# So.. what would have happened if the committee DID find something on Hillary? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 6, 2016, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190 "2016-07-06T05:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/1 "2016-07-06T05:15:07Z")
What power does the committee have? Or what would have been the consequences? Especially now that Hillary is a citizen? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/2 "2016-07-06T05:48:59Z")
She’s _now_ a citizen? Well, I gather the effects are directly proportional to the severity of what the found. Worst case, meaning she has to drop out of the race, and the DNC hastily persuades Joe Biden to step up. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/3 "2016-07-06T06:43:56Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > She’s _now_ a citizen? Okay: No longer an elected official. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/4 "2016-07-06T06:55:30Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Okay: No longer an elected official. She hasn’t been an elected official since 2009. She hasn’t been an appointed official since 2013. I don’t think there’s been any recent change in her official status. And, on the main point, what Bryan said. What would happen if the committee “did find something” would largely depend on what “something” was. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/5 "2016-07-06T08:27:50Z")
Joe Biden would be the next President. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2016, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/6 "2016-07-06T09:03:39Z")
If a Congressional committee uncovers evidence of criminal wrongdoing in an investigation they could: 1. Refer the matter to relevant law enforcement authorities for further investigation, but they cannot force a criminal prosecution. 2. Commence impeachment proceedings against the person, if they are still holder of certain elected or appointed offices. Remove them from office upon conviction by the Senate. 3. Publicize their findings to the extent permitted without compromising classified information. 4. Pass a Congressional resolution of censure if the person is still holder of certain elected or appointed offices … ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/7 "2016-07-06T13:03:59Z")
When was Hillary not a citizen? The result of her being arrested would probably be President Sanders. Biden made the choice not to run for President. Why does everyone think he would get the nomination? ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/8 "2016-07-06T14:39:18Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > [snip] … And, on the main point, what Bryan said. What would happen if the committee “did find something” would largely depend on what “something” was. … and if this ‘something’ was somehow worster than compromising sensitive classified government information … I think Hillary keeps her core supporters and keeps the “anybody but The Donald” group … that may well be enough to win the Presidency. Unless Hillary is trading Belorussian, The Ukraine, Poland, Finland, United Kingdom and Africa to the Russians in return for Putin’s public support of The Donald … I’d say nothing happens, Hillary may not win 500 Electoral votes, but she’d be in the White House come January. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/9 "2016-07-06T15:13:21Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > …Well, I gather the effects are directly proportional to the severity of what the found. Worst case, meaning she has to drop out of the race, and the DNC hastily persuades Joe Biden to step up. (post shortened) > [@panache45](#): > > Joe Biden would be the next President. Biden has said he isn’t running for POTUS. Biden isn’t a 2016 Democrat Party candidate. AFAIK, Bernie Sanders is the only legitimate Democrat Party candidate currently available, however, the DNC doesn’t seem to have a problem screwing over Bernie and his supporters. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/10 "2016-07-06T15:44:39Z")
What committee? Didn’t the committee investigating Benghazi pack it in? Is there one investigating the emails? I’d sure like to hear Comey answer some questions…any chance of that? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-would-have-happened-if-the-committee-did-find-something-on-hillary/759190/11 "2016-07-06T16:02:11Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > Commence impeachment proceedings against the person, if they are still holder of certain elected or appointed offices. Remove them from office upon conviction by the Senate. The Constitution grants Congress pretty broad powers of impeachment. So in theory, Clinton could be elected President and Congress could then decide to impeach her based on criminal acts she committed as Secretary of State.