The FBI is going to investigate new emails related to the case of Hillary Clinton’s personal email server after discovering “the existence of emails that may be pertinent to the investigation,” according to a letter from FBI Director James Comey.
The letter to congressional leaders, initially reported by multiple news organizations, does not specify what is in those emails or what the FBI will investigate, and says they were discovered in an unrelated case. He wrote that the agency would be reviewing the emails to determine whether they include classified information “as well as to assess their importance to our investigation.”
The “FBI cannot yet assess whether or not this material may be significant, and I cannot predict how long it will take us to complete this additional work,” he added.
Retrospective of Hillary Clinton email scandal
In March 2015 it became publicly known that Hillary Clinton, while performing the duty of the United States Secretary of State, had exclusively used her private email server for official communications, rather than official State Department email accounts maintained on federal servers. Those official communications included thousands of emails that are classified TOP SECRET at the time while being used and some of them would later be marked as classified by the State Department retroactively.
The controversy unfolded at the hearings held by the United States House Select Committee on Benghazi. Some experts, officials, and members of Congress have contended that her use of private messaging system software and a private server violated State Department protocols and procedures, as well as federal laws and regulations governing record keeping. In response, Clinton has said that her use of personal email was in compliance with federal laws and State Department regulations.
In total, more than 30,000 emails were deleted – WHY? After a year-long investigation, the FBI recovered more than 17,000 emails that had been deleted or otherwise not turned over to the State Department, and many of them were work-related and classified in nature, the FBI has said.
After allegations were raised that some of the emails in question contained classified information, an investigation was initiated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Of the emails on the server, 113 emails contained information which was classified at the time it was sent, including 65 emails deemed “Secret” and 22 deemed “Top Secret.” Of the 113 emails, just three contained markings indicating they could be classified, FBI Director James Comey stated. Nearly 2,100 emails on the server were retroactively marked as classified by the State Department. Government policy, reiterated in the non-disclosure agreement signed by Clinton as part of gaining her security clearance, is that sensitive information should be considered and handled as classified even if not marked as such.
In May 2016, the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General released an 83-page report about the State Department’s email practices, including Clinton’s. On July 5, 2016 Comey announced that the FBI’s investigation had concluded that Clinton was “extremely careless” in handling her email system and classified document but recommended that no charges be filed against her. On July 6, 2016, Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that no charges would be filed. On July 7, the State Department reopened its probe into the email controversy. On October 28, 2016 Comey notified Congress that the FBI has started looking into newly discovered emails that may be pertinent to the case. Law enforcement officials stated the emails were found on an electronic device shared by Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner.
Another email controversy – Wikileaks and The Podesta email revelations
The one question that still remains is If Clinton Campaign Believes WikiLeaks Emails Are Forged, Why Don’t They Prove It?
As time passes by it seems that FBI help is going to be needed to give an answer to WikiLeaks emails too. But first let’s see what will be the FBI official conclusion on this one?
“Justice first nevertheless the elections!”
Sources: LaTimes, The Intercept, Wikipedia, WikiLeaks
Best Regards
TBU NEWS
