For months, there have been rumors that the FBI is investigating the Clinton Foundation for public corruption. It has been clear to me that, as I put it yesterday, “even assuming the truth of such reports, I think it’s fanciful to think that anything will come of this; the FBI has shot its wad.”
Now comes word, via CNN, that the FBI asked to investigate the Clinton Foundation earlier this year, but the Department of Justice said it did not have enough evidence to open a formal probe. According to CNN:
The FBI went to Justice Department earlier this year asking for it to open a case into the foundation, but the public integrity unit declined. The Justice Department had looked into whether it should open a case on the foundation a year prior and found it didn’t have sufficient evidence to do so.
I can’t tell from this report exactly when in 2015 the DOJ initially made its determination that there was insufficient evidence. Was it before or after the eye-opening reporting by Peter Schweitzer, along with the New York Times?
In any event, plenty of new information has come to light in 2016, via emails of Hillary Clinton and her top aides. I discussed some the new information here and here.
An apolitical Attorney General, or even a political one who is a straight shooter, would revisit the FBI’s request. Will Loretta Lynch? I doubt it.
Lynch, as we know, had a private meeting with Bill Clinton last month, just before the FBI interviewed Hillary. She is said to be interested in staying on as Attorney General in a Hillary Clinton administration, which is perhaps the most innocent plausible explanation of her willingness to meet privately with Bill.
Lynch knows which side her bread is buttered on. It’s not the side that says investigate the Clinton Foundation.
I’m speculating now, but I think I detect a pattern in Lynch’s handling of Clinton scandals. She makes a show of deferring to the FBI when she’s confident that the FBI’s determination won’t land Hillary in legal jeopardy (see the email scandal). She (or her agents) says no to the FBI when the Bureau wants to take action that threatens Hillary (see the Clinton Foundation scandal).
If Lynch is auditioning for Attorney General in a Clinton administration, she’s passing with flying colors. Lynch seems like just the Attorney General Hillary will need.
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