The action taken by FBI Director James Comey is quite possibly a game-changer in the presidential election of 2016. The treasure trove of emails uncovered on the computer of former, disgraced, Congressman Anthony Weiner has been eye-opening at best. Weiner is the estranged husband of Hillary Clinton’s top aide, Huma Abedin. It is certainly late in the presidential campaign for such a revelation; however, in order to get at the truth, the FBI has the obligation to follow the email trail regarding Clinton—wherever it may lead.
The United States does not need to have a functioning president who is under federal investigation and perhaps exposed to a federal indictment. Perhaps, only a few days before the general election, the long record of legal problems haunting the Clintons has finally met the long arm of the law, uncovered this time by the use—or misuse—of computer technology.
One can only imagine the enormous amount of emails found on the Weiner laptop computer. One can only make conjectures as to why there were any sensitive emails on the Weiner computer. Are any of these emails marked sensitive or classified?
These questions need to be answered for both judicial and national security reasons. Secretary Clinton has already apologized for making an error in judgment by using a rigged up, unsecured server in her role as Secretary of State. Was this an error in judgment or an arrogant abuse of power? In either case, this is not a great example of the decision-making that should be exhibited by a president of the United States. Exhibiting wise decision-making and good judgment are the hallmark qualities for a president. This issue has been a prominent one throughout the debates and election campaign.
Now, I am not a Donald Trump fan. He is not my kind of Republican; however, Trump has not engaged in the type of arrogance and unwise decision-making process engaged in by former Secretary Clinton. It now appears that in addition to the unwise use of computer technology, that Clinton and her closest advisors may be involved in a cover-up. As with Watergate, cover-ups are generally easier to investigate and prosecute.
The United States cannot have as president-elect a tainted presidential candidate. This nation is not a banana republic. The exercise of political muscle for the sole objective of accumulating raw political power has been the primary motivation for Hillary Clinton for decades. Over time, attitudinal and demographic changes have impacted the American electorate; the appeal of Secretary Clinton has changed over the years. The constituent parts of the Democratic Party have changed since Clinton arrived on the political stage some 30 years ago. It now appears that the initial thrust of the Clinton campaign to elect her because she is a woman has diminished. There will be a time to elect the first woman president of the United States. Secretary Clinton, due to the controversies surrounding her, may not “crack” that glass ceiling.
Democracy demands accountability and transparency. It requires the use and application of the rule of law. This national election will test these essential components of democracy. This election will provide an essential view of the future trajectory of the United States. It has indeed become a real change election.
Never in our history has such a significant issue affecting the presidential race been made public so close to an election, an issue with serious ramifications that may persist long after November 8. Those individuals voting this election will have to seriously consider the consequences of the potential misuses of emails by Clinton as well as members of her staff at the State Department and her election campaign staff.
The seriousness of this matter and the short time frame for America to digest it has serious implications.
This may be a game-changer in this election.
Hugh Silcox says
Mr Hall,
You write, “The United States cannot have as president-elect a tainted presidential candidate.” I agree wholeheartedly.
Donald Trump faces imminent court appearances to face charges of fraud and rape (of a child).
He has mocked the disabled, veterans, and menstruating women.
He has demonstrated woeful ignorance of the workings of Government, the Constitution, the US military, and American foreign policy.
Several European nations have announced that he is not welcome within their borders.
He has been endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan.
His followers threaten insurrection if he is not successful at the polls.
THIS is your choice to be President of the United States?
This man is not “tainted”; rather, he reeks to the heavens.
Bill Anderson says
Fletcher Hall, recent revelations by the FBI Director Comey should serve as a game-changer. I hold no belief that he had an intent to disrupt or affect the pending presidential election, but in reality Hillary Clinton is simply unfit to serve in that office. Scandal has followed her for all the years she and her husband have been involved in federal politics, from Whitewater to unusual and unexpected deaths of top aides, to the pay for play politics while she was Secretary of State. The Clintons have been described as a “Crime Family.” How else would people in public office amass the kind of financial empire the Clintons have?
Ms. Clinton did apologize for “an error in judgment” by using an unsecured server located in her residence while she was Secretary of State. The problem is, that was indeed no simple error in judgment; it was a planned, strategic attempt at keeping her email activity and personal shortcomings from becoming public knowledge and subject to scrutiny. Now the cat is out of the bag and a sincere, responsible presidential candidate with any character at all, would admit their flaws and shortcomings, and withdraw from the electoral process, in order that America be spared the inevitable — an impeachment that would force one from office. I have full confidence that Ms. Clinton lacks the character to do the right thing and will plunge us into what has elsewhere been called a constitutional emergency.
Kathi Donegan says
You and Mr. Hall surely don’t use the same high moral paintbrush on your own GOP candidates. Fine, but why the righteous indignation? All this bluster after you both, no doubt, idolized the Bush/Cheney misconduct and sale of our country? Neither of you have a leg to stand on in this race.
Martha Holland says
I am sorry, Mr. Fletcher, but your op-ed piece is very misinformed. Hillary Clinton is not under any kind of indictment, unlike Donald Trump. Mr. Trump is currently under at least two indictments, one with a court date at the end of November, and one in December. Both of these are serious charges.
And this does not include an investigation into his bogus foundation, which was ordered shut down by the state of New York, or his ties to a Russian Bank. And you plan to vote for Trump?
It is difficult to justify a vote for someone actually under indictment.
Michael Heffron says
Just a note of clarification, there is no such thing in U.S. security as marking documents “classified” or “sensitive”. Documents are only marked Confidential, Secret or Top Secret. So, when Hillary proclaims she did not have any emails marked “classified” she is technically being truthful; playing with words and the public’s ignorance of such matters, but truthful.
James Nick says
So what we are witnessing not only in Mr Hall’s latest flurry of frantic, end-game op-ed posts in the Spy but from the candidate himself, is the unmistakable death rattle of yet another failed presidential campaign by the Republicans. Last week it was all about a rigged election, rampant voter fraud, skewed polls, and dishonest, biased media. This week, we are being treated to a bankrupt campaign at their wits end furiously hurling whatever fabricated charges and baseless innuendo about Hillary Clinton that pops into their heads.
All this adds up to a Hail Mary pass desperately trying to gin up the hardcore Republican base and suppress the Democratic vote. It is making the trump campaign look increasingly like an exaggerated send-up of a Saturday Night Live skit.
The problem is that trump’s scorched-earth campaign is no comedy routine. By design, it has recruited ugly racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and extreme white nationalism to its cause. It invites both external enemies as well as rouge elements from within to make mischief. It is undermining this country’s claim as being a model of democracy.
At this point, the Republicans have all but conceded the election and have moved on. They are now making plans to double down on their obstruction and the defacto sabotage of all branches of the US government. All this turmoil is is only serving to harden our already intense polarization.
Gren Whitman says
Here’s my critique of F. Hall’s latest mishmash of garble and gibberish:
First, responsible columnists tend to share a set of facts, basic facts, which they then interpret variously. Mr. Hall’s grab-bag collection of “facts,” however, differs wildly from mine and, I suspect, from a considerable number of other Spy readers (plus, I trust, its esteemed editor and publisher).
Second, having the Spy present fact-free Mr. Hall as an Op-Ed equivalent and peer to, say, Tom Timberman or George Merrill or Wendy Costa or Tom Horton demeans these thoughtful writers, as well as the Spy.
I suppose we can all just accept F. Hall as the Spy’s version of the Kent County News’ crazy-uncle cartoonist, Kollinger, but I wish we didn’t have to!
Thomas F. Timberman says
Mr. Hall’s assertions need to have some basis in reality to be “game changers”. They don’t so they aren’t.
Let’s start from the top. Secretary Clinton has never been indicted nor is she under Federal Investigation and facing indictment today. The other candidate is and has been many times. There are several on-going class action suits against Mr. T. for aggravated fraud (aimed at particularly vulnerable people) and another, the first judicial hearing for which, is scheduled for December 16, 2016. The charge: rape of a minor.
Next, no “Treasure Trove of emails” found on Anthony Wiener’s computer can yet be characterized as “eye opening” because the FBI only got the warrant to read them last Saturday and has said it may take weeks or months to go through them. They have applied specialized software that has SURPRISE found Mrs. Clinton’s name is mentioned. No content yet; no sender-receiver info yet.
Unless Mr. Hall has special access to the NY FBI data base, he has no way of knowing whether there are “sensitive emails” on Weiner’s computer. Moving smartly along, Mr. Hall hints rather broadly that Mrs. Clinton and her closest aides are engaged in a “Watergate” type coverup. Of what and why is not revealed. I’ve got one of my own; “Mr. Trump borrowed millions of dollars from Russian oligarchs close to Putin.”
And “… the long record of legal problems haunting the Clintons has met the long arm of the law. Actually, for Spy readers of a certain age, we recall Special Prosecutor Ken Starr’s investigation of the Clintons accusing them of fraud (Whitewater), suspicious profit on cattle futures, foggy suspicions that an old friend of the Clinton’s who committed suicide, may have been…… and finally,the Rose Law Firm records and the firing of some White House travel office staffers. After months of investigation and millions of dollars spent, Judge Starr concluded there was insufficient evidence of criminal behavior to prosecute
Judge Starr’s name reminded me of what I think is an appropriate historical reference and that is to the Star Chamber set up in the 15th to 17th Centuries in England to try powerful people in camera (secret) They could be condemned to death if whatever they found the defendants guilty of (never revealed) warranted their termination. Often the Crown just confiscated their estates and banished them or tortured them into admitting something really bad.
Mr. Hall’s innuendo and fact-less assertions carry a whiff of the Star Chamber. However, on the positive side, it sounds as if he will not vote for Donald Trump.
Tom Timberman
Chestertown, MD.