# Is Hillary Clinton being criminally investigated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 10, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984 "2016-06-10T00:44:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/101 "2016-06-13T20:52:56Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > **Si Amigo** : Actually, no, Obama cannot thwart the investigation. That’s what got Richard Nixon removed from office. > > (Although GWB got away with firing a bunch of Federal attorneys investigating corrupt Congressmen of his own party, so…who knows.) And Nixon was pardoned by Ford and the proceedings stopped dead cold. Same thing, if Obama pardons Clinton after the election there is nothing anybody can do to either of them. They can’t impeach Obama for exercising his constitutional right to pardon anyone he pleases (except like Nixon he can;t pardon himself). And Clinton would be protected by a fully legal Presidential pardon, end of investigation and political witch hunting. Oh they would complain, but they complain anyway. meh. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/102 "2016-06-13T21:44:26Z")
It would be ugly, and pretty much poison Clinton’s first term. It would make a second term much less likely. And it would lead to unending Congressional hearings, with Supreme Court cases involving evidence vs. privilege. The real business of the country would grind to a halt. Disastrous. Fortunately, it appears nothing is going to come of it. (This might just possibly be the FBI showing a little self-restraint: “Let’s not come in like a bull in a china shop.”) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/103 "2016-06-13T21:59:10Z")
Unending hearings, you say? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/104 "2016-06-13T23:11:05Z")
Well, probably lasting till after her term or terms of office, and possibly after her death, but, aye, the end of the cosmos will probably bring about an end to the hearings. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/105 "2016-06-14T14:29:39Z")
What would be the point of court hearings after a pardon, that would be quickly settled by the Supreme Court who would just point to the Constitution and state that the previous President clearly has that authority. Political fallout yes, they would cluck like mad hens and refuse to pass any of her legislation. How is that different from now? In short they need to get over it and start doing there jobs someday and quite trying to take political disagreements to the courts. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/106 "2016-06-14T23:31:05Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > What would be the point of court hearings after a pardon, that would be quickly settled by the Supreme Court who would just point to the Constitution and state that the previous President clearly has that authority. Political fallout yes, they would cluck like mad hens and refuse to pass any of her legislation. How is that different from now? In short they need to get over it and start doing there jobs someday and quite trying to take political disagreements to the courts. That’s actually a fascinating point. Regardless of what is found, Clinton can receive a pardon when Obama leaves office. At that point, we will have already decided the election, so it will have either proved that America has moved past this or it has lost its collective mind, but either way the issue will be moot on the day the next President takes office. Obama can guarantee that. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/107 "2016-06-15T02:03:56Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > When the exchange occurred, the thread was in General Questions, not Great Debates. Just for information… Yes, thanks. I noticed that afterwards, but did include that information in the thread I started in ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/108 "2016-06-15T02:11:47Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > What would be the point of court hearings after a pardon, that would be quickly settled by the Supreme Court who would just point to the Constitution and state that the previous President clearly has that authority. Political fallout yes, they would cluck like mad hens and refuse to pass any of her legislation. How is that different from now? In short they need to get over it and start doing there jobs someday and quite trying to take political disagreements to the courts. > [@Moriarty](#): > > That’s actually a fascinating point. Regardless of what is found, Clinton can receive a pardon when Obama leaves office. At that point, we will have already decided the election, so it will have either proved that America has moved past this or it has lost its collective mind, but either way the issue will be moot on the day the next President takes office. > > Obama can guarantee that. It is possible congress could try to impeach and convict her (that is not covered by a pardon). If Trump became president and if republicans controlled both houses I wouldn’t be too surprised if they tried. They tried for less reason with her husband. I am willing to bet this will factor into her choice for Vice President. She will want someone even less palatable to republicans than she is. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/109 "2016-06-15T03:11:32Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > It is possible congress could try to impeach and convict her (that is not covered by a pardon). If Trump became president and if republicans controlled both houses I wouldn’t be too surprised if they tried. They tried for less reason with her husband. If Trump becomes president, there’s no office that she holds from which to impeach her. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/110 "2016-06-15T11:15:15Z")
Yeah, impeachment of a private citizen would be quite the novel concept. They probably could take away her pension though. But I know how politics works. Once she’s neutralized, no one’s going to care about Hillary Clinton anymore. Not Republicans, not Democrats, nobody. That’s just how the system works. Everything is important when you’re a candidate, and you don’t matter when you’re not. ---
**Author:** ![UberArchetype](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/2bfe46/32.png) [@UberArchetype](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UberArchetype)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/111 "2016-06-27T17:02:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Everything is important when you’re a candidate, and you don’t matter when you’re not. Except that she’s liable to go to jail for willful negligence involving numerous statutes with criminal penalties regarding the handling and safeguarding of classified information. ---
**Author:** ![UberArchetype](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/2bfe46/32.png) [@UberArchetype](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UberArchetype)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/112 "2016-06-27T21:42:41Z")
One might even imagine this issue is now by far, the most driving motivation for her to win the election. Never-mind healthcare, the economy, social justice or other trivial matters. Staying out of prison is certainly a top priority for just about anyone. We can certainly look forward to one hell of a campaign season coming into full swing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/113 "2016-07-05T21:28:25Z")
**Not any more!!!** But I suppose now we will see Republicans investigating the FBI, because they found no reason to indict her. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_from\_CB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alex\_from\_CB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_from_CB)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/114 "2016-07-05T22:13:52Z")
This recent email diversion was just a clever ploy by Clinton to get The Republic Party off the real scandal. The _ **Clinton White House Christmas Card scandal of 1994** _. The Republics in Congress were on it but got sidetracked. Actually did take 140 hours of testimony over 10 days. But they let it go. Ask anyone who has followed the corrupt Clinton’s carefully and they’ll all tell you, the Christmas Card Scandal sends both Bill and Hillary to Leavenworth for a long time. But the wienie, scandal weary Republics let them off. ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/115 "2016-07-06T02:39:43Z")
And that has exactly what to do with this post? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/116 "2016-07-06T03:06:39Z")
> [@UberArchetype](#): > > Except that she’s liable to go to jail for willful negligence involving numerous statutes with criminal penalties regarding the handling and safeguarding of classified information. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/117 "2016-07-06T07:17:00Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > They can’t impeach Obama for exercising his constitutional right to pardon anyone he pleases (except like Nixon he can;t pardon himself). It’s not clear if the President can pardon himself. It was one of the options presented to Nixon in the dying days of his presidency, but he didn’t attempt it. That means it’s not a settled issue. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/118 "2016-07-06T11:53:09Z")
Heaven forfend, I have come to think that ‘four more years’ would be a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![UberArchetype](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/2bfe46/32.png) [@UberArchetype](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UberArchetype)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/119 "2016-07-06T13:12:49Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > **Not any more!!!** > But I suppose now we will see Republicans investigating the FBI, because they found no reason to indict her. Investigating stupidity does seem to be an ongoing Washing pastime, now doesn’t it? FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday harshly criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her > [@](#): > > extremely careless" handling of classified information on her personal email server… Yeah, that’s who we should put in the With House. Riiiiight. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984/120 "2016-07-11T05:44:48Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > The real business of the country would grind to a halt. You mean it hasn’t already? They haven’t passed a budget in a decade, they won’t hold hearings for a Supreme Court Justice nominee (and numerous lower courts as well), hell the House was holding a sit in because the Republicans wouldn’t hold a vote on gun control bills. It can get _worse_? > [@UberArchetype](#): > > Except that she’s liable to go to jail for willful negligence involving numerous statutes with criminal penalties regarding the handling and safeguarding of classified information. As pointed out, Obama pardoning her would prevent her from going to jail, and the only power Congress holds is to either censure her or kick her out of office. Since she is no longer in office as Secretary of State, it is questionable whether Congress could impeach her as a sitting President for mishandling information as SoS. While they could file a censure, that has no real effects. It is simply a statement of disapproval. Ergo, she is not liable to go to jail. And the FBI’s findings and the announcement by the Department of Justice confirm that. > [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > And that has exactly what to do with this post? I believe it is a joke. > [@UberArchetype](#): > > Investigating stupidity does seem to be an ongoing Washing pastime, now doesn’t it? FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday harshly criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her > Yeah, that’s who we should put in the With House. Riiiiight. :rolleyes: Well, when the alternative is Donald “Give Everybody Nukes” Trump, I think the decision is pretty easy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hillary-clinton-being-criminally-investigated/756984.md?page=7)