Hillary Clinton: Too Big to Jail

 

Hillary ClintonAmerica is a banana republic, but without bananas — only the peels.

When FBI Director James Comey announced Tuesday morning that he won’t pursue criminal charges against Hillary Clinton’s “extremely careless” handling of classified emails, he reinforced a truth most Americans feel in their bones. Well connected Americans are no longer subject to the laws of the land and can do however they please.

John Adams called for “a government of laws, and not of men,” but today’s decision has officially reversed this quaint republican ideal. Hillary Clinton can repeatedly compromise national security and aggressively cover it up, yet still be cleared of any legal repercussions in a live press conference.

Traitor Edward Snowden is hiding out in Russia for compromising state secrets. Democratic nominee Hillary is favored to be our next President. Chelsea Manning is three years into a 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified government documents. Hillary Clinton is holding campaign rallies with Barack Obama. Petty Officer 1st Class Kristian Saucier is awaiting a sentence of up to 30 years for taking a few snapshots on a US Navy sub. Hillary is choosing furniture for the Oval Office.

When I was a student in the Navy Nuclear Power Program, one of my classmates decided to take a couple basic engineering textbooks to his off-base house to study. Since they were related to a sensitive military program, the books were marked “confidential,” the lowest classification level available. Once the violation was discovered, he saw his home raided, was immediately removed from the program, tossed into the brig, and prosecuted. Mishandling classified material is a deadly serious matter, even if the material focuses on diodes and resistors instead of troop movements and intelligence gathering. Or at least it used to be.

The AP fact-checked Comey’s endorsement of the Clinton cover-up and the results are downright ugly.

CLINTON: “I did not email any classified material to anyone on my email. There is no classified material.” News conference, March 2015.

THE FACTS: Actually, the FBI identified at least 113 emails that passed through Clinton’s server and contained materials that were classified at the time they were sent, including some that were Top Secret and referred to a highly classified special access program, Comey said….

CLINTON: “I never received nor sent any material that was marked classified.” NBC interview, July 2016.

THE FACTS: Clinton has separately clung to her rationale that there were no classification markings on her emails that would have warned her and others not to transmit the sensitive material. But the private system did, in fact, handle emails that bore markings indicating they contained classified information, Comey said….

CLINTON: “I responded right away and provided all my emails that could possibly be work related” to the State Department. News conference, March 2015.

THE FACTS: Not so, the FBI found….

CLINTON: “I thought it would be easier to carry just one device for my work and for personal emails instead of two.” News conference, March 2015.

THE FACTS: This reasoning for using private email both for public business and private correspondence didn’t hold up in the investigation. Clinton “used numerous mobile devices to view and send email” using her personal account, Comey said. He also said Clinton had used different servers.

CLINTON: “It was on property guarded by the Secret Service, and there were no security breaches. … The use of that server, which started with my husband, certainly proved to be effective and secure.” News conference, March 2015.

CLINTON campaign website: “There is no evidence there was ever a breach.”

THE FACTS: The campaign website claimed “no evidence” of a breach, a less categorical statement than Clinton herself made last year, when she said there was no breach. The FBI did not uncover a breach but made clear that that possibility cannot be ruled out.

“We assess it is possible that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clinton’s personal email account,” Comey said….

CLINTON: “I opted for convenience to use my personal email account, which was allowed by the State Department.” News conference, March 2015.

THE FACTS: Comey did not address Clinton’s reason for using a private server instead of a government one, but he highlighted the perils in routing sensitive information through a home server.

In other words, Comey repeatedly noted that Hillary violated the rules and covered it up, yet he still won’t recommend prosecution. But to ensure that mere American citizens don’t get any ideas, he added the following:

To be clear, this is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions. But that is not what we are deciding now.

A government of men, and not of laws.

Published in Law
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  1. Nick Stuart Inactive
    Nick Stuart
    @NickStuart

    What we’ve seen so far is a realistic preview of what to expect to see in a Clinton administration.

    The unpalatable fact is that (barring some Providentially-ordained circumstance) come noon, January 21, 2017 it will be either Trump or Clinton who takes the Presidential oath of office. It will be either Trump or Clinton who appoints the next Attorney General, who oversees Federal Law Enforcement, makes thousands of other Executive Branch appointments, appoints the next Secretary of Defense, oversees national security, appoints the next Treasury Secretary, oversees Treasury functions (including the IRS), etc.

    The question then is:  vote for Trump, or Clinton?

    Leaving that space blank on the ballot, voting for a third party candidate, writing someone in, or whatever isn’t going to change that.

    Not pretty, but there we are.

    • #1
  2. Knotwise the Poet Member
    Knotwise the Poet
    @KnotwisethePoet

    Nick Stuart:What we’ve seen so far is a realistic preview of what to expect to see in a Clinton administration.

    The unpalatable fact is that (barring some Providentially-ordained circumstance) come noon, January 21, 2017 it will be either Trump or Clinton who takes the Presidential oath of office. It will be either Trump or Clinton who appoints the next Attorney General, who oversees Federal Law Enforcement, makes thousands of other Executive Branch appointments, appoints the next Secretary of Defense, oversees national security, appoints the next Treasury Secretary, oversees Treasury functions (including the IRS), etc.

    The question then is: vote for Trump, or Clinton?

    Leaving that space blank on the ballot, voting for a third party candidate, writing someone in, or whatever isn’t going to change that.

    Not pretty, but there we are.

    As much as I dislike Trump and am embarrassed at the fact that he will be my party’s candidate, I agree that this is where we’re at.  If Hillary will not face  any consequences before the law then please let her face the consequences at the ballot.

    • #2
  3. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Why did this happen Jon? Open ended question but I don’t understand how for 80% of that conference I was open mouthed thinking “he’s about to nail her!” and then came the “however”. Why?

    Devils adv. Is this a potential boon for the GOP? That everyone now knows she lied and is a weaker unindicted candidate than would have been a sympathetic Joe Biden?

    • #3
  4. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Yes, Jon, if someone told you the circumstances of how law is being administered without any names, you would think they were talking about a banana republic.  If you are a nobody who the police find with a few thousand dollars in cash, they can confiscate your money without ever charging you with a crime.  If you have political connections, the FBI can find over a hundred examples of you violating the law and there will be no repercussions.  And we’re likely going to elect a woman who believes it ought to be illegal for someone to make a documentary movie that is critical of her.  It’s bananas.

    • #4
  5. Paul A. Rahe Member
    Paul A. Rahe
    @PaulARahe

    “The best lack all conviction, the worst are full of passionate intensity.”

    • #5
  6. MerryKate Inactive
    MerryKate
    @MerryKate

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation has done the impossible: they’ve convinced me to vote for Trump.  I loathe the man, but his election is the only thing that will stop Hillary Clinton from being president. The Clintons may be able to buy and sell every branch of government, but they can’t buy my vote, and Hillary will not have it.  Comey should be fired, if not arrested, for dereliction of duty.

    • #6
  7. Craig Inactive
    Craig
    @Craig

    The Justice Department, the Internal Revenue Service, SCOTUS and now the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Where impartiality dies to compromise.

    And you’re equally foolish if you think the Republicans would stop it with a majority in the House and Senate.

    • #7
  8. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    I am not sure we are a nation of men. More like rogue wannabe tyrants and petty thieves. Associating Comey with men is an affront to men.

    • #8
  9. Knotwise the Poet Member
    Knotwise the Poet
    @KnotwisethePoet

    MerryKate:The Federal Bureau of Investigation has done the impossible: they’ve convinced me to vote for Trump. I loathe the man, but his election is the only thing that will stop Hillary Clinton from being president. The Clintons may be able to buy and sell every branch of government, but they can’t buy my vote, and Hillary will not have it. Comey should be fired, if not arrested, for dereliction of duty.

    Yup.  Crap like this is going a long ways to easing my conscience with regards to voting Trump.  If it’s clear at election time that Trump’s gonna lose I may still vote third party as a message to the GOP, but if there’s any shot of him beating Hillary I’m pulling the dang lever for the Donald.

    • #9
  10. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    I am confused that you folk did not see this coming.  This is the country we live in and have been living in all our lives.  Laws are interpreted, ignored and twisted for those in powers purposes.  If they apply and how they are applied is entirely up to the whims of government employees and LEOs.  The only difference between a cop and a crook is a badge, the only difference between a government employee and a crook is even less than that.  You guys really need to take off the rose colored glasses and take in the reality of the world.  Otherwise you are going to end up broke, unemployed, with no family and maybe in jail.  Seriously you folk need to stop eating the blue pills and try some red ones and view reality for what it is.  Welcome to the jungle.

    • #10
  11. Morituri Te Inactive
    Morituri Te
    @MorituriTe

    Any theories about what Comey was promised? Or what he was threatened with? Does he really want to keep his job that badly? Or was he just afraid he might get the Ken Starr treatment? That was certainly an object lesson on the consequences of diligent pursuit of the Clintons.

    I wonder what Comey would have done if the Republican candidate were leading in the polls right now?

    • #11
  12. David Foster Member
    David Foster
    @DavidFoster

    The Constitution forbids ‘titles of nobility.’  I think we are getting an object lesson in the reasons why.

    Remember the scene in A Tale of Two Cities where a recklessly carriage-driving aristocrat runs over a child—and nothing happens to him?

    We are seeing the creation of such a class, and it is important to note that only political connections give you the defacto Title of Nobility—money by itself is not sufficient.  Being wealthy did not save Martha Stewart from going to prison.

    • #12
  13. civil westman Inactive
    civil westman
    @user_646399

    Even un-prosecuted, anyone other than Mrs. Clinton would immediately lose his/her security clearance (those administrative sanctions).

    • #13
  14. twvolck Inactive
    twvolck
    @twvolck

    Quod licet Jovi non licet bovi, as Bill Buckley used to write.  Many bovi are voters, but will there be enough?

    • #14
  15. Addiction Is A Choice Member
    Addiction Is A Choice
    @AddictionIsAChoice

    Dave Sussman:”…Devils adv. Is this a potential boon for the GOP? That everyone now knows she lied and is a weaker unindicted candidate than would have been a sympathetic Joe Biden?…”

    I’m with you, Dave (or Devil!) The GOP has been given boxes and boxes of ammunition.

    • #15
  16. Knotwise the Poet Member
    Knotwise the Poet
    @KnotwisethePoet

    clinton town 2

    • #16
  17. Mark Wilson Inactive
    Mark Wilson
    @MarkWilson

    This is quite a headline:

    clinton:

    • #17
  18. Dave S. Member
    Dave S.
    @DaveS

    Great write-up Jon, I feel the exact same way.

    But then I come to terms with the fact that it is just me, one of the real oppressors in our society, failing to realize we wouldn’t even be talking about her size if she were a man.

    • #18
  19. Raxxalan Member
    Raxxalan
    @Raxxalan

    Only a Democrat can get away with this.   This is why I’ll vote for Trump, even with grave doubts of his fitness for office.   I think the constitution can protect us from Trump.  This proves it can not protect us from Hillary.

    • #19
  20. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    FB_IMG_1467765317568

    • #20
  21. Probable Cause Inactive
    Probable Cause
    @ProbableCause

    Remind me again…

    …why was Scooter Libby sentenced to 30 months in federal prison?

    • #21
  22. PHCheese Inactive
    PHCheese
    @PHCheese

    Can’t like that one enough, Johnson or is it Johnson?

    • #22
  23. PHCheese Inactive
    PHCheese
    @PHCheese

    The King Prawn:FB_IMG_1467765317568

    Can’t like this one enough, Johnson or is it Johnson

    • #23
  24. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Jon,

    Your post is the most conclusive as far as the facts. It is especially devastating when you recount those who have run afoul of the federal law pertaining to classified material. Is it possible that whole thing will not blow over? That finally they have overreached?

    Claire seriously considers the Brexit difficulties a Constitutional crisis or maybe she is just trolling us. I just think that Britain has a few hard decisions to make. On the other hand, this affront to the rule of law itself is a very real American Constitutional Crisis. Clinton is objectively guilty as charged. The evidence is already all over the internet. Comey’s presser was schizophrenic. For the first 95%, he presented an airtight case to prosecute and then in the last few seconds deserted his whole reason for being. To allow this creature to become President would be a disaster.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #24
  25. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    I’d really like to be surprised by this.  I really would.

    But it’s the 90’s all over again.  Investigation this, looming indictment that.  What does that spell?

    The Presidency.  For a selfish and embittered woman who knows that the rules only apply to the rubes, the proles, the idiots she caters to every few years (from a safe distance, of course), in order to keep getting paid to do nothing.

    • #25
  26. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

    Addiction Is A Choice:

    Dave Sussman:”…Devils adv. Is this a potential boon for the GOP? That everyone now knows she lied and is a weaker unindicted candidate than would have been a sympathetic Joe Biden?…”

    I’m with you, Dave (or Devil!) The GOP has been given boxes and boxes of ammunition.

    The GOP “leaders” are just trying to hold onto their own power.  They don’t really care about any of this.

    • #26
  27. Sleepywhiner Inactive
    Sleepywhiner
    @Sleepywhiner

    Nick Stuart:What we’ve seen so far is a realistic preview of what to expect to see in a Clinton administration.

    Sadly, it’s just a continuation of the current administration.  Fundamentally changing America, one elitist banana at a time.

    • #27
  28. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

    Image result for what you allow will continue

    • #28
  29. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Come on, We all know that the only crime the mob gets convicted of is tax evation.

    • #29
  30. Lily Bart Inactive
    Lily Bart
    @LilyBart

    Probable Cause:Remind me again…

    …why was Scooter Libby sentenced to 30 months in federal prison?

    He was a republican.

    • #30
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