# Prosecuting Hillary: what's the GOP's problem with the regular prosecutors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 14, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612 "2017-11-14T14:20:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/21 "2017-11-14T20:27:08Z")
The GOP feels more betrayed by Hillary’s loss than almost any other group out there. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/22 "2017-11-14T20:36:01Z")
> [@Tom\_Terrific](#): > > Here is a link that I read yesterday from the National Review. I don’t know how factual it is but it claims that Hillary got the soft treatment from the FBI and Obama’s justice dept. > [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/453659/mueller-paul-manafort-investigation-hardball-tactics](http://www.nationalreview.com/article/453659/mueller-paul-manafort-investigation-hardball-tactics) He makes an interesting argument, but I’m withholding judgment until I hear from Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/23 "2017-11-14T21:43:13Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > The GOP feels more betrayed by Hillary’s loss than almost any other group out there. You go boi! The modern GOP only knows how to do 2 things: Beat on Hillary Oppose the Democratic Party So, by her not winning, they are adrift in the sea on a moonless night, sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/24 "2017-11-14T21:56:38Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > He makes an interesting argument, but I’m withholding judgment until I hear from Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson. 😃 [spoiler]Wrong Andrew McCarthy. Andrew _C._ McCarthy wrote the article. Turns out that the actor is Andrew _T._ McCarthy. I had to look it up; thank goodness the actor’s middle name was on his Wikipedia page. Still, excellent line, **Vinyl Turnip**. See; this is why Yngwie J. Malmsteen uses his middle initial: so no one confuses him with a different Yngwie Malmsteen.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/25 "2017-11-14T22:29:02Z")
This is not a joke. This is one of the charts displayed by a _United States Senator_ today: > ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/26 "2017-11-14T22:34:17Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > This is not a joke. > > This is one of the charts displayed by a _United States Senator_ today: > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/status/930549726814130178) It’s the deep state y’know. They’re behind everything. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/27 "2017-11-14T23:09:36Z")
More like the derp state. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/28 "2017-11-14T23:20:07Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > It’s entirely possible she had sexual relations with a President in the 90’s. It’s entirely possible that she din’t. Yes, din’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/29 "2017-11-14T23:59:58Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > This is not a joke. > > This is one of the charts displayed by a _United States Senator_ today: > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/status/930549726814130178) I knew that was the Gomert chart before I clicked. He threw that up there after his time was up, so no real explanation was given, but he got in it the record. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/30 "2017-11-15T02:59:59Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Is there a definition of “conflict of interest” that you’re using here? I would have thought it was a defined term for this context under DOJ regs or statutes, and I’d be pretty surprised if this set of facts meets the definition, since it is a fairly nonstandard use of the term. _If_ Congress wishes that the Uranium One deal should be investigated then leaving that investigation up to the FBI would have a conflict of interest. The investigating agents would, as a part of such investigation, be assessing whether their boss, among others, committed a crime. Further, if any FBI resources were used to advise the then AG on the Uranium One deal then you could have agents of the FBI investigating other FBI agents’ actions. And their current boss, the AG, would be in position to fire them all. Thus the conflict of interest. Really rather obvious. And so to take such investigation out of the FBI’s hands an independent prosecutor would seem to be a rather typical way for Congress to force an independent investigation. The whole thing is a mess, but given the political makeup of the Congress at present it seems likely that they will go ahead with forcing a Uranium One investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/31 "2017-11-15T03:27:56Z")
You _ **do** _ understand that this deal went through in 2010, right? And that our posture toward Russia was very different in those years? That Russia had not yet moved against Crimea or Ukraine? You _ **do** _ understand that the donation made to the Clinton Foundation was made 3 years before Hillary Clinton was even Secretary of State? You _ **do** _ realize that 9 US agencies were required to sign off on this deal before it went forward? You _ **do** _ understand that as best can be determined, Hillary Clinton never personally reviewed this deal? You _ **do** _ understand that all this was fully investigated in 2015 by the FBI after an “expose” by the New York Times and several FBI agents had read the book, _Clinton Cash_, and that it was determined by the FBI there was no basis for further action? [Factcheck.org](http://www.factcheck.org/2017/10/facts-uranium-one/) For fuck’s sake. Let it go. There’s no “there” there. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/32 "2017-11-15T03:30:20Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > This is not a joke. > > This is one of the charts displayed by a _United States Senator_ today: > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/status/930549726814130178) > [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I knew that was the Gomert chart before I clicked. He threw that up there after his time was up, so no real explanation was given, but he got in it the record. Not to be outdone, Sean Hannity, everybody! > The link between Bill Clinton and Hillary is surprisingly indirect. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/33 "2017-11-15T12:59:41Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > You _ **do** _ understand that this deal went through in 2010, right? And that our posture toward Russia was very different in those years? That Russia had not yet moved against Crimea or Ukraine? > > You _ **do** _ understand that the donation made to the Clinton Foundation was made 3 years before Hillary Clinton was even Secretary of State? > > You _ **do** _ realize that 9 US agencies were required to sign off on this deal before it went forward? > > You _ **do** _ understand that as best can be determined, Hillary Clinton never personally reviewed this deal? > > You _ **do** _ understand that all this was fully investigated in 2015 by the FBI after an “expose” by the New York Times and several FBI agents had read the book, _Clinton Cash_, and that it was determined by the FBI there was no basis for further action? > > [Factcheck.org](http://www.factcheck.org/2017/10/facts-uranium-one/) > > For fuck’s sake. Let it go. There’s no “there” there. The point isn’t to find a “there” there. It’s to create the appearance of impropriety. This is all about distraction and providing cover for Trump. Everyone calling for an investigation knows damn well that there’s no legitimate reason for one. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/34 "2017-11-15T13:13:45Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Special prosecutors garner a lot of media attention. It’s a way to distract from Trump’s special prosecutor problems. > > Plus, they’re really deranged on Hillary. They should be looking forward to 2018 and 2020 and not looking into the past. It’s fundamentally deeper than that. The reality is that there has been a wing of the republican party that has had fascist or authoritarian leanings, and there’s a simple explanation for that. They realize that their economic/political worldview of social darwinism doesn’t have broad appeal. In a democracy, in a political system of competing ideas, their ideas lose the popularity contest. Thus, from that vantage point, a functional and pure democracy has a fatal flaw: it doesn’t secure their interests. It doesn’t ensure that plutocrats will always maintain unfettered power and discretion to game the system as they please. The way to resolve that problem is through a flawed democracy, one which can be more easily manipulated. But the first way to degrade that kind of democracy that stands in their way is to confront the idea that truth is based on fact, which gives rise to slogans like “We report, you decide,” and “alternative facts.” The counter-investigation is a logical extension of the idea that there are two equally valid truths, and further, their subjective, forever-flexible version of truth is the more valid one. Validity is based not on whose truth has more evidence and facts to support it, but rather, on whose truth has more power behind it. The facts and evidence don’t support the idea that progressive administrations are just as corrupt as conservative ones, but their power supports that idea. And they will use that power to their advantage, even if it means jailing their political opposition and rigging the vote in the process. This is where the madness begins, but believe me: this is not at all where it ends. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/35 "2017-11-15T13:17:23Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > The point isn’t to find a “there” there. It’s to create the appearance of impropriety. This is all about distraction and providing cover for Trump. Everyone calling for an investigation knows damn well that there’s no legitimate reason for one. That’s exactly it. Hillary is done. Drop it already. The federal government is hopelessly broken, and I fear it is completely beyond repair. All if this is just magician’s misdirection in order to steal more money, consolidate more power, and screw more citizens. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/36 "2017-11-15T14:06:59Z")
I have to applaud Jeff Sessions for pushing back against a batshit crazy Republican demand for a special prosecutor for Hillary. So twice he did the right thing- in recusing himself and for resisting this banana republican compulsion to go after Hillary. Sessions may be a racist piece of shit, but you have to give him credit for doing the right thing a couple times. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/37 "2017-11-15T15:51:37Z")
That’s the right result, but it isn’t clear that it’s for a right reason. He may well see himself as a bulwark against the insanity, or he may simply be positioning himself as The Man With Integrity. Trump doesn’t dare fire him (and then Mueller) or he’ll be free to testify; if the Senate isn’t provoked into denouncing him as a nakedly-partisan Lock Her Up maneuver would do, then he gets to stay unindicted himself. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/38 "2017-11-15T16:33:21Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > _If_ Congress wishes that the Uranium One deal should be investigated then leaving that investigation up to the FBI would have a conflict of interest. The investigating agents would, as a part of such investigation, be assessing whether their boss, among others, committed a crime. Further, if any FBI resources were used to advise the then AG on the Uranium One deal then you could have agents of the FBI investigating other FBI agents’ actions. > > And their current boss, the AG, would be in position to fire them all. Thus the conflict of interest. Really rather obvious. > > And so to take such investigation out of the FBI’s hands an independent prosecutor would seem to be a rather typical way for Congress to force an independent investigation. > > The whole thing is a mess, but given the political makeup of the Congress at present it seems likely that they will go ahead with forcing a Uranium One investigation. Respectfully, you didn’t answer my question **Iggy**. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/39 "2017-11-15T17:42:16Z")
Special Prosecutor is a temporary position, no? I think we need a permanent cabinet post, with a Department — maybe call it the _ **D** _epartment for _ **I** _nvestigating and _ **T** _ormenting _ **C** _linton _ **H** _illary. Their motto could be D.I.T.C.H. the WITCH. They’d better hurry: has Vince Foster’s corpse even been exhumed yet? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ > [@JohnT](#): > > This is not a joke. > > This is one of the charts displayed by a _United States Senator_ today: > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/status/930549726814130178) Wow. I used to draw charts and even lay-out PC boards (to minimize crossovers etc.). Whoever laid that chart out could definitely NOT work as a layout artist; I think most 7th-graders could do better. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612/40 "2017-11-15T17:53:52Z")
The other point is to look to history: there has been a large number of convictions of politicians of crimes either committed or prosecuted while holding office in the federal government by the regular law enforcement apparatus: [List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_federal_politicians_convicted_of_crimes) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prosecuting-hillary-whats-the-gops-problem-with-the-regular-prosecutors/801612.md?page=3)