Clinton Emails In The News As White House Troubles Increase

On February 6, 2018, America’s State Department released more of Hillary Clinton’s emails. The latest dump, the largest batch yet released, brings the total to almost 1,000.

Containing 328 documents determined to have classified information, the emails were found to be classified before release. Clinton, the former-Secretary of State, has maintained she never sent emails marked classified.

Following the release, former-Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said, “With the number of emails now numbering almost one-thousand, the jeopardy to our [America’s] national security is underlined.”

The latest documents were sent or received in 2012 or 2013.

The emails also span the tumult before and after the September 11, 2012, Benghazi terror attacks. The night of the attacks, the emails follow Clinton as she notified top advisers of the death of then-Ambassador Chris Stevens. An email the following morning shows Clinton Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills telling Clinton the bodies of the two men killed in Benghazi were recovered.

Another exchange from early in 2013 purports to show retired diplomat James Jeffrey doing damage control regarding a Washington Post article from him titled: “How to Prevent the Next Benghazi.’ In the email, Jeffrey warns Mills he was approached by the Washington Post about his views. “I reluctantly agreed to comply,” said Jeffrey. “If the media asks me if there is any daylight between you and me, I will cite Pickering Mullen ARB.”

Thomas Pickering, a professional diplomat, and Mike Mullen, a retired Admiral, were the focus of a right-wing attack to undermine their non-partisan statement on the Benghazi assaults.

Pickering and Mulled managed the State Department Accountability Review Board which reviewed what went awry in Benghazi.  The Wall Street Journal predicted Pickering and Mullen would be the subsequent target.

The move to sew doubt in the ARB followed a push by Victoria Toensing, then a Republican attorney who stewarded a “whistleblower” who testified before Congress about the assault.

As reported to Toensing, a flaw in Pickering and Mullen’s examination was failing to interview then-Secretary of State Clinton. Pickering spoke to the decision on Meet the Press. “I spoke with Ms. Clinton, and the discussion was enough for the evidence which we had assembled as we made our decisions.”

The latest focus on Clinton’s emails and Pickering and Mullen’s involvement in the Benghazi are being brought up now to divert attention from the Trump administration’s growing problems.

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz is nearing the end of his investigation into the actions of senior officials involved with both issues.

Horowitz’s report is scheduled for completion as early as March. That date could be pushed back depending upon Horowitz’s findings.

When asked when he expected the report to be read, House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy of South Carolina said merely, “April.”