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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

#51

Post by jljljl »

malchow wrote: post #27
Kenji wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

To be absolutely objective about it, there really are people in prison for doing with confidential state secrets what Secretary Clinton did with confidential state secrets. [1] http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/kristian-saucier-inves...

There's a few likely differences, although it's hard to tell from the limited info in the Clinton case:

1) Saucier generated the classified information. He took the photos. I don't think there was evidence the Clinton was knowingly sending classified information to non-cleared individuals

2) Saucier himself deleted the files from his laptop after learning he was under investigation. The FBI in Clinton's case determined that there was no willful attempt to obstruct justice

3) The quantity and quality of the information likely differs. If the Clinton emails contained photographs of classified military hardware, we'd probably see more motion.

See Comey's quote comparing the Petraeus case to the Clinton case:

"So you have obstruction of justice, you have intentional misconduct and a vast quantity of information," Comey said. "He admitted he knew that was the wrong thing to do. That is a perfect illustration of the kind of cases that get prosecuted."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/07/politics/james-comey-hillary-c...

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

#52

Post by caminante »

jsprogrammer wrote: post #39
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).

Also, it was the DOJ that signed off on granting immunity to key actors. The FBI's actions didn't go unchecked.

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

#53

Post by trendia »

Alex3917 wrote: post #10

The real question is whether this is because of the KimDotCom tweet, or whether it's related to something in the Podesta emails or otherwise.

It would be rather funny if America's justice system is so inefficient that one agency would have all of the evidence necessary for an investigation and another would fail to at least ask for it.

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

#54

Post by [deleted] »

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.

[deleted]

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

#55

Post by cmdrfred »

sp332 wrote: post #33

Here is the actual letter. Note the FBI does not say they are "re-opening" anything. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cv3vbcHXgAAMdPE.jpg:orig

It seems pretty clear. They are going to investigate those new emails. Hence, reopening the investigation. Where am I wrong?

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

#56

Post by pistle »

iLoch wrote: post #4
tylerwhipple wrote: post #2

What happens if they find her guilty after she is elected?

Impeachment in all likelihood.

If you can garner the votes in the legislature. If a majority of the house files charges, 2/3 of the senate has to vote in favor. The house seems likely, but it will be the drama of the century to get through the senate going ahead with it, etc.

In the current climate, unless a big group of Democrats in the house side with the Republicans on the charges, it can sloughed off as partisan BS.

We'd also probably need some pretty crazy info in those emails to warrant the sharpness of public invective necessary to have a clear political mandate to go through impeachment. It would have to include some of: large scale impact to national interests, beyond-the-pale vile political conspiracy, dick pics of Bill Clinton, or a clear statement of explicit, willfully avoiding public disclosure of the topic of discussion (of particular national interest).

I see the narrative being around "sour grapes losers" and "can't win, can't govern Republicans."

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

#57

Post by woodruffw »

rayiner wrote: post #49
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 did the right thing disclosing now. If voters don't care and Hilary wins anyway, she'll have won with all the information on the table. If the voters do care and Hilary doesn't win, then it would've been pretty shitty to hide that information from them when they had a chance to act on it.

I agree with that sentiment, but it's worth noting that this move by the FBI adds no new information to the public's table. We already knew that they were reviewing emails that we (being the public) don't have access to.

Disclosure of a new investigation (or a new branch of the current investigation, as his letter apparently actually says) is prejudicial in all the same ways that perp walks are.

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

#58

Post by MaxfordAndSons »

DanielBMarkham wrote: post #45

As a third-party voter I really don't want to get into a discussion about the major candidates. But as a hacker I am interested in how the political system operates. So let's speculate that a candidate is elected to office and then is indicted on a felony. What happens? Obviously anybody can be elected president, so there's no legal problem. But Congress also is charged with certifying electors. Would they certify el…

Interesting question regarding certifying electors. I sure don't know. Wouldn't be surprised if Trump supporting Representatives tries to hold up that process though, were HRC to be found guilty between winning and the certification. I can't imagine the timeline of a trial would allow that to happen though.

Regarding the self-pardoning, as discussed elsewhere, it wouldn't really matter, she could still be impeached. Impeachment is extra-judicial.

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

#59

Post by ktRolster »

Waterluvian wrote: post #3
tylerwhipple wrote: post #2

What happens if they find her guilty after she is elected?

Impeachment and VP becomes president? Or personal pardon!

If you were a Republican, would you really want Tim Kaine instead of Hillary Clinton?

That would be like Democrats impeaching Bush and getting Cheney instead.

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

#60

Post by dsp1234 »

sp332 wrote: post #33

Here is the actual letter. Note the FBI does not say they are "re-opening" anything. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cv3vbcHXgAAMdPE.jpg:orig

The letter states "referred to the fact that the FBI had completed it's investigation". Then the letter states "I agreed that the FBI should take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow.... whether they contain classified information".

In plain English, the case was closed, but now there is new evidence and we're investigating it. Sounds like 're-opening' to me.

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