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FBI and Hillary Clinton

Two questions I hear with some regularity are: What is the FBI going to do? And when is the FBI going to do it? The questions surround the current investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails and apparent disregard for national security. As I have mentioned in the previous commentaries, other people have been indicted for much less.

The Democratic debates and primaries are taking place right now. And the Democratic National Convention takes place a few months from now in July. Few Democratic voters seem concerned about the email scandal, but they will be very concerned if the FBI recommends an indictment.

The Democratic Party might want to reconsider whether they would run Hillary Clinton for the presidency if the FBI recommends she be indicted. Waiting until a grand jury actually indicts her would certainly upset the nominating process. The delegates at the convention might want to consider another candidate like Joe Biden or even Bernie Sanders.

Of course, there is the possibility that even if the FBI recommends indictment, Attorney General Loretta Lynch would refuse to do so. She might argue that the evidence was not sufficient. She might argue that an indictment would politicize the presidential campaign.

If the Attorney General did refuse to indict, what would be the response from the FBI Director James Comey? I assumed that he and some of his staff might resign. Those of us who lived through the Watergate scandal might remember that Elliott Richardson and William Ruckelshaus resigned rather than carry out President Nixon’s order.

People who know James Comey say he probably would not resign but instead release the incriminating information surrounding Hillary Clinton’s actions. That would certainly have a negative influence on her campaign.

It’s is time for the FBI and the Attorney General to act so that Democratic primary voters and general election voters can make an intelligent decision on who will serve as president.

Viewpoints by Kerby Anderson

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