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End in sight for FBI probe into Clinton’s email server?

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

An impromptu meeting between Bill Clinton and the nation’s top cop could further undermine Hillary Clinton’s efforts to convince voters to place their trust in her, highlighting perhaps her biggest vulnerability.

WASHINGTON >> Hillary Clinton’s interview with the FBI may signal that the Justice Department is nearing the end of its yearlong probe of her use of a private email server while secretary of state, a controversy that has hung over her White House bid.

“I’ve been eager to do it, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to assist the department in bringing its review to a conclusion,” Clinton said in describing the FBI session to NBC’s “Meet the Press” for an interview to air Sunday. She agreed that the tone of meeting with investigators had been civil and business-like.

Clinton said she had no knowledge of any timeline for the review and would not comment on whether she was given an indication that charges would not be filed.

The presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party gave a voluntary interview for 3 1/2 hours Saturday at FBI headquarters in Washington, her campaign announced. Spokespeople for the FBI and the Justice Department declined to comment.

The interview, which had been expected to take place before the Democratic National Convention on July 25, did not suggest that Clinton or anyone else is likely to face prosecution. If the former senator and secretary of state and her aides are exonerated, it might help brush aside a major distraction that has made many voters question her trustworthiness.

Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee, has repeatedly said the email issue undermines Clinton’s fitness for office and suggested she will receive leniency from a Democratic administration. Following reports of Clinton’s FBI interview, Trump tweeted: “It is impossible for the FBI not to recommend criminal charges against Hillary Clinton. What she did was wrong!”

While she was Obama’s secretary of state, Clinton exclusively used a private email server for her government and personal emails, rather than the State Department’s email system. The Associated Press revealed the existence of the server in March 2015.

Clinton has said relying on a private server was a mistake but that other secretaries of state had also used a personal email address.

The FBI is investigating the potential mishandling of sensitive information. The matter was referred last summer by the inspectors general for the State Department and intelligence community following the discovery of emails that were later determined to contain classified material.

Clinton sat down with the FBI just days after her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had an impromptu meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch while at a Phoenix airport in separate planes. That Clinton would approach Lynch while her Justice Department was investigating his wife’s actions, and that Lynch would speak to him, opened a new angle of criticism about the Clintons’ judgment and sense of entitlement.

Lynch, while maintaining that their discussion on Monday purely personal and didn’t touch on the email server, said Friday she regretted meeting with the former president. Bill Clinton joined her in saying he would not do it again, either, in light of the impression it gave. He had nominated Lynch as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York in 1999.

Asked about the ongoing investigation, Lynch said Friday that she intended to accept the findings and recommendations of career prosecutors who have spent months on the case.

53 responses to “End in sight for FBI probe into Clinton’s email server?”

  1. Mythman says:

    One can only hope that the mighty are laid low for the good of the country going forward, for a change. It’s been a long time since the people ran the nation instead of paying taxes so the elite can scheme and get rich while looking after the greater good, or so they say…..

  2. MoiLee says:

    “Book um Danno”

  3. Keonigohan says:

    The FIX is in…RIGGED system under O will not indict…hiLIARy will rank right up there with OJ and Casey Anthony.

    • kuroiwaj says:

      Keonigohan, may be wrong, but my gut tells me Hillary’s political career will be over. It’s based on where the Country is today and the reaction of the citizens towards her. Citizens of the United States are very forgiving, but what Hillary and Bill has done over the years has broken that Trust. Too many balls to balance and the FBI indictment will break the straw. All the balls will all come crashing down.

  4. st1d says:

    indictment in 22 days. beast mode to follow.

  5. lespark says:

    I’m waiting for the DNC to cut and run. I hope not, Hilliary is the “most qualified” according to the POTUS.

  6. Ronin006 says:

    Wake up Hillary and Hillary supporters. She was not interviewed in a review process as her campaign likes to phrase it. She was interrogated in a criminal investigation.

    • lespark says:

      I don’t know about that. Maybe the FBI, Hilliary, the attorneys sat around this big table, had milk and cookies, talked about the grandkids, golf and their travels. Maybe Clinton gave Loretta a whole lot of brown paper bags full of Saudi riyals when they met in Phoenix.

    • JKIsle says:

      Glad to see intelligent comments! I still cant figure out Who is voting for Clinton? The entire mess should exclude her from running for POTUS. The whole world is watching how its now going down in our USA. Mostly Im concerned for all our kids and families going forward.

      • klastri says:

        She’s going to win in what may be the most lopsided electoral college landslide in history. So the answer is a lot of people are going to vote for Mrs. Clinton.

        You write about “how its now going down in our USA” whatever that means. If you mean that things are bad here, an awful lot of people still want to get in, and almost no one who lives here is leaving. So someone must think that things are OK.

        You can go ahead and be concerned. It seems like Republicans are concerned about, and afraid of, almost everything. So no surprise there.

        • kuroiwaj says:

          Klastri, Ms Clinton will not even be at the finish line after the FBI gets their arrest warrant out, even with the Pardon from Hawaii born Pres. Obama. I continue to believe in the American citizen and their love of Country and Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Ms Clinton will have broken all the rules.

        • klastri says:

          kuroiwaj – Yeah, right …. about that indictment ……

      • hawaiikone says:

        JKilse, regarding Clinton, yes, it’s tough to understand how voters can accept her, but with Trump being the assumed alternative, it’s a toss up between two very pitiful choices. May I suggest you check out the Libertarian’s candidates, as Johnson and Weld offer far more in both credible experience and unquestioned integrity. Please don’t swallow the “wasted vote” or the “no chance” mantras, as this election truly offers us a realistic opportunity for genuine change, with the added benefit of a guilt free voting experience..

  7. Ronin006 says:

    It is utter nonsense for Clinton to say that relying on a private server was a mistake but that other secretaries of state had also used a personal email address. Yes, it is true that during a State Department review of the email practices of the past five secretaries of state, it found that Powell received two emails that were classified and that the “immediate staff” working for Rice received 10 emails that were classified. These were exceptional cases and that almost 100% of their emails were sent and received on secure government email servers. However, Clinton sent and received 100% of her emails on an unsecured private email server kept in her home in New York. There is absolutely no comparison between what Rice and Powell did and what Hillary did.

    • lespark says:

      Not to mention cyber security and what it was 15 years ago and it is now. The State Department was aware of this. The Secretary chose to ignore her own people.

      • Keonigohan says:

        And I’d be remiss if I did not mention the +30,000 …yes THIRTY THOUSAND PLUS emails hiLIARy DELETED… “felt wasn’t important.. just Chelsea’s wedding & personal stuff” and then had the server WIPED CLEAN….REALLY!!!
        hey Klastri…aka Kurt on Kauai…and kauai(?)…IF you see this, please answer the $10,000 question…”What has hiLIARy accomplished that benefited a majority of Americans?” I asked you a doz times but you spin off into space never answering it.

        • lespark says:

          He said he’s not going to respond to you. Thin skin.

        • Ronin006 says:

          Klastri did not reply because it is his day off from his government job and he has no computer of his own.

        • klastri says:

          I did answer. Maybe you can have someone read it to you.

        • Keonigohan says:

          Klastri…aka Kurt on Kauai…kauai: you lied again, where is your response to my question? You stated you did respond…where?

  8. Ronin006 says:

    Lynch is now maintaining that the discussion with Bill Clinton on Monday was purely personal and didn’t touch on the email server. However, she initially said it was “mostly” personal, which strongly suggests that some was other than personal. So, which Lynch do we believe, the one who spoke immediately after the meeting became public or the Lynch who now is in damage-control mode responding to the backlash from just about everyone? Your Honor, I submit that her initial statement that the meeting was “mostly” personal is the truth.

  9. klastri says:

    It’s both interesting and sad that not one single person commenting here understands the law surrounding this event. A prosecution under the statute being discussed requires proof of malice aforethought. That means intent to disperse classified information. That key requirement is not present. There can be no prosecution without that. Period.

    Republicans can follow the ignorant tweets of their leader, Mr. Trump, who is now imagining yet another conspiracy theory, or they can educate themselves about what the law is. There can be no prosecution without being able to prove malice or intent beyond a reasonable doubt. That is simply the fact, no matter what others imagine.

    You can make up your own law of course (most of have already apparently done that) but the only thing that matters is the law that is.

    • Ronin006 says:

      Klastri, you might want to read 44 U.S. Code subsection 3106 – Unlawful removal, destruction of records. That law requires heads of agencies — no exception for Department of State or someone named Clinton — to preserve and turn over all official correspondence and records to the National Archives. Hillary did not do that until confronted after a Romanian hacker leaked her email correspondence with Blumenthal. Those emails were clearly official not private. The law does not require proof of malice aforethought or willful action. It requires simply a negligent action.

      • klastri says:

        You’re wrong.

        Being negligent – assuming that’s actually what took place, which is s stretch – is not a crime. You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. There is case law on this. It’s settled.

        • Ronin006 says:

          What do you call violations of law? If negligence is not a crime, why is negligent homicide a crime? You need to go back to law school, if you have ever been there as you claim.

        • klastri says:

          Ronin006 – Please… I’m begging you … speak with a lawyer about this. You know nothing about this, and the perplexing thing is that you seem to have pride in your ignorance. It’s not hard to learn at least a little bit about this before commenting.

          Negligence, in almost any setting, is not a crime. If the negligence is extreme and happens to result in a death, that can be different.

          Can you at least understand that?

        • lespark says:

          Klastri,
          Please… I’m begging you … speak with a lawyer about this. You know nothing about this, and the perplexing thing is that you seem to have pride in your ignorance. It’s not hard to learn at least a little bit about this before commenting.

          Negligence, in almost any setting, is not a crime. If the negligence is extreme and happens to result in a death, that can be different.

        • Ronin006 says:

          Klastri, I thought I was talking to a lawyer when replying to your comments. After all, you once claimed you were a member of the bar and a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. Your latest comment suggests you are a fraud and a liar. For your information and education, it is not necessary for there to be intent for there to be a crime. Reckless or negligent conduct are also basis for many crimes. I strongly urge you to take your own advice and speak to a lawyer about this.

  10. maafifloos says:

    I don’t know who NOT to vote for!

  11. WizardOfMoa says:

    One solution to all people who have doubts of her integrity or conduct- don’t vote for her! No explanation necessary. This applies to Mr. Trump too. If you don’t like him – don’t vote for him! Amen!

    • hawaiikone says:

      I’d go a step further and say if you wish to retain any degree of self respect, then vote for Johnson..

      • WizardOfMoa says:

        My sentiments Kid, my sentiments!

        • hawaiikone says:

          It’s encouraging to realize there’s others seeing things clearly. The daily candidate bashing around here would be laughable except for the potential consequences. With so much mud available to each side, it’s totally become a “I’m voting against” rather than an “I”m voting for” style of election. What the bulk of these wits won’t acknowledge is that their choice is still an embarrassment.

  12. butinski says:

    AG Loretta Lynch should do the honorable thing and resign. She will forever be tainted as possibly colluding with the Clintons. If she stays, her credibility is gone and she’ll be an ineffective AG.

  13. Hawaii5OhOh says:

    The FBI should swallow its pride and just ask the Russians, the Chinese, North Korea, the Isrealis, MI6, the Romanians, or the French for all of the information that was erased from Clinton’s servers. I am sure their hackers have copies of everything that went through her private server. Or, why don’t the FBI just put a bounty of a few million to get all of the erased information. I am sure a hacker in the US would come forth and claim the money.

  14. lespark says:

    End in sight? I hardly think so.

  15. lespark says:

    End in sight for the emails?
    Maybe end in sight for Hilliary.

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