Posted on 02/25/2016 3:06:26 PM PST by SeekAndFind
In a story published Thursday, Catherine Herridge of Fox News added incrementally to what we know about the ongoing investigation, but the buried lede may be word of the current mood at the FBI. Herridge quotes an unnamed source with knowledge of the investigation who tells her career professionals at the FBI, “will be angry and walk off if no indictment recommendation is followed through.”
That certainly makes it sound as if some portion of the FBI–presumably those with knowledge of the case–think there is enough evidence to recommend prosecution (of someone). They wouldn’t be ready to “walk off” unless they were pretty certain the evidence supported their conclusion. And, reading a bit more between the lines, it seems there is some impatience in the ranks to go ahead and conclude the matter in the way these professionals have already concluded is warranted.
At some point the FBI needs to either move on the recommendation for prosecution or announce they won’t be recommending any prosecution. A recommendation to prosecute someone close to Clinton would not knock her out of the race but it would add to public’s doubts about her overall honesty. And of course if the recommendation were to target Clinton herself that would be a game-changer which could swing votes toward Sanders or convince someone on the sidelines that now is the time to jump in the race. Whatever the case, it would be better to have the information out sooner rather than later.
The rest of Herridge’s report suggests the probe is expanding to involve career DOJ attorneys:
Attorney General Loretta Lynch confirmed to Congress Wednesday that career Justice Department attorneys are working with FBI agents on the criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email practices and the handling of classified material.
Legal experts say the assignment of career Justice Department attorneys to the case shows the FBI probe has progressed beyond the initial referral, or “matured,” giving agents access to the U.S. government’s full investigative tool box, including subpoena power for individuals, business or phone records, as well as witnesses.
You may recall that when the FBI referral was initially made by the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community last year it was described by the New York Times as a criminal investigation. That description was not supposition on the part of the NY Times, it was confirmed by unnamed sources believed to be inside the Justice Department. Other news organizations got the same confirmations when they asked.
A day later the story had changed. The NY Times was forced to back away from the description of a “criminal investigation” after DOJ clarified they had received a “security referral.” A spokesperson for the IG’s office told me the difference between a security referral and a criminal referral last year. A security referral involves possible mishandling of classified information, in this case sending highly classified material over an unclassified email system. That differs from a criminal referral which is generally directed at a specific individual.
Natually, Clinton’s allies in the media swarmed over the error by the NY Times but even a security referral to the FBI is premised on possible criminal conduct, meaning that in the end the result of either referral could be a recommendation for prosecution. It certainly sounds as if some career staff at the FBI already think that is warranted.
Hillary keeps the fibbies manparts in her purse, in the freezer.
Well, it wasn't them - it was the local Oregon yokels what done it.
Because he charged BETWEEN the LEOs in the knee-high snow.
But the fibbies were mad about it, cuz then they had to lie.
Big talk.
The FBI has 150 investigators on the case and they are not only investigating the emails, they have extended the investigation to the Clinton Foundation. This is apparently where the FBI has spent many hours looking into. From what I heard on the radio is that the FBI never assigns that many investigators unless there is something there and is working toward an indictment recommendation.
Several people have talked to others in the FBI and they do say that quite a few will walk including the FBI director if the DOJ stonewalls. Not only that, they guarantee their report will be given to the media - every word of it.
Hillary will escape thereby demonstrating that criminal elements in high government positions are way beyond lawless.
Seems like the right things to do for morals.
But, that would just open the door for replacements who have none.
>>My brother works in Fed law enforcement. He plans to retire at 50, with pension (!!!!!)
My brother just did at 50. He gets a nice pension, gets to keep his government employee health care (at employee rates and not at COBRA rates), and he is free to start drawing on his 401k (or equivalent) with no penalty (special rule for FLEOs).
We need to work on getting ranchers declared an endangered species...
“If Hillary Clinton is not indicted, then the Republicans must defund The Department Of Justice.”
Bwaaahahaha.. the republicans defund? Why would they do that?
They don’t want Hillary indicted or charged with anything either.
No more than they wanted Lois Lerner indicted. The republican
party would rather have Hillary as president than
Cruz, Trump or Rubio and they are going to do their best to
help her in spite of their base as usual.
The republican party is nothing more than a false front of
opposition to the continuous march to fascism.
“We need to work on getting ranchers declared an endangered species...”
No, we need to work on making liberals an endangered species.
Thanks Dave W.
For what was once reported instance of slipping with classified information, I think Petreus paid a high enough price.
Hillary on the other hand...
I appreciate the mention of this guy’s record. Lets hope something finally comes of a Clinton corruption.
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