Posted on 07/05/2016 4:50:42 PM PDT by Kaslin
I may be alone in saying this, but when the proverbial dust settles, James Comey may have hurt Hillary Clinton more than he helped her in his statement Tuesday concerning the Grand Email Controversy. He may have let her off the hook legally, but personally he has left the putative Democratic candidate scarred almost beyond recognition.
By getting out in front of the Justice Department, the FBI director, speaking publicly in an admittedly unusual fashion, was able to frame the case in a manner that Attorney General Loretta Lynch in all probability never would have.
Read this portion of Comey's transcript and ask yourself how this person (Clinton) could ever serve successfully as president of the United States:
Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case. Prosecutors necessarily weigh a number of factors before bringing charges. There are obvious considerations, like the strength of the evidence, especially regarding intent. Responsible decisions also consider the context of a person’s actions, and how similar situations have been handled in the past.
In looking back at our investigations into mishandling or removal of classified information, we cannot find a case that would support bringing criminal charges on these facts. All the cases prosecuted involved some combination of: clearly intentional and willful mishandling of classified information; or vast quantities of materials exposed in such a way as to support an inference of intentional misconduct; or indications of disloyalty to the United States; or efforts to obstruct justice. We do not see those things here.
To be clear, this is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions. But that is not what we are deciding now.
Look at that last paragraph again, because, if the Republicans have any brains at all, they will be quoting it ad infinitum. "To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions." What Comey is clearly saying (and leaving for us to "decide now") is that--whether you agree with his decision not to indict or no (I don't)—in a normal, real-world situation Clinton would face consequences, quite probably be demoted or even fired, certainly not promoted to the presidency of the United States, for what she did.
Which brings me back to why Comey made this speech.
Yes, I suppose he owed it to the public, as he indicated. But I wonder if the greater motivation was fear that Clinton would be completely exonerated, that she would skate away free once he passed the FBI decision on to the Justice Department. It's hard to imagine Lynch speaking in public about how Clinton and her aides were "extremely careless" about national security, obvious though that was, or the high probability that the Clinton's server, not to mention her cell phone (!), was hacked by foreign powers. There were also several new revelations, such as the surprising fact that there were actually multiple personal servers, not just one. This was prevarication of a high and deliberate order. (Remember how Hillary claimed Powell and Rice did the same thing? What complete and utter horse hockey.) And that her lawyers never actually read her emails before deleting them, relying on the subject lines (how to keep yourself out of trouble).
The proximity of Comey's statement to the Bill Clinton/Loretta Lynch meeting on Lynch's plane should also be noted and is potential grist for the mill for historians in the years to come.
My purpose here is not to exonerate Comey. In all probability he was a more than a bit of a coward, looking for a way out. But that way out may prove to have powerful ramifications. A Hillary indictment, in all likelihood, would have meant a new and more scandal-free Democratic candidate, a Joe Biden perhaps, far more potent than the seriously wounded Clinton who now has even more explaining to do. It's an endless case of be-careful-what-you-wish-for. And if we are to believe Judicial Watch (and I do), it's only just begun:
FBI Director James Comey detailed Hillary Clinton’s massive destruction of government records and grossly negligent handling of classified information. Frankly, there’s a disconnect between Comey’s devastating findings and his weak recommendation not to prosecute Hillary Clinton. Federal prosecutors, independent of politics, need to consider whether to pursue the potential violations of law confirmed by the FBI.
It only differs in that the veil has been lifted. With Obama at the beginning, we imagined we still had something of a country - that we weren’t just ruled by despots. We were soon educated about that, but still we could think “Oh, it’s just that once and we can reestablish rule of law under a different president.” If Hillary is elected after this...the blinders being off...then the country will willingly elect a tyrant, in essence asking them to be a tyrant. It somehow appears worse.
Kiss of death.
Look, Comey dishonored himself, ruined his good name forever and needs to resign. But, that said, the countercase is that now that this is no longer a criminal investigation it is all fair game for the public and for Judicial Watch discovery in its ongoing FOIA case. No indictment may finally be her undoing.
But it is also Comey's undoing, he has failed to uphold justice [reduntantly "equal justice for all"], and he must go. Just go!
That’s not his reason.
Wondering if Congress can appoint a special prosecutor. Not that I have confidence in Congress, just curious if there is an alternative avenue for holding Clinton accountable.
“Did Comey Actually Destroy Hillary Clinton by ‘Exonerating’ Her?”
No,
Reminds me of all the ‘Did Justice Roberts really destroy obamacare by his Supreme Court decision approving it?’ posts after that travesty was foisted upon an unwilling populace,
No,
Way too late for that.
The administration wanted this at arms length. Comey should have dumped it in Lynch’s lap. Let her deal with it.
He did what he was told.
Two felons...one a power hungry traitor, the other a rapist again taking the reigns of the nation after eight miserable years of an America hating, white boy loathing muzzie.
Good grief...think about it. This could happen.
Eerily in the sense that anyone who hoped it would provide fodder for the defeat of Obama was sorely disappointed.
Actually, after listening to Mark Levin ‘ s soundbites of Comey’s statements, I had the same thought. He is a “captive” of 0’s administration, probably through being pressured and even threatened, to not bring charges, but he is sending a message that his “captors” are corrupt and even traitorous.
Of course, this was just a thought, but Comey’s statements are very damning!!!
That would be on the back.
The front would simply say "We have arrived!
You can only hope! But, I would not count her out until they put the proverbial stake in her heart.
Yeah, I know...Sickening isn’t it?????
Comey is a loser.He slapped us across the face.He gave Hillary the right to remain in the race.He tried to destroy law abiding citizens.The one’s who are paying attention.He sleeps in the same bed as Roberts the Supreme Court Justice of the United States.Betrayed.Hillary is drinking down a Scotch and laughing at us.Loretta is buying a new suit that fits since we have seen her from the neck down and Obama still stutters.
Actually, after listening to Mark Levin ‘ s soundbites of Comey’s statements, I had the same thought:He is a “captive” of 0’s administration, probably through being pressured and even threatened, to not bring charges,but he is sending a message that his “captors” corrupt and even traitorous.
Of course, this was just a thought, but his statements are still very damning.
Oops.
Good points. Comey also directly contradicted HRC continuous braying of no classified emails blah blah blah were ever sent or received.
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She must have changed that statement during her FBI interview or she could be facing Lying to Federal Agent charges.
With no prosecution, then her entire FBI interview should be available.
Good article and I agree with him. Comey, intentionally or not, handed us a gift.
Hurt her more than putting her in jail?
Even Clintonite might have to concede that campaigning while in jail is problematic.
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