In an interview with People magazine Saturday, he explained that he had only recommended that she use a private email as he had in that position.
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Why does the former diplomat believe this to be the case?
“Why do you think?” he responded. “It doesn’t bother me”. “But it’s okay. I’m free”.
Clinton also paid a State Department employee under the table to manage her email system. The Democratic presidential nominee has chiefly said that the information was not classified at the time she sent it. FBI Director James Comey ultimately concluded that while her actions were “extremely careless”, Clinton shouldn’t face legal charges for mishandling classified material.
According to a forthcoming book from Joe Conason, a rabid Clinton supporter, Powell offered Clinton the advice to use a personal account while at a dinner party hosted by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright in early 2009, months into Clinton’s tenure. “Powell told her to use her own email, as he had done, except for classified communications, which he had sent and received via a State Department computer”.
In fact, Comey had only said there was no evidence that she had lied to the FBI during its investigation into the matter.
Michael Bekesha, the lawyer for Judicial Watch, insisted there were outstanding questions that only Clinton could answer about why she set up the server, and argued there would be value in having her testify to those motivations under oath. But apparently, Libby is the only one who is going to spend any time in jail.
In a statement Friday, Powell said he did email Clinton a “memo describing his use of his personal AOL email account for unclassified messages and how it vastly improved communications within the State Department”.
Clinton has apologized for setting up the server, maintaining that the decision was a “mistake” and not an attempt to obfuscate her actions or skirt reporting laws. A candidate for president lied to federal investigators and the mainstream media yawns and shrugs its shoulders. The feds certainly pursued Scooter Libby with vigor. The group has until October 14 to submit the questions and Clinton must respond to them within 30 days.
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A virtual game of he said-she said is brewing in Washington surrounding Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server for personal emails while she presided over the U.S. Department of State.
