FBI: Clinton was ‘extremely careless’ over her use of private emails
FBI Director James Comey says presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was "extremely careless" over her use of a private email server as secretary of state but did not recommend criminal charges against her.
Comey said on Tuesday that there was no clear evidence that Clinton and her team at the US State Department intended to violate the law.
"Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information," Comey said in a 15-minute statement explaining the investigation, "our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case."
"In looking back at our investigations into mishandling of removal of classified information, we cannot find a case that would support bringing criminal charges on these facts," Comey said.
The FBI director said Clinton increased the risk of her emails being hacked by hostile nations. “Any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton’s position” should have “known that an unclassified system was no place” for the sensitive information she handled as the top US diplomat, he said.
Comey’s address concluded an investigation that began a year ago when the inspector general for US intelligence agencies told the Justice Department that he had found classified information among a small sample of emails Clinton had sent and received.
The Justice Department, which administers the FBI, had sought to complete the investigation and make recommendations on whether charges should be filed before the Democratic and Republican Party conventions take place later this month.
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Friday that she would accept whatever recommendation she received from the FBI. The FBI’s recommendation to the Justice Department will have an enormous impact on the US presidential election.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump expressed his displeasure with the FBI's recommendation.
In a tweet on Tuesday following the Comey’s address, Trump said, “The system is rigged. General Petraeus got in trouble for far less. Very very unfair! As usual, bad judgment.”
According to a Gallup poll released last week, Trump and Clinton are currently among the worst-rated presidential candidates of the last 70 years.
When Americans are asked what comes to mind when they think of Clinton, 27 percent say they don't trust her, 13 percent say they don't like her and 8 percent say she is a “criminal” or “corrupt.”
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