBI? The State Department? Any number of intelligence organizations? What Federal agency does a "security review"?
"....it is being carried out..." What is "it"? Is "it" a formal investigation? Who is carrying "it" out? Specifically, what Federal agencies or Legislative entities are carrying out something along the lines of a "security review"?
"....it will be resolved...." Again, what is "it", how will "it" be "resolved", and what is the final product to demonstrate that "it" is "resolved"? Could "resolved" mean convening a Federal Grand Jury, or selecting a special prosecutor, or going to trial, or getting a conviction, or sentencing someone for a crime?
Where are the so-called investigative reporters who exercise their precious intellectual curiosity? ::::CRICKETS:::: Paging Bob Woodward - come out of your coma and look into this!
Let's not confuse the ephemeral of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy with the actual breaking of laws.
"This is a security review that was requested, it is being carried out, it will be resolved." Who or what is the basis of Hillary's emphatic declaration? How does she know this?
It's like people ignore their flouting of laws in the 80's and 90's as if it never happened. They took advantage of the people's good will in leaving a retired president alone. Unfortunately Hillary has given cause to bring past deeds to relevant behaviors today.
I think Bill's mistake was in not letting her have all the rope she wanted and then tie it off and leave her swinging at the end. Instead he's wanting to fix her train wreck now. Bad choice.
And Kathleen Willy’s cat.
Somewhere, Tricky Dicky is laughing his a$$ off.
The irony is delicious.
Well, the "strangely" I very apt"
Meself, I find her creepy. If that mouth was not so huge, maybe.............
Sorry to say but yes. The democrat committee can do almost anything they want.
You’re probably right on all points but one.
MoveOn.org is totally feeling the Bern these days.
It’s sick. LOL
NOR A SINGLE NIGHT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
I see a special council bring used to drag this out past November when Obama pardons her and Bill. She will probably quit the race citing health issues before the council is appointed.
The FBI has been making the case so far on physical evidence. When they recovered the server last month the case was made. Time for the target letters hence the notice to the court of an investigation. Things should move right along now.
Anyone seen Joe lately? NO....he’s studying up and resting up and maybe getting some face and hair work. It’s always been Obama’s plan to have Joe replace him.....without his fingerprints all over it.
“HILLARY WILL NEVER SPEND A SINGLE DAY IN JAIL.”
You’re probably right, but wouldn’t it be satisfying if her run for the Presidency should be derailed by this?
I will be looking for a press release today from the RNC touting the fact that none of our candidates are under FBI investigation for trafficking State secrets. An immediate follow up response should come from each candidate reaffirming it.
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