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To say the obvious: There is great risk of the FBI and/or Comey trying to influence the outcome of the election. Earlier, when Comey said Clinton had been "extr

To say the obvious: There is great risk of the FBI and/or Comey trying to influence the outcome of the election. Earlier, when Comey said Clinton had been "extremely careless", it seemed to overstep his bounds: He played judge and jury, and convicted her without trial. To do this two weeks before the election raises very serious questions about the U.S.'s most fundamental institutions, rule of law, and democracy. Every Democratic leader is subject to endless investigation and deligitimization. EDIT: This is not a partisan concern. Everyone needs these institutions, democracy and the rule of law.

jsprogrammer 10y ago
I don't think you watched Comey's presentation. He said that Clinton should not be prosecuted (ie. no conviction).
- caminante 10y ago
  Also, it was the DOJ that signed off on granting immunity to key actors. The FBI's actions didn't go unchecked.
- swissoak 10y ago
  He said he doesn't recommend prosecution because he didn't believe there was a reasonable prosecutor that would do it. It's a huge load of horse shit. Hillary got off because she's well connected, not because there wasn't a case.
  - jsprogrammer 10y ago
    "We are expressing to Justice, our view, that no charges are appropriate in this case." - Comey
ethanbond 10y ago
You know, minus the whole lack of a charge, trial, conviction, punishment, or even official reprimand. Besides that it's exactly as if Comey convicted her without trial. /s
aaron-lebo 10y ago
> EDIT: This is not a partisan concern. Everyone needs these institutions, democracy and the rule of law. It's not a partisan concern and we should be concerned about the rule of law...except in this situation? Because that's what it sounds like you are saying. A society that lets its leaders do whatever they want without repercussions but "lesser" people get punished is not one particularly concerned about the rule of law. Why would we not want the FBI doing its job?
- hackuser 10y ago
  I agree that Hillary Clinton should be subject to the law just like everyone else; that's not my point. The FBI has the power to influence elections if it chooses to. Re-opening the investigation 11 days before election day fits the profile of trying to influence the election; it's an "October Surprise". But 'fitting the profile' is not conclusive and it's also very possible that re-opening it now was apolitical. We don't know enough right now to prove it either way. My point is that we should seriously consider the possibility. Nobody wants the FBI trying to influence elections. Recall that another institution, the Supreme Court, decided a recent Presidential election on a party-line vote. A core value of the U.S. is that voters decide, whether or not I happen to agree with their decision. I'm afraid that could slip away if we turn a blind eye.

jsprogrammer 10y ago

I don't think you watched Comey's presentation. He said that Clinton should not be prosecuted (ie. no conviction).

caminante 10y ago
Also, it was the DOJ that signed off on granting immunity to key actors. The FBI's actions didn't go unchecked.
swissoak 10y ago
He said he doesn't recommend prosecution because he didn't believe there was a reasonable prosecutor that would do it. It's a huge load of horse shit. Hillary got off because she's well connected, not because there wasn't a case.
- jsprogrammer 10y ago
  "We are expressing to Justice, our view, that no charges are appropriate in this case." - Comey

ethanbond 10y ago

You know, minus the whole lack of a charge, trial, conviction, punishment, or even official reprimand. Besides that it's exactly as if Comey convicted her without trial. /s

aaron-lebo 10y ago

> EDIT: This is not a partisan concern. Everyone needs these institutions, democracy and the rule of law. It's not a partisan concern and we should be concerned about the rule of law...except in this situation? Because that's what it sounds like you are saying. A society that lets its leaders do whatever they want without repercussions but "lesser" people get punished is not one particularly concerned about the rule of law. Why would we not want the FBI doing its job?

hackuser 10y ago
I agree that Hillary Clinton should be subject to the law just like everyone else; that's not my point. The FBI has the power to influence elections if it chooses to. Re-opening the investigation 11 days before election day fits the profile of trying to influence the election; it's an "October Surprise". But 'fitting the profile' is not conclusive and it's also very possible that re-opening it now was apolitical. We don't know enough right now to prove it either way. My point is that we should seriously consider the possibility. Nobody wants the FBI trying to influence elections. Recall that another institution, the Supreme Court, decided a recent Presidential election on a party-line vote. A core value of the U.S. is that voters decide, whether or not I happen to agree with their decision. I'm afraid that could slip away if we turn a blind eye.