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FBI Agreed To Destroy Laptops of Clinton Aides With Immunity Deal, Sources Say (foxnews.com)

An anonymous Slashdot reader quotes a report from Fox News: Immunity deals for two top Hillary Clinton aides included a side arrangement obliging the FBI to destroy their laptops after reviewing the devices, House Judiciary Committee sources told Fox News on Monday. Sources said the arrangement with former Clinton chief of staff Cheryl Mills and ex-campaign staffer Heather Samuelson also limited the search to no later than Jan. 31, 2015. This meant investigators could not review documents for the period after the email server became public -- in turn preventing the bureau from discovering if there was any evidence of obstruction of justice, sources said. The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee fired off a letter Monday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking why the DOJ and FBI agreed to the restrictive terms, including that the FBI would destroy the laptops after finishing the search. The immunity deals for Mills and Samuelson, made as part of the FBI's probe into Clinton's use of a private email server when she served as secretary of state, apparently included a series of "side agreements" that were negotiated by Samuelson and Mills' attorney Beth Wilkinson. The side deals were agreed to on June 10, less than a month before FBI Director James Comey announced that the agency would recommend no charges be brought against Clinton or her staff. Judiciary Committee aids told FoxNews.com that the destruction of the laptops is particularly troubling as it means that the computers could not be used as evidence in future legal proceedings, should new information or circumstances arise.

22 of 500 comments (clear)

  1. Good. Hopefully destruction of evidence will... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    stop all of the conspiracy garbage since there's no more evidence.

  2. Irregularities by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At first the immunity deal for Combetta was for destruction, to get him to talk to the FBI after using BleachBit on the server. This is unusual, because he could already have been prosecuted for this since an order was issued which doesn't allow for this. Clinton and her people asked him to do this, which means they could also be prosecuted. Furthermore, I'm genuinely confused why the other 4 immunity deals were offered. Were the 4 others granted immunity because they had a hand in the private server, or were they offered because the DOJ was looking out for them? I'm also confused why they fucking include a provision to destroy laptops (that apparently weren't subpoenaed or seized via warrant like in every other case) as intense scrutiny of this case is going on and Congress is attempting to force further investigation even though the DOJ and FBI are trying to stonewall it.

    There's just too much smoke here for anyone to claim that there isn't a fire.

    1. Re:Irregularities by quantaman · · Score: 4, Interesting

      At first the immunity deal for Combetta was for destruction, to get him to talk to the FBI after using BleachBit on the server. This is unusual, because he could already have been prosecuted for this since an order was issued which doesn't allow for this. Clinton and her people asked him to do this, which means they could also be prosecuted.

      There's another interpretation of events. The law says you have to turn over all the official emails (personal are exempt) and then destroy the devices (so no one is digging hard drives out of landfills). And this is exactly what they did (or tried to do since they job of separating wasn't done properly).

      Whether they also destroyed evidence depends on what they were told by the FBI at the time and how much the lawyers were involved (I suspect you're lawyer telling you X is ok gives you a lot of cover).

      Furthermore, I'm genuinely confused why the other 4 immunity deals were offered. Were the 4 others granted immunity because they had a hand in the private server, or were they offered because the DOJ was looking out for them?

      Because the FBI is only interested in Clinton.

      The best way to get everyone else to talk without fear of self-incrimination is to just give them immunity.

      I'm also confused why they fucking include a provision to destroy laptops (that apparently weren't subpoenaed or seized via warrant like in every other case) as intense scrutiny of this case is going on and Congress is attempting to force further investigation even though the DOJ and FBI are trying to stonewall it.

      There's just too much smoke here for anyone to claim that there isn't a fire.

      I'd like to hear what the FBI or legal experts have to say first, the sources of the story (Fox news and Republican legislators) aren't exactly impartial actors.

      --
      I stole this Sig
    2. Re:Irregularities by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The drives were under Congressional subpoena, not from the FBI. The FBI had no jurisdiction to tell them deleting anything was acceptable.

      Mills lied to the FBI during the investigation after she was given immunity and not charged for lying during an investigation (Remember Scooter Libby?)

      Not only do we have examples of this happening in the RECENT past, like Scooter Libby, and this not being handled the same way. We have evidence of this being much worse in just about every single possible way. Remember Libby got a year for misquoting something while being questioned, not for what they originally went after him for, which turned out to not be a crime in his specific case. So he got a year of jail for a misstatement on an investigation of something that wasn't a crime.

      In this case we have multiple people lying under oath, multiple times. even after given immunity, destruction of evidence, and ACTUAL mishandling of classified information. Not a single charge.

      The FBI = shit
      The DOJ = shit

    3. Re:Irregularities by Orgasmatron · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The drives were under Congressional subpoena, not from the FBI. The FBI had no jurisdiction to tell them deleting anything was acceptable.

      This.

      The Federal Government is three co-equal branches. If congress is unable to enforce a subpoena without the cooperation of the executive branch, we don't have three branches any more, we have one. Effectively, the executive branch would then be able to do whatever it wants, as long as the DOJ promises not to prosecute.

      We've seen hints of this particular Constitutional crisis several times throughout our history. We've never been anywhere near so close though, mostly because no previous President has managed to collect quite so many corrupt ideologues under one roof before. Traditionally, the Attorney General resigns in disgust much sooner, or refuses to play along, which is the same thing.

      Our congressmen should strongly consider growing some balls and locking these people up. Either for contempt until they produce the evidence they were ordered to preserve, or until they can hold trials on the floor of the house.

      The trials will be short. "This is a signed agreement whereby you conspired with the FBI to destroy evidence. Is that your signature? The FBI says you handed over the evidence as planned, and they destroyed it. Do you dispute their testimony? Guilty."

      --
      See that "Preview" button?
  3. Re: No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    #LaptopLivesMatter

  4. Re:Needs to stop by ArtemaOne · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No, they're both rock bottom. There is not one better than the other. They're both completely unworthy.

  5. Re:Slashdot Howto? by sjames · · Score: 4, Informative

    See that link to the story? Don't click.

  6. Holy shit. by jcr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That makes the FBI complicit in Clinton's crimes. Destruction of evidence is a felony.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  7. Re:No! by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'll take the evil that will not be given a pass on anything vs the evil that will be given a free pass. Only one candidate will bind both sides of congress working together to stop them, and that could be a good thing for us all.

  8. Re:And yet... by ogdenk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can forgive a brainfart on Aleppo. He at least caught on after a few seconds. I doubt you could even point out Syria or Aleppo on an unlabeled map without a quick Google search first. The only reason Clinton can point it out is because is one of many of her foreign policy failures. The only reason Trump can point it out is because it's good ammo against Hillary. The other big "Libertarian blunder" was the fact he couldn't name a leader he admired. I can't name any that have been in power that I look up to either.

    For someone that prides himself on being human and doesn't have an army of paid media jockeys to prepare material to spoonfeed people, he's actually doing a pretty admirable job. I actually prefer a candidate who's down to Earth versus paid shills lying through their teeth parroting canned responses prepared by an army of political science graduates and soap opera writers.

    So yeah, I still consider Gary Johnson more credible and CERTAINLY more GENUINE than either mainstream candidate running.

  9. Re: Needs to stop by ArtemaOne · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've heard that a vote for Gary Johnson is a vote for Trump, from the Clinton camp. I've heard that a vote for Gary Johnson is a vote for Clinton, from the Trump camp. And a vote for Gary Johnson is a vote for Gary Johnson. It's the best deal on the market, three votes for one!

  10. Re: No! by iggymanz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wait were those black lenovo laptops or white Mac ones? I have to know whether to riot & loot or make conspiracy theory

  11. Re:Learning from mistakes, vs. acceding to public by hackwrench · · Score: 4, Insightful

    opinion...

    No, Clinton isn't learning from her mistakes. She looks at the polls and says the public says this is a mistake, so I'll say it is a mistake to win their approval. She has shown zero interest in understanding why any of her so-called mistakes were mistakes.

  12. Re:And now, Trump and mistakes. by hackwrench · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Trump doesn't publicly admit to mistakes. I don't go out of my way to make my faults known. I learn about why mistakes are mistakes and move on. Actually I do too much revealing to others when I made a mistake that had nothing to do with them and see others doing it that I've coined a saying: "Just because you've done something stupid, doesn't mean that you have to tell everyone about it." Trump just doesn't let his mistakes affect his public image.

  13. Re:And now, Trump and mistakes. by hackwrench · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, I don't see Trump attempting to launch a second airline or steak company or university, so it's not like he's repeating his mistakes. Whereas, Clinton only acknowledges "mistakes" that are mistakes in the public eye, but continues the evasive behavior that were the hallmarks of the embassy and server mistakes. Her evasiveness is the most egregious mistake I think she continues to make.

  14. Re:Slashdot Howto? by ScentCone · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm sick and tired of one bullshit story after the next.

    No, you mean you're sick and tired of stories that remind you how your preferred candidate gets special treatment in order to avoid indictment. Some of the rest of us are sick and tired of those stories too, but for different reasons.

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  15. Re:Trump versus Clinton by ScentCone · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hillary has repeatedly admitted that using a personal email server was a mistake.

    Which is, as you know, a completely BS thing to say. She didn't "make a mistake" (other than in the sense that she didn't understand the inevitability of being caught), she deliberately and purposefully set out to get around federal rules and laws regarding record keeping and the handling of sensitive information. That wasn't a mistake, it was completely deliberate. And her incessant lying about it ever since makes that very plain. You don't dole out immunity like candy to her staff over "a mistake."

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  16. Re:And yet... by ogdenk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Internalize theoretical qualification scenario, deflect on manufactured attack, ad hominem without making a point to just disagree with vitrol. Classic troll.

    Of course it was.

    In reality, no-one is truly qualified or "experienced" enough to be president. Once you are, your term limit is up and everyone thinks your an asshole unless you get assassinated and/or successfully get a moon shot funded. Johnson/Weld are the ticket with actual experience governing and running a state. Both were re-elected and both were able to gain cooperation on both sides of the isle in a non-partisan manner. IMHO, that makes them far more qualified to be promoted to the national stage than the other leading morons famous for "pivoting" and/or deflecting blame when the shit hits the fan and things don't work out.

    It's not like these guys are dumbasses straight out of college, we are talking about experienced multi-term politicians here with a good track record. I can forgive the fact he probably got a C in world geography and had one bong hit too many that morning in high school. At least he doesn't have a huge track record of negative foreign policy failures like Clinton. Or zero governing experience and lots of daddy's money.
     

  17. Re:Desperate Donald, there's no point... by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I honestly doubt Trump gives a shit about slashdot, so you'd have to explain better how it's relevant in any context. Furthermore, some AC posts are pretty good, and sometimes there are good reasons for regular users to post as AC. I recall one time a self confessed pedophile posted as AC to explain that even though he was attracted to children, he had never attempted to have sex with one, which if you ask me is a sane thing to do because it doesn't matter whether or not one abuses children, if they confess to even thinking about that then their life is pretty much over, and for no good reason.

    Hell, I've posted as AC myself to make some decidedly un-PC jokes that I just don't want associated with my regular identity here. And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that. Sure, some twats get offended, but that's their problem, especially the times when those posts get modded +5 funny.

  18. Re:And yet... by manwargi · · Score: 4, Informative

    Watch the documentary Clinton Cash and then describe which one of the nominees is more ethical.

  19. Re:Trump versus Clinton by rhazz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    People call him racist for wanting to keep ILLEGAL immigrants out.

    Actually people call him racist for his very many racist remarks. His immigration policy is just a drop in the bucket.

    People call him Islamophobic for wanting to keep Islamic TERRORISTS out.

    Actually people call him Islamophobic because he intends to keep out anyone who would claim to be Muslim. That is pretty much matches the definition of Islamophobic.