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FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

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Re: FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

#31

Post by patrickmay »

woodruffw wrote: post #29

I find Comey's decision to disclose this new investigation less than 2 weeks from election day extremely perplexing. By all means, perform your investigation, but to announce it immediately before what's arguably one of the most important elections in modern US history? If I were a paranoid man, I'd say that this looks like an attempt by an unelected official to prejudice voters.

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If there is a smoking gun in the newly discovered emails and he said nothing until after the election, he would be accused of manipulating it in that way.

Re: FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

#32

Post by virmundi »

Kenji wrote: post #19
mzw_mzw wrote: post #7

That was a very strange article with all the near-wishful "igniting speculation about a Clinton defeat" stuff. The whole emails issue has been inside baseball, politics-wise. Insiders and pundits love yelling about it but average voters either don't care (the vast majority) or have already assumed she's guilty/not guilty and priced that into their vote. Reopening the investigation is not going to change the election…

The e-mails should have put her in prison, and they would have put anyone else in the same situation in prison. But you're right, with her being her, they're a complete nonissue. They simply don't matter at all.

Minor nit: she should be tried by a jury of her peers. If as a result of the trial she is exonerated, fine. She needs to be charged and tried.

Re: FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

#34

Post by acdha »

eli wrote: post #13
mzw_mzw wrote: post #7

That was a very strange article with all the near-wishful "igniting speculation about a Clinton defeat" stuff. The whole emails issue has been inside baseball, politics-wise. Insiders and pundits love yelling about it but average voters either don't care (the vast majority) or have already assumed she's guilty/not guilty and priced that into their vote. Reopening the investigation is not going to change the election…

I've heard many people cite emails as the main reason they are not voting for her. I assume most of them actually would never have voted for her anyway, but it's a real issue.

Those statements are always hard to trust, however, since you don't know how many of them are people who may not feeling comfortable stating their true beliefs in that forum or don't really care but are trying to encourage people they believe would vote for the other side not to vote at all.

I would bet that we're seeing a lot of that this year because there are many Republicans who don't like a Democrat winning but also aren't keen to have their personal reputation tarred by support for their party's candidate. If, say, you feel there is an immigration problem it's much easier to say something about email servers rather than trying to defend Trump's positions on the issue or defend yourself against charges of racism.

Re: FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

#36

Post by nitrogen »

pwg wrote: post #20
danvoell wrote: post #9

"In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails" - Sounds very happenstance. What are the odds something coincidental happened two weeks before the election?

What is the probability that "an unrelated case" is political speak for "wikileaks"?

Given the sheer number of cases and the government's prior willingness to name and shame Wikileaks, I'd expect that probability to be low without further evidence (high uncertainty remains).

Re: FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

#37

Post by sp332 »

phd514 wrote: post #23
criddell wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's what I was wondering too. Can't she just pardon herself?

Possibly, but pardons don't apply to impeachment, so she could still be removed as President.

Bill Clinton was impeached, but not removed from office.

Re: FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

#38

Post by blowski »

patrickmay wrote: post #31
woodruffw wrote: post #29

I find Comey's decision to disclose this new investigation less than 2 weeks from election day extremely perplexing. By all means, perform your investigation, but to announce it immediately before what's arguably one of the most important elections in modern US history? If I were a paranoid man, I'd say that this looks like an attempt by an unelected official to prejudice voters.

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If there is a smoking gun in the newly discovered emails and he said nothing until after the election, he would be accused of manipulating it in that way.

I totally agree. I desperately want Clinton to win, and I think she'll make a great president. Those who believe her victory must be an illuminati conspiracy should be given as little ammunition as possible.

Re: FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

#39

Post by jsprogrammer »

hackuser wrote: post #28

To say the obvious: There is great risk of the FBI and/or Comey trying to influence the outcome of the election. Earlier, when Comey said Clinton had been "extremely careless", it seemed to overstep his bounds: He played judge and jury, and convicted her without trial. To do this two weeks before the election raises very serious questions about the U.S.'s most fundamental institutions, rule of law, and democracy. Eve…

I don't think you watched Comey's presentation. He said that Clinton should not be prosecuted (ie. no conviction).

Re: FBI Reopens Clinton E-Mail Probe Less Than Two Weeks Before Vote

#40

Post by woodruffw »

patrickmay wrote: post #31
woodruffw wrote: post #29

I find Comey's decision to disclose this new investigation less than 2 weeks from election day extremely perplexing. By all means, perform your investigation, but to announce it immediately before what's arguably one of the most important elections in modern US history? If I were a paranoid man, I'd say that this looks like an attempt by an unelected official to prejudice voters.

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If there is a smoking gun in the newly discovered emails and he said nothing until after the election, he would be accused of manipulating it in that way.

That may be so, but it doesn't change the fact that HRC (or Trump, for that matter) should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. As it currently stands, an indictment hasn't even been recommended.

Under such circumstances, the exposure of a search for a smoking gun is suspect.

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