When 56-year-old FBI Director James Comey notified Congress Oct. 28 that he had reopened the investigation into 69-year-old Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Hillary campaign screamed foul. Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch went so far as to say Comey violated “protocol” and maybe the arcane Hatch Act. Democrats were furious that Comey would announce a new FBI investigation of Hillary only 11 days before the election. Hillary backers called it a partisan “witch hunt,” besmirching Comey’s reputation as an independent federal law enforcer. Hillary’s campaign praised Comey when he decided July 3 to not prosecute Hillary for violating U.S. laws related to sending-and-receiving classified and Top Secret material. Yesterday’s praise for Comey quickly morphed into scorn after deciding to reopen the email probe.
Comey’s senior investigators got a treasure trove of new material from former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-N.Y.) laptop commuter. Weiner was married before separating Aug. 29 to Hillary’s top aide Huma Abedin. Weiner’s computer reportedly contains thousands of emails Huma either received or sent to Hillary. Comey’s decision to announce a new probe didn’t come lightly, despite providing little information to Congress or the media. Law enforcement agencies, federal or otherwise, don’t usually share evidence before completing investigations. Throwing cold water on Hillary’s claims of foul play, the White House refused to denounce FBI Director Comey. “My lack of independent knowledge about that decision-making prevents me from weighing in,” said White House Spokesman Josh Earnest, refusing to join Democrats’ denunciations of Comey.
Refusing to criticize Comey, President Barack Obama discouraged the press from drawing conclusions based on “innuendo” but stopped short of questioning Comey’s judgment. Obama knows that federal law enforcement doesn’t operate on a political clock but works 24/7 to uphold the nation’s laws. “I’ll neither defend nor criticize what Director Comey has decided to communicate to the public about this investigation,” said Earnest, telling the real story about the investigation. Just as Hillary got off the hook July 3, she’s back on the hook Oct. 28 with the FBI getting new information. Calling Comey a “many of integrity,” President Barack Obama refuted claims from the Hillary campaign and some Democratic circles that Comey breached protocol or violated the Hatch Act. Reluctant to criticize Comey, the White House lent credibility to his decision.
Less than a week before the election, Hillary walks a razor’s edge avoiding the topic while voters know she’s under FBI investigation for the equivalent of a federal felony related to handling classified material. Hillary’s been telling voters that “there is no case here,” repeating Comey’s July 3 decision. Law enforcement officials believe things are different this time around. Back in July, Comey said he couldn’t prove “intent,” something he thought he needed to bring charges. Over the last several months, Comey’s learned that “intent” is best left to a grand jury. Comey testified under oath before the House Special Committee on Benghazi that Hillary did not tell the truth when she told Congress she did not send-or-receive classified information through her private email server. Comey called Hillary “extremely careless” in July, meeting the standard of gross negligence.
Voters looking for answers need to go no further than the White House for whether or not Comey acted inappropriately. Weighing in as a partisan hack, former Atty. Gen. Eric Holder criticized Comey’s decision to notify the public. Calling Comey’s decision as ‘serious mistake,” Holder gave his partisan opinion, not one with any legal weight. Democrats blame Comey for leveling the polls less than a week before Election Day. Comey had no choice but to inform the public that one of the two major party candidates is under FBI investigation for breaching the nation’s laws regarding safeguarding state secrets. Voters filing absentee ballots before Comey’s announcement lacked updated information for an informed choice. Comey decided voters had a right to know that Hillary was under FBI investigation before going into the voting booth on Election Day.
Heading to the finish line, Hillary hopes that early deciders put her over the top. If you go by momentum, Trump’s got the edge, despite needing to thread-a-needle, scoring big wins in all battleground states. Undecided voters have a real problem voting for a candidate under FBI investigation. Telling voters “there is no case,” Hillary can’t change the fact that she, not Trump, is under FBI investigation. Blaming Comey has backfired on the Hillary campaign, telling voters that they should ignore a serious criminal probe. If there were no merit to Comey’s Oct. 28 decision, he wouldn’t have notified Congress that Hillary’s under investigation again. Watching the White House refuse to denounce Comey tells voters that there’s merit to the investigation, despite all Hillary’s complaints. Whether it’s too late or not, Trump’s got the momentum heading to Nov. 8.
