When 55-year-old FBI Director James Comey announced July 3 that Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham would not be charged with violating U.S. laws related to sending-and-receiving-classified material, Republicans cried foul. Only four days before June 30, former President Bill Clinton met with Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch on the tarmac of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport. When Comey made his announcement July 3, Lynch quickly responded she would follow the FBI’s lead, closing Hillary’s file. Today’s announcement by Comey rocks the Hillary campaign only 11 days before Election Day, opening an investigation into newly found emails on Hillary’s chief State Department aide Human Abdedin’s cell phone. Subjected to enormous criticism in the GOP-led Congress, Comey announced that newly obtained emails changed his mind.
Comey’s decision to open a new probe into Hillary suggests strongly that FBI investigations found inconsistencies with Hillary past testimony or statements to law enforcement and new emails. “In previous Congressional testimony, I referred to the fact that the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] had completed its investigation of former Secretary Clinton’s personal email server. Due to recent developments, I am writing to supplement by previous testimony,” said Comey. Comey said his team of career agents and prosecutors determined that it was not possible to show Hillary’s “intent” with respect to sending-or-receiving classified emails. Comey never dealt with the question of Hillary deleting electronic files after receiving a Congressional subpoena, something defined as “obstruction-of-justice.” Comey still hasn’t said he plans to look into obstruction charges against Hillary.
Comey’s decision sends shockwaves through Hillary’s campaign whose narrative to voters is that she’s been cleared of any wrongdoing by the FBI. Opening up a new investigation raises the possibility, should she win the election, that she could be impeached for high-crimes-and-misdemeanors, sometime after taking office Jan. 20, 2017. If Comey’s team decided to re-open the investigation, it’s a significant development, putting, at the very least, doubt in voters’ minds about Hillary’s legal problems. “In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation . . “ said Comey, informing the House Judiciary Committee that he plans to open up a new investigation based on emails from Abedin and former House Speaker Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.). Hillary testified under oath, she never sent-or-received classified material.
Trying to control the damage, Hillary’s campaign Chairman John D. Podesta was quick to respond to Comey’s announcement. “The Director owes it to the American people to immediately provide the full details of what he is now examining. We are confident this will not produce any conclusions different from the one the FBI reached in July,” said Podesta. Podesta battles his own embarrassing emails released recently by WikiLeaks, showing he knew about Clinton Foundation fund-raiser Douglas Band. creating dangerous conflicts-of-interest, steering millions of profits to former President Bill Clinton personally while Hillary ran the State Department. Podesta wants to defuse the new FBI probe before the Nov. 8 election. Comey’s new probe stemmed from emails removed from Huma and Weiner’s cell phones, not from recent WikiLeak hacks, blamed on the Russians.
Comey’s decision to open a new investigation raises more doubts in voters’ minds about Hillary’s excuses for using a private email server while Secretary of State, going against State Department policy. “Out of an abundance of caution,” the FBI opened a new investigation of Hillary’s emails. Podesta’s reaction shows that the Hillary campaign wants to be exonerated as soon as possible. “Although the FBI cannot yet assess whether or not this material may be significant, and I cannot predict how long it will take us to complete this additional work. I believe its is important to update your Committees about our efforts in light of my previous testimony,” said Comey, hedging his bets after clearing Hillary July 3. While Podesta wants answers, Comey plans to take his time to figure out whether there’s any actionable intel to pursue charges against the Democratic Party’s first female presidential candidate.
Comey’s announcement gives GOP nominee real estate mogul Donald Trump a shot in the arm only 11 days before Election Day. Trump told a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire today that he’s got new hope the FBI will get the Hillary email probe right this time around. Talking about a rigged system, Trump often cites Comey’s July 3 decision to not charge Hillary as proof of collusion between the FBI and Justice Department. After calling Hillary “extremely careless” July 3, Comey said “no reasonable prosecutor would bring such as case,” citing the impossibility of proving criminal intent. Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) admonished Comey for playing judge-and-jury, leaving the determination of intent to the criminal justice system. Comey’s announcement reminds voters again that Hillary acted carelessly with U.S. state secrets.
