Speaking today on ABC’s “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, Democratic Vice President pick Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said it was “extremely puzzling” why FBI Director James Comey announced a new investigation into 69-year-old Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s email scandal. Calling Comey’s Oct. 28 announcement a “distraction,” Kaine acts like there’s nothing wrong. Comey reluctantly cleared Hillary July 3 of “intentionally” violating U.S. laws related to sending-and-receiving classified information. Kaine can’t fathom the very real possibility that his boss violated U.S. laws, with new information leading to a possible indictment. Stephanopoulos exposed his bias, asking not one question about a major party candidate for president under FBI investigation. Kaine diverted attention to Comey allegedly breaching State Department protocol.
Stephanoopoulos isn’t concerned that U.S. Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch breached her impartiality, meeting with former President Bill Clinton June 30 on the tarmac of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport. While both Lynch and Clinton denied they discussed the FBI investigation or future job prospects, it’s obvious to impartial observers that some deal was discussed. Stephanopoulos asked nothing about that meeting or Lynch’s credibility, accusing Comey of a breach of protocol. “It’s just extremely puzzling,” Kaine told Stephanopoulos. “Why would you release information that is so incomplete when you haven’t even seen the material yourself?” asked Kaine, knowing law enforcement never releases details of ongoing criminal investigations. With Stephanopoulos help, Kaine tried to raise doubt about the legitimacy of a criminal probe into Hillary’s emails.
When Kaine says, “I just have no way of understanding these actions,” he’s playing to voters still weighing what to do on Nov. 8. What’s unprecedented is not that Comey announced his probe 11 days before a presidential election, it’s that a major party candidate is under FBI investigation. Reports of rank-and-file FBI officials suggest that Comey got it wrong July 3 when he made “intent” a prerequisite for moving ahead with prosecution. Most legal experts believe that Comey overstepped his boundaries playing “grand jury,” deciding how they’d rule about moving the charges forward. With the FBI getting thousands of new emails from former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-N.Y.)—former husband of Hillary’s closest aide Huma Abedin—laptop computer, what “puzzles” Kaine? Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, operate 24/7, conducting criminal investigations and making charges.
Kaine implies that Comey used his position to sabotage Hillary’s presidential campaign. Comey had to weigh the voters’ right to information before the election against some “protocol” about not charging a candidate until after the election. Kaine’s point about incomplete information puts the blame on Comey. Stephanopoulos asked not one question to Kaine about Hillary under FBI investigation. ”They’re completely unprecedented. And that’s why I think [Comey] owes the American public more information,” said Kaine, making it out like Comey’s the guilty party. Kaine’s boss got caught in the crosshairs of an ongoing criminal probe into her reckless use of a private email server while Secretary of State. What’s unprecedented is for a major political party to nominate someone who’s under FBI investigation, whether or not Comey decided July 3 to not file charges.
You’d think an independent journalist representing one of the three major news networks would ask some questions, not agree with Kaine’s campaign spin that Comey did something wrong. Hillary’s abuse of her private server, sending-and-receiving classified emails to various people, is what got the former Secretary of State in hot water. Hillary’s campaign wants to indict Comey for informing the public before they vote Nov. 8. Apparently Kaine thinks it’s “normal” Justice Department protocol former President Bill Clinton to meet with the attorney general for a half hour to talk about their grandkids. No, Kaine blames Comey for informing voters that one of the presidential candidates is under FBI investigation for breaching U.S. laws related to sending-and-receiving classified information. Stephanopoulos gave Kaine free rein to spew the campaign propaganda on national TV..
Givng Kaine free rein to blow smoke on ABC News, Stepahnapoulos proves he’s still a political hack with sympathies for the Democratic Party, not a serious journalist. “Director James Comey knows nothing about the content of these emails. We don’t know whether they’re to or from Hillary at all,” said Kaine, dismissing the new emails as an 11th hour GOP ploy. Kaine knows Comey would not have gone public with his new investigation unless senior FBI researchers told him they had a smoking gun. If there were no merit to the FBI probe, the Chicago Tribune would not have asked for Hillary to step down. “And so this is a distraction, but look, we’re focused on winning this race over the next nine days,” said Kaine, acting like it’s no big deal to have the Democratic nominee under FBI investigation for violating U.S. laws related to sending-and-receiving classified information, a federal felony.
