There’s a word to describe that kind of behavior — criminal. These employees knew they were referring to classified matters. They intended to communicate the substance of classified information on unclassified systems. Then they kept those communications on unsecure, unclassified systems. Anyone who believes that savvy foreign powers can’t crack ad hoc “talk around” code is, frankly, being idiotic, gullible, or both. “Gross negligence” is the kindest phrase to describe this practice, and declaring it “common practice” at State does not exonerate any of the participants.
Drum says “there is remarkably little here.” Yet soldiers and sailors are routinely prosecuted and punished for equivalent or even lesser acts, including in cases that never make the media. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’ve participated — as a JAG officer — in the process.
In other words, even if you believe the explanations and rationalizations of a known liar — as Drum apparently does — the undisputed, known facts still point to criminal wrongdoing. Hillary Clinton had classified information on her homebrew server. She sent it. She received it. She kept it. On this point, it doesn’t matter if she maintained that server for convenience or to evade FOIA. It doesn’t matter if records were wiped through a mistake or to evade a subpoena. Her behavior contains the elements of a federal crime, yet she is escaping prosecution entirely. It must feel good to be a Clinton.
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