At a time when Donald Trump has pulled even with Hillary Clinton in national polls and Bernie Sanders supporters are becoming more adamant in their refusal to support Clinton as the Democratic nominee, the former secretary of state took a big hit today from, of all places, the Obama administration.
A long-awaited Inspector General’s report, leaked to the media, found that Clinton badly mishandled emails containing sensitive material during her time at the State Department. And the report’s timeline does not match Clinton’s evolving explanation on the campaign trail of how she used a private email server to handle official business.
As several political observers have pointed out over the past few hours, the report plays right into the hands of Donald Trump’s “Crooked Hillary” narrative. In addition, she won’t get far criticizing the Inspector General’s Office – widely regarded as the most reputable, nonpolitical government agency – or a State Department led by fellow Democrat John Kerry.
The report will also generate intense speculation about the ongoing FBI investigation and a possible indictment issued by the Justice Department which, like State, is led by Obama appointees.
I would argue that the reason why this issue has legs is that most Americans are accustomed to workplaces where conducting or discussing any official business on a private email account is subject to discipline or dismissal.
A copy of the IG report obtained today by The Washington Post in advance of its publication found that Clinton’s use of private email for public business was “not an appropriate method” of preserving documents and that her practices failed to comply with State Department policies meant to ensure that federal records laws are followed.
Here’s The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza:
The report, which you can read in its entirety here, badly complicates Clinton’s past explanations about the server and whether she complied fully with the laws in place governing electronic communication. And it virtually ensures that Clinton’s email practices will be front and center in Donald Trump’s fusillade of attacks against her credibility and honesty between now and Nov. 8.
… The report says Clinton, who is the Democratic presidential front-runner, should have printed and saved her emails during her four years in office or surrendered her work-related correspondence immediately upon stepping down in February 2013. Instead, Clinton provided those records in December 2014, nearly two years after leaving office.
Clinton used an inappropriate method of preserving her documents. Her approach would not have been approved if it had been requested by a more junior member of the State Department staff. The report also suggests that despite a Clinton aide’s insistence that the method of preserving her emails had been submitted to a legal review back in 2010, there is no evidence that such a review took place. And, here’s the kicker: Clinton refused to sit for a formal interview (with IG inspectors).
