FBI Investigating Hillary Clinton Over Private Emails
The FBI confirmed on Feb. 8 it is investigating Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with regards to her private emails.
In a letter sent to the State Department, FBI general counsel James Baker acknowledged the FBI is working on "matters" related to former Secretary of State Clinton’s use of a private email server.
“The FBI has not, however, publicly acknowledged the specific focus, scope, or potential targets of any such proceedings,” Baker wrote.
Baker concluded the FBI was unable to provide details about the case without adversely affecting law enforcement's ongoing efforts. The letter was sent on Feb. 2 but was released on Monday in connection with a lawsuit from the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch concerning the disclosure of Clinton's emails.
Conservative Group Releases Records
Judicial Watch released around 70 pages of State Department records, which indicate the former secretary of state and her top aides, Deputy Chiefs of Staff Huma Abedin and Jake Sullivan, had received and sent classified information via their nongovernmental email accounts.
According to the organization, the newly released documents demonstrated Clinton used the clintonemail.com system to request Abedin print out two March 2011 emails from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Another email apparently showed Clinton was curious to know how meetings in Washington might alter her vacation plans.
The released documents further revealed Clinton received advice regarding Libya from Sidney Blumenthal, a Clinton Foundation employee. The emails showed Clinton requested Blumenthal’s March 9, 2011 memo on Libya be printed with no identifiers.
More Officials Might Be Under Investigation
Tom Fitton, the president of Judicial Watch, explained the released emails suggest other officials, aside from Clinton, might need to fear an FBI investigation as well.
“These emails show that Hillary Clinton isn’t the only Obama official who should be worried about being prosecuted for mishandling classified information. Her former top State aides (and current campaign advisers) Huma Abedin and Jake Sullivan should be in the dock, as well,” Fitton said.
“The Obama State Department has now confirmed that Clinton, Abedin, and Sullivan used unsecured, nongovernmental email accounts to communicate information that should now be withheld from the American people ‘in the interest of national defense or foreign policy, and properly classified.’ When can we expect the indictments?” he added.
Clinton’s Base May Not Care
At the Oct. 13, 2015 Democratic debate, Clinton was taken to task for the scandal tied to her private email account.
When asked if she would like to comment on what the scandal might mean in terms of her reputation as a world leader, she simply smiled and said no. The former First lady's supporters went wild with applause, proving her base did not seem to think the matter was worth discussing.