Report: At Least 147 FBI Agents Are Investigating Clinton's Email Practices

[dorkzilla]

Besides the sheer number of agents supposedly dedicated to investigating Clinton’s email server, the justification for doing so is noteworthy as well: The 2016 presidential election is over seven months away, but the Democratic primary, in Clinton has successfully fended off Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders thus far, is operating on much shorter timetable. Indeed, there’s some anxiety among Democrats on the national stage about the possibility of Clinton receiving an F.B.I. indictment after the Democratic convention, by which time she would have presumably won enough delegates to capture the nomination, but before the actual election, when such an indictment would render her candidacy toxic, with no other option to replace her.

http://gawker.com/report-at-least-147-fbi-agents-are-investigating-hilla-1767473422

[Jitter65]

1. Yep. It is difficult to find law-breaking when there is none. nt

[EdwardBernays]

3. lol

if there was only one person investigating it you'd say it was because there was nothing to investigate...

hilarious, this desperate spinning...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. It's all they have.

[AgingAmerican]

10. Indictments are all 'they' have?

Who are 'they'? The FBI?

[noiretextatique]

73. No...it is all a rw conspriracy

That includes the FBI, and therefore Obama.

[IdaBriggs]

9. Is this an informed opinion or wishful thinking?

I think the possibility of criminal activity is right up there with John Edwards having a baby momma while his wife was fighting cancer - sadly true, and really rotten, but difficult for people to wrap their heads around because it was such a stupid, crappy thing for someone to do.

[scscholar]

51. This since she already confirmed...

she did nothing wrong, but of course those Republicans just keep going with their witchhunt.

[noiretextatique]

74. F.B.I. is investigating

Is the FBI now in on the vast rw conspiracy? I suppose it is possible.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

2. Nothing to see here, This investigation is all routine

147 Agents on the investigation is business as usual for her highness.

[randome]

5. And the vast majority of those agents are likely pouring over tens of thousands of emails.

How many agents do you think it takes to do that? Sorry, but that's the most likely, objective opinion I can muster.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[IdaBriggs]

6. They are reported to be doing interviews and follow-ups.

You can read more here - http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511589657 - with links to the Washington Post and LA Times.

[randome]

11. There's nothing there that says all 147 agents are conducting interviews.

There aren't even 147 people involved in Clinton's email setup so why would anyone jump to the conclusion that some sort of mass interviewing is going on? The fervent hope for something to take down our leading candidate is...obnoxious it not simply creepy.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[IdaBriggs]

25. I prepared a detailed reply, then my computer refreshed the page

And wiped it. I will go copy the paragraphs later spelling things out for you.

[NWCorona]

26. I hate when that happens!

[Aerows]

70. You can go back

and hit ctrl+z - that retains the text if you are using Windows or Linux, and FF or Chrome. I don't know if it works like that under Apple/Safari or Opera.

[AgingAmerican]

7. And that is beside the fact she cannot win a general election

With the highest negatives in Democratic primary history.

[Tarc]

8. Can't wait to see a final tally of how much this "investigation" cost

Monicagate was around $40 million, if I recall.

[dorkzilla]

13. Maybe, just maybe

If the Clintons would stop flouting email rules and schtupping interns, there wouldn't be money wasted on investigations? Mmmmmm????

[Tarc]

15. Or maybe if politicians didn't build of faux scandals out of nothing, just for political gain...

we wouldn't be here either.

The Gingrich-led Congress wanted Clinton out of the way so they could get their "Contract With America" passed.

The Sanders camp (some of them anyways, I'm thankful not all are on-board this silly bandwagon) has no viable path to the nomination, thus needs Cinton out of the way.

Think about that for a moment; you're schlepping with the likes of Judicial Watch and Newt Gingrich, all in the name of politics.

[dorkzilla]

17. Because anything remotely critical of Hillary renders it right wing?

Let's remember - Bill Clinton WAS fooling around with an intern in the White House; if he'd just come clean he could have saved himself embarrassment and saved the American taxpayer a lot of money and time. AND Hillary has already conceded to using poor judgement with her emails.

All the "scandals" that were cooked up about Obama came to nothing. Why? Because there was no there there. The Clintons are their own worst enemies.

[Tarc]

19. The Republicans did not care that Clinton had sex with an intern

They saw it as a political opportunity to exploit.

Victim-blaming is an element of the conservative mindset. You're already carrying their water by propagating this nonsense, but there's no need to go whole hog, son.

[dorkzilla]

23. And there would be NOTHING to exploit if he hadn't gift wrapped it and handed it to the GOP

Victim blaming????? Bill Clinton is a victim???? That may be the funniest thing I've read this week!

And I'm not a son, m'am.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

29. It is very simple

If something negative comes out about the Clintons it is automatically a lie conjured up by the Right Wingers; the Clintons can do no wrong.

You must chant that every night before bed so that the indoctrination takes full effect

[amborin]

36. she blatantly prevaricated during the testimony; i never thought anything of Benghazi until

i actually read her testimony concerning Blumenthal; one lie after another revealed through her own emails!

But the issue here is her use of a private server; no one else ever did that. She violates many laws by doing what she did; it's a violation of FIOA, for starters. The public has a legal right to see those communications; Separately, she was apparently very careless with very sensitive material. That is a felony right there. And that's giving her the benefit of the doubt. Then she attempted to erase 30K emails off her server. Who gave her the right to erase documents that the public has the legal right to see? She said they were all personal emails, but it is now coming to light that many of them were not personal. And some of the leaked emails are contradicting testimony she provided under oath.

[Darb]

14. Concern noted.

Thanks.

[Darb]

20. You are welcome.

Glad I could be of help.

[roguevalley]

38. it's knee jerk, their scorn.

[TheBlackAdder]

18. Another stupid act that exposes taxpayers to millions in costs. nt

[Waiting For Everyman]

21. If the Clinton camp thinks Saturday was a bummer

wait till this baby hits. And when it does, we can all thank The Great Hillary for all the grief it will cause. All of it entirely avoidable.

[casperthegm]

22. Wait, I thought it's already been decided that nothing wrong happened?

I see HRC posts all over the place saying that she did nothing wrong. If they've already reached this conclusion, why is the FBI committing nearly 150 agents to investigate nothing? That seems like a pretty big waste of man-power for a forgone conclusion, doesn't it?

[riderinthestorm]

24. From the Vice News FOIA request... "active law enforcement proceedings "

VICE News sought a wide-range of records from the FBI last December related to Clinton's private email server. Specifically, we asked the FBI for any emails and other documents retrieved from her server, thumb drive, and any other electronic equipment that has not been publicly disclosed; any correspondence and other documents between the FBI and Clinton or her representatives; correspondence between the FBI and the State Department about Clinton's server; and any documents memorializing authorizations granted to the FBI to disclose to the media what the bureau seized from her server. In his declaration, Hardy said the FBI does not have any documents showing that the bureau communicated with Clinton or her aides nor does the FBI have any records about disclosures to the media. The FBI has asked US District Court Judge Randolph Moss to dismiss VICE News' FOIA lawsuit on grounds that the documents it does have about Clinton's private email server are located in files pertaining to a pending investigation that is exempt from disclosure because their release would interfere with active law enforcement proceedings... 

because their release would interfere with active law enforcement proceedings !!!!!!!

Read more: https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-investigation-hillary-clinton-email-server-details 

[NWCorona]

27. And this is just the FBI

Kerry is on record for having to cannibalize other agencies to get the staff needed to handle this mess that Clinton made.

And then there's the DOJ staff.

[cosmicone]

28. Gawker which just got a $140 million judgement against it

in favor of Hulk Hogan.

Also, it is sad when Bernie's only path of winning is praying for an indictment of Hillary.

[dorkzilla]

30. The Hogan judgement has what exactly to do with Hillary?

Nothing. Nice try though!

As for Hillary's indictment being the "only path of winning" for Bernie?

[randome]

32. The Revolution will win through hook or crook!

And if the Authoritarians don't like our Anointed One, that's too bad! (Am I getting the gist of the hypocrisy right?)
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[dorkzilla]

35. Think you've got the right idea

but you have the players mixed up. And the Anointed One could only be used to describe one of the candidates and its not Bernie.

[randome]

39. I actually meant #32 to be a response to #28.

But it's all good.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[dorkzilla]

42. Okay!

[bobbobbins01]

37. Let me see if I have this straight...

What is sad is that one of Bernie's possible paths to winning is that his competitor might be indicted...

But what isn't sad is that his competitor might be indicted?

[cosmicone]

40. She ain't getting indicted

The FBI investigation is not a criminal investigation -- it is FOIA investigation

Shame on anyone who is touting it as a criminal investigation for nefarious political purposes.

[HooptieWagon]

62. FBI doesn't handle FOIA filings for other agencies.

Your claim is ludicrous.

[cosmicone]

65. FBI goes through the FOIA releases

to make sure their covert operations are not compromised.

[HooptieWagon]

66. Only FOIA that involve them.

State Dept = foreign relations. FBI is domestic, they're only involved in foreign affairs if their criminal investigation expertise is requested.
The FBIs involvement in Clinton is only tangentially related to the FOIA inre emails. Through the FOIA suit, it was learned about Clinton's private server in her basement. Since that potentially involves the crime of mid-handling sensitive/classified information, the FBI became involved. Had Zclinton not set up her private server and exchanged sensitive documents on it, the FBI would have had no involvement in the FOIA civil lawsuit.

[cosmicone]

68. They conduct a lot of covert anti-terrorism operations

and need to protect their sources.

Doh

[HooptieWagon]

71. Most State Dept emails probably don't involve FBI terrorism case references.

FBI primarily handles domestic criminal investigations. NSA and other agencies handle global terrorism cases.
In Clinton's case, the State Dept responded to the FOIA that they had no files for Clinton, which tipped off JW's attorneys that she was using a private system. FBIs involvement is not that emails discuss FBI cases, but that Clintons actions are possibly illegal. IOW, it's a criminal investigation. Namely: Did Clinton set up the private server to avoid complying with FOIA and Govt transparency laws? Did Clinton handle sensitive/classified information in a proper manner? Has she committed perjury or other crimes in testimony given? That is what the FBI is investigating, not the content of the emails per SE.

[Jarqui]

31. A thing that seems to get overlooked with these 147 FBI agents is

what brought them into this in the first place.

The Inspector General for the State Department and the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community (both working for the Obama administration) spent 2-3 months looking this over. After their review, they both came back and said effectively to the Attorney General "you'd better get the FBI to look at this as criminal laws may well have been broken and classified information may have been exposed to the wrong parties."

I find it hard to be readily dismissive of that in spite of Hillary's lying and/or deception about it.

[dorkzilla]

33. Exactly.

[peacebird]

34. Bingo.

[cosmicone]

41. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Jarqui]

43. When these Inspector Generals got depositions from agents in the

Intelligence Community that emails on Hillary's server contained classified information at the time they were transmitted, I don't think the Clinton campaigns reaction to having 147 FBI agents follow up on that finding that made their candidate out to be a liar and a potential criminal was "hahaha".

[cosmicone]

44. Dream on

It is a FOIA investigation -- not a criminal investigation.

Before releasing sensitive information, ALL relevant agencies are consulted to make sure nothing sensitive is released.

They need so many FBI agents because there are some 60,000 emails and they want to finish the report in a couple of weeks.

Shame on anyone who uses this for nefarious political purposes.

[Jarqui]

45. Really?

Since when do you need to give the IT guy immunity to discuss a mere FOIA investigation? What's the point? Who gives a shit about what the IT guy has to say about FOIA stuff that happened after he'd left?

Why is there a rush to settle a mere FOIA investigation? Why is that so important to get done in a hurry if all it is was the state department dragging their ass getting FOIA copies out? Is that really such a big crime that it could decide an election for the presidency?

Why are agents of the Intelligence Community signing declarations that emails containing material classified at the time of transmission were sent from Clinton's server - making Hillary Clinton out to be a liar? WTF does that have to do with FOIA requests?

Why do 147 FBI agents overseen by the director of the FBI need to be involved in a FOIA case?
Why did two Inspector General's feel the need to bring in 147 FBI agents to gawk at a mere FOIA case? When in the history of the US has such a thing ever happened over such a trivial reason?

There is a heck of a lot more going on here than a mere FOIA case. There are 38 FOIA cases in court right now. Are you really so naive to believe that they'll all get quickly sorted out from this 147 man FBI effort and all will be quickly forgotten?

Wake up and give your head a shake.

[cosmicone]

46. Immunity is also given in non-criminal investigations

to complete the picture.

I wouldn't hang Bernie's win on the immunity meme. If someone wouldn't talk without immunity, they are given immunity.

[Jarqui]

47. But the immunity isn't to cover for civil issues. It's to protect the person from

criminal charges that their lawyer feels they are exposed to.

So why should Clinton's IT guy feel exposed to criminal charges in a little FOIA case? The Justice Department must agree with him because they granted him immunity. Why bother the Attorney General with this nonsense if it was a silly concern?

And if his feelings are justified, why shouldn't Clinton and her staff not feel exposed? This guy may not be the only one who declines to discuss this issue because of a fear they might incriminate themselves.

This is either a whole lot of anxiety over a little FOIA issue - as you suggest ... or much more likely, you're very wrong in being so dismissive and the lawyer for this IT guy is rightfully nervous of criminal prosecution like CIA Director Deutch because something criminal is looming.

Of course, I note of all the points I raised, this was the only one you could even attempt to respond to.

[cosmicone]

48. well doh

Some witnesses won't testify even in civil investigations without immunity. Especially when the Bengaaaaaaazi repukes and the free stuff revolution are out to get Clinton and her staff.

[Jarqui]

49. I think that's an ongoing problem. The more Clinton staff plead the 5th, the

more public perception shifts to conclude something criminal. Can't really blame them.

Now public perception should mean nothing in a criminal case. But it can sure hurt a candidate trying to get elected President.

That's been my concern all along. Hillary could be squeaky clean innocent in her emails and the Clinton Foundation but this stuff can really dirty her up in an election. They cannot credibly clear her between now and November - there will be major howling and suspicion if they try.

We saw what they did to John Kerry with totally bogus stuff. With the Clinton Foundation and email issues, they have some truthful facts to found their dishonest story on - which will make it more believable and hurtful.

[cosmicone]

50. Millions who vote for her don't care

We see it as a fake charade created by republicans and cheered on by the free stuff revolution.

True democrats actually support her through the stupid republican charade.

Just because someone negotiates an immunity doesn't mean they have broken any laws. It is a constitutional right as much as freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

[Jarqui]

54. "Just because someone negotiates an immunity doesn't mean they have broken any laws."

No question. Same with this:
" It is a constitutional right as much as freedom of speech and freedom of religion."

BUT that's smoke because we're not dealing with a court of law. We're dealing with the court of public opinion. An employee of Clinton's having to plead the 5th or having to get an immunity deal reflects poorly on the candidate in the court of public opinion - where the election is won or lost.

No question that a number of Democrats will support her through that though I wouldn't describe them as "true democrats." A "true democrat" may not support her because she's dishonest and a "true democrat" doesn't believe a dishonest candidate should represent Democrats (for example).

So it will hurt her among Democrats - some who won't show up to vote because they're turned off.

But Democrats are less than 30% of the electorate. So are Republicans. But it will hurt her from attracting crossover votes from Republicans. and it will hurt her among Independents. Unfortunately for your theory, she needs support from Independents and some Republicans to win the general election.

It's harder for someone perceived as a dishonest criminal to attract votes for them as President.

You're probably right in that millions won't care. But the reality is probably millions more will care and you only need to move the needle a few points to lose a general election. That's the problem with this.

[cosmicone]

55. Like I said ....

only right-wingers and the free-stuff (keyboard) revolutionaries care.

Everyone else knows that it is utter BS.

[Jarqui]

60. Like many, I don't think that's been determined yet.

I'm a long time progressive. I care. And I most certainly do not know if it's BS or not yet. She's innocent until proven otherwise. And I haven't seen all the proof so she's still innocent. But:

Hillary lied about this several times over in her first press conference - not the GOP.

Two Inspector Generals working for the Obama administration called in the FBI - not the GOP.

Intelligence Community agents signed depositions that Clinton emails contained material classified at the time of transmission - not the GOP.

Hillary had an unauthorized server in her home with 2,100+ classified emails on it - not the GOP.

$165 billion in weapons deals got approved on Hillary's watch whose participants often found a way of donating millions to her foundation - not the GOP.

147 FBI agents are not going to mess around with this for months on end without there being a good reason to do so - that's not the GOP.

I agree a bunch of the Benghazi investigation by the House was a GOP fabricated scandal to damage her. But I cannot objectively make the same claim here. Hillary had a much bigger hand in where she finds herself in this scandal. And it's probably going to cost her a bunch of votes - that will not be the exclusive fault of the GOP.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Conflating two investigations

FOIA is a civil case, discovery has been granted.

The latter is a criminal investigation. If you are going to laugh, at least get the basic facts right. We have two, perhaps 3 IG investigations ongoing. (NSA after SAP material was found, a felony, is the last one to join the party) the FBI is a criminal investigation.

You can proceed in looking rather silly.

[cosmicone]

53. It is the same investigation

The two-three-four are in the minds of the free stuff (keyboard) revolutionaries.

Each agency is making sure that it's pet classified stuff is not disclosed to Larry Klayman under the FOIA.

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. No they are not

FOIA is a civil case, separate from the criminal FBI referral from two IGs. By the way, it was not supposed to be criminal. Please proceed to look rather silly. I enjoy some comedy with this very serious shit

[cosmicone]

57. I know what I am writing about

There are no criminal investigations when no crime has been committed.

However, I get what you're saying. The last hope of the free stuff revolution.

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. LMAO there is even talk of a grand jury having been empaneled.

No, you have no fucking clue of what you are talking about. As I used to tell Republicans in 2003-4 timeline, time to put your country before your party

By the way, please, please have your party nominate such a dirty candidate. I need to order ink by the bucketful. Once it moves to open scandal the restraint we have had, will be gone. I will be able to use open media to write about this. In fact, we are very close to that moment. Yeehaw..

[cosmicone]

59. Meh ... n/t

[morningfog]

63. The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation.

This is separate and apart from FOIA requests.

[HooptieWagon]

67. Exactly.

The Hillarians are not only confused about the FBIs criminal investigation, but are apparently clueless as to the FBIs job.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

61. They're finally getting serious and calling in a REAL lawman

[Karma13612]

72. LOL!! boy, this takes me back....+100

[treestar]

64. What could possibly be criminal

about that? What are the possible crimes? Even if she handled them in less than ideal way, it's hardly a crime.

[Dem2]

69. "That number is greatly exaggerated."

The FBI does not have close to 150 agents working the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email server, a source familiar with the matter told POLITICO Monday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, commented after the Washington Post reported that FBI Director James Comey told an unnamed member of Congress that 147 agents were working the Clinton investigation.
Story Continued Below

Asked about the Post report, the source said: "That number is greatly exaggerated."


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/how-many-fbi-agents-hillary-clinton-email-221299#ixzz44Eq5dAWC
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