Fervent supporters of either presumptive major party nominee for president may not admit it, but this week’s developments in the Hillary Clinton email investigation included some positive elements for both sides.
For Clinton, announcements by FBI Director James Comey and Attorney General Loretta Lynch that the former secretary of state won’t be prosecuted for mishandling classified information means she gets to stay in the presidential race without the cloud of a possible criminal indictment hanging over her campaign.
Perhaps it’s a stretch to contemplate her going to jail, but for those who think she should, that’s ruled out too.
For the Republicans and Trump, Comey’s report, although recommending no criminal charges, was still damning in portraying Clinton’s poor judgment. And While Comey may have come to the correct conclusion that there was no case for criminal charges, Trump can and will argue that the outcome of the investigation was rigged. Bill Clinton’s ill advised meeting with Attorney General Lynch last week adds fuel to that argument.
To use an over worn phrase, Comey’s report is a “gift that will keep on giving” for Republicans to criticize Clinton as unfit and untrustworthy to be president. This issue won’t go away until after the November election if it ever does.
Had the FBI recommended criminal charges against Clinton before the election, the Democrats may have been forced to choose a candidate with less baggage than Clinton for Trump to run against.
Give Comey, a Republican and from all accounts an apolitical, straight-shooting prosecutor, credit for putting a lid on the investigation before the campaign goes any farther.
Although there apparently won’t be any formal charges against Clinton in a court of law, a different kind of jury — the voters — will rule on her political future in the court of public opinion.
It would seem that with all her negatives, Clinton would be an easy mark for a Republican candidate to defeat in November.
But the presumptive nominee, Trump, has his own baggage, including questionable business deals, bombastic statements and ridiculous promises that he sometimes has to walk back.
It’s going to be a dirty race with a lot of Americans more likely to vote against one of the candidates than for the other.
