House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah
ELECTION 2016
CONGRESS SUMMONS FBI CHIEF TO EXPLAIN EMAIL DECISION
'Fact pattern presented by Director Comey makes clear Clinton violated the law'
Bob Unruh
WND reported in February a 2011 email in which Hillary Clinton instructed an aide to remove the security headers on classified information and forward it to her unsecure smartphone set a precedent for the handling of similar information over the next year-and-a-half until she left office.
“It certainly shows a trend or a way for them to do their own business [that] they felt would be under the radar,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely at the time, referring to five or six close Clinton assistants and advisers.
The Daily Caller documented another case with similar circumstances.
The report cited the case of Naval Reservist Brian Nishimura, who had access to “classified briefings and digital records that could only be retained and viewed on authorized government computers.”
At the time, the FBI reported: “Nishimura, however, caused the materials to be downloaded and stored on his personal, unclassified electronic devices and storage media. He carried such classified materials on his unauthorized media when he traveled off-base in Afghanistan and, ultimately, carried those materials back to the United States at the end of his deployment.”
Said the Daily Caller, “Like Clinton, Nishimura admitted to destroying ‘a large quantity of classified materials.’ Like Clinton, the FBI investigation into his actions ‘did not reveal evidence that Nishimura intended to distribute classified information to unauthorized personnel.'”
Nishimura got two years probation, a $7,500 fine, forfeiture of his personal media and an order to surrender security clearances and never again seek them.
Several legal experts told WND that FBI Director James Comey’s decision not to recommend charges against Hillary Clinton over her handling of classified information because there was no “intent,” which is not a necessity for prosecution, means there will be more investigations into her behavior and handling of national security secrets.
On Thursday, Comey will testify before a House committee reviewing his decision.
In his explanation Tuesday, Comey said Clinton was extremely careless in transmitting national security secrets through a private home email system that lacked security and probably was hacked by the nation’s enemies. But he insisted the law requires evidence of “gross negligence.”
Former U.S. Attorney Joseph di Genova and Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said they believe Clinton will not be exonerated in the court of public opinion and that the perception that she received politically motivated preferential treatment from a Democratic administration will dog her for the remainder of the presidential campaign.
On Thursday, House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said Comey will testify Thursday morning before the committee.
He called the FBI’s recommendation “surprising and confusing.”
He called the FBI’s recommendation “surprising and confusing.”
“The fact pattern presented by Director Comey makes clear Secretary Clinton violated the law. Individuals who intentionally skirt the law must be held accountable. Congress and the American people have a right to understand the depth and breadth of the FBI’s investigation. I thank Director Comey for accepting the invitation to publicly answer these important questions.”
Famed musical artist Charlie Daniels perhaps was speaking for the average American in a statement.
“Comey has recommended that while Hillary and her staff were ‘extremely careless’ with her emails, no charges should be filed,” he said. “The law states that ‘gross negligence’ with regards to national security documents is grounds for fines and up to ten years in prison. How is ‘extremely careless’ not the same as ‘gross negligence?'”
Fox News pointed out that Comey took no questions after his statement on Wednesday.
“In saying he would not press the Justice Department to pursue an indictment against the likely Democrat nominee for president, Comey nonetheless laid out a strong case that she had violated multiple statutes regulating government employees’ safeguarding of sensitive emails,” the report said.
Thomas DuPree, former deputy assistant attorney general, said Comey’s conclusions “didn’t quite square with the facts.”
He said the decision was aggravated by President Obama’s intervention earlier in the investigation with statements that she had done nothing wrong and Bill Clinton’s clandestine meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch last week.
Fitton, noting Judicial Watch helped break open the Clinton email scandal, said his organization will “independently continue its groundbreaking litigation and investigation.”
Fitton said Comey’s statement was incongruous: The FBI director initially made the case that Clinton was grossly negligent in the handling of her private email system, but then he insisted no reasonable prosecutor would take the case, because Clinton did not intend to harm the United States.
DiGenova told WND Comey’s statement was “bizarre.”
“First, Comey sets up the facts for prosecution under gross negligence statutes, then he argues there was no intent. That’s nonsense.”
Fox News also reported Lynch was scheduled to appear before an oversight committee next week and is expected to be questioned about the email scandal.
Comey’s statement on Tuesday said there was “no clear evidence” Clinton and her aides intended to violate federal law with their handling of secret government information. But he said they were extremely careless.
However, experts have pointed out that intent is not a required part of the law, only “gross negligence.”
And Comey himself confirmed 110 emails in 52 email chains contained classified information at the time they were sent or receive, directly contradicting Clinton’s claims.
Comey’s statement:
WND reported in February a 2011 email in which Hillary Clinton instructed an aide to remove the security headers on classified information and forward it to her unsecure smartphone set a precedent for the handling of similar information over the next year-and-a-half until she left office.
“It certainly shows a trend or a way for them to do their own business [that] they felt would be under the radar,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely at the time, referring to five or six close Clinton assistants and advisers.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2016/07/congress-summons-fbi-chief-to-explain-email-decision/#lp6KMdubjEVK8yyF.99
My comments: Comey has besmirched his own reputation and that of the FBI in trying to circumvent the Obvious Conclusion of Clinton's Guilt. The Federal Government under Obama is a Cesspool of Corruption and Scandal and it could be Worse under a Hillary Presidency.
My comments: Comey has besmirched his own reputation and that of the FBI in trying to circumvent the Obvious Conclusion of Clinton's Guilt. The Federal Government under Obama is a Cesspool of Corruption and Scandal and it could be Worse under a Hillary Presidency.
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