Key Takeaways:
– Bill Clinton is prepared to talk with Joe Biden about a possible preemptive pardon for Hillary Clinton.
– Speculation is growing about Biden’s plans to use presidential pardons to protect critics of Trump from prosecution.
– Bill Clinton maintains that Hillary didn’t do anything wrong and followed the rules as they were written.
– Email scandal during Hillary’s term as secretary of state remains a contentious topic.
– Trump contemplated appointing a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary’s behaviour, but ultimately refrained.
Bill Clinton Open to Preliminary Pardon Talks
Former President Bill Clinton recently stated he is ready to discuss a preemptive pardon for his wife, Hillary Clinton, with President Joe Biden. The former president made these comments during an appearance on a TV talk show. Without offering specific advice, he expressed willingness to talk to Biden about the possibility of a pardon if approached.
Biden’s Speculative Pardon Plans
There has been growing speculation about President Biden’s plans to use presidential pardons to secure his Democrat party allies from potential prosecution. It is rumored that discussions have taken place within Biden’s senior team about employing the pardon power to safeguard critics of former President Trump, who could potentially be targeted in future administrations.
Hillary Clinton’s Email Controversy
During the 2016 elections, Hillary Clinton was embroiled in a major controversy over her use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State under President Obama. This controversy saw intense media scrutiny after it was revealed she had used her own private email server for official government business. It was also found out that she decided to physically destroy multiple communication devices to prevent any data extraction.
Bill Clinton reiterated his wife’s stance that she did nothing wrong and rigorously adhered to the existing rules. He recollected the email issue being blown out of proportion during the 2016 elections, stating that the State Department under Trump confirmed Hillary had sent zero classified emails from her personal device.
Uncovering Email Discrepancies
Despite the statement by Bill Clinton, federal agencies concluded that among the numerous emails on Hillary’s private server, 100 should have been marked classified when they were sent. This included 65 considered ‘secret’ and 22 deemed ‘top secret.’ James Comey, the then FBI chief, chastised Hillary for her ‘extremely careless’ handling of communications. However, his statement didn’t meet the grounds for a criminal case against her.
Donald Trump’s Inaction
During the 2016 electoral campaign, Donald Trump suggested the possibility of jail time for Hillary and hinted at her criminal conduct. However, once elected, he refrained from appointing a special prosecutor to probe into Hillary Clinton’s actions, calling such a move a ‘terrible precedent’ for the country.
The big question now is whether Biden is ready to use the presidential pardon power to safeguard his allies. This includes Hillary Clinton, who has been a lightning rod for controversy in recent years due to decisions she made during her time as Secretary of State. For now, all eyes will be on the Biden administration as this political drama continues to unfold.