In an effort to clear Hillary Clinton’s name from the scandal, the FBI conducted a search of Donald Trump’s home and offices on December 6. The raid is a blatant example of the federal government using its power to harass and subpoena a presidential candidate.
This case has prompted Republican governors and House Republicans to condemn the federal government’s weaponization of the judicial branch.
Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of classified documents
The FBI’s recent investigation into Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified documents has revealed many instances of carelessness and disregard. Clinton, however, is not the only person who was careless. Former Secretary of State John Kerry was also careless, as was CIA Director George Tenet.
All of these cases illustrate the need for transparency and accountability when it comes to government and classified information. While the Clinton campaign is eager to disavow such behavior, a proper investigation is necessary.
An investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of private email servers has uncovered no systematic mishandling of classified information by the former secretary of state. The probe was conducted by Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley. Grassley released his findings on Friday.
While the findings were unexpected, they show the importance of transparency. Despite the findings, Hillary Clinton’s email server was used to store thousands of classified emails, and her private server was exposed to widespread hacking.
Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents while president
The FBI has taken away ten more boxes of classified documents from the presidential library. It is illegal for anyone to take or keep classified information without a legal reason, and Trump’s actions could be construed as a violation of the law. Trump could also face allegations of hypocrisy for attacking Hillary Clinton while she was running for president. Despite that, the FBI’s investigation of Clinton’s use of a private email server did not recommend charges against her.
The President has the authority to declassify records, but this is not always the case. It is not uncommon for a president to hold on to documents for years before deciding to declassify them. However, the president can only do so if he fulfills certain criteria, which varies with each case. In addition to being accused of illegal behavior, a president may face criminal prosecution for possession of classified materials in an insecure location.
Trump’s endorsement of Christopher A. Wray as head of the FBI
While many people are shocked and disappointed by the findings of the FBI’s search of the Trump presidential campaign’s home, the president has been quick to praise Wray’s leadership. Wray has been on the FBI’s top leadership team since 2017 and was named Director after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey.
However, there is an important caveat here: While Wray has a proven track record in implementing FBI policies, there is no evidence that the investigation led to a conviction.
Wray was nominated by President George W. Bush and was assistant attorney general in the DOJ’s criminal division. After Trump announced Wray’s nomination, reactions started coming in. But many were shocked by Wray’s nomination, including Norm Eisen, a frequent Trump critic and co-founder of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Trump’s exploitation of an FBI investigation into Clinton’s mishandling of classified information
Earlier this year, a federal grand jury began investigating the potential mishandling of classified information by Trump and his staff. The Justice Department subsequently received 15 boxes of records from Mar-a-Lago containing material classified as “top secret” and “classified.” The Justice Department then asked the FBI to look into the matter. In a statement, Trump’s lawyers denied that the documents were classified and defended their handling.
The FBI’s decision to reopen its investigation into Clinton’s handling of classified information in 2016 has hurt the Clinton campaign. After all, the State Department found that Clinton used a private email server to send and receive classified information, which increased the risk of hackers. And while the investigation found no evidence of criminal activity, it damaged Clinton’s campaign.
In addition, the FBI investigation resulted in the firing of FBI Director James Comey during the Russia investigation. Afterward, Trump’s administration appointed FBI Director Christopher Wray, who has continued to criticize Comey and the FBI.
SOURCE: www.ghnewslive.com
