Temecula's Senator, Other Area Reps, Candidates React to Outcome of Clinton Probe

By PAUL J. YOUNG, City News Service:

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch's announcement Wednesday that the investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's alleged misuse of classified materials will be closed without charges -- in accord with the FBI's recommendation -- prompted both criticism and praise from Riverside County lawmakers and candidates.

"I think the fix was in," state Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Palm Desert, told City News Service. "The evidence shows she broke the law, yet the Department of Justice will not do what's appropriate. It demonstrates the corruptness of the Obama administration. They're protecting one of their own and doing everything they can to ensure they're united going into the presidential nominating convention."

Stone, who is running for Congress in the 36th District, called the behavior of Lynch and FBI Director James Comey a "mockery of democracy." He said the FBI only interviewed Clinton once and Lynch met privately with former President Bill Clinton a week ago, suggesting a sub rosa agreement.

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, defended the FBI probe.

"Hillary Clinton never broke the law. The FBI has conducted a thorough investigation, and no one can doubt the integrity of Director Comey or those working for him," Takano told CNS. "This was a fair and impartial process."

The congressman characterized the former first lady as a victim of Republican-driven smear campaigns.

"For 25 years, they have thrown false accusation after false accusation at Hillary Clinton, each more incendiary than the last," Takano said. "While many would have left public life after so many years of undeserved criticism, she has stood strong against the onslaught. They've tried to knock her down, but they've never knocked her out."

Takano's Republican challenger in the November election, Doug Shepherd, countered that the former secretary of state has been "likely reckless with critical and secured information in over 100 instances."

"I am frustrated, as are many Americans," Shepherd told CNS. "The lack of checks and balances on the (Obama) administration is exactly why I am running for Congress. We have been watching these kinds of activities by this administration for eight years. Our nation deserves better."

Stone said Comey's observation Tuesday that Clinton was "extremely careless" for using a server in the basement of her home to store and transfer sensitive government files was "not even a slap" on the wrist.

"Confidential information was being emailed back and forth by her without taking the necessary precautions to ensure that it was not hacked by Iran, North Korea, Russia," the lawmaker said. "She was endangering our national security and may have cost some people their lives. This was an egregious, appalling breach of trust."
Shepherd opined that not lowering the boom on Clinton will fuel public cynicism that justice and the rule of law are not being universally applied.

"These are the reasons so many people are saying they are not going to vote," he said. "We are facing serious times, where serious and responsible leadership is needed."

Takano saw it differently, believing the yearlong investigation had reached the right result.

"Now that this is resolved, I hope that this year's election can be about the important issues facing our nation: ensuring that every American benefits from the economic recovery, protecting the United States from those seeking to sow intolerance both abroad and at home, and building upon the president's record of success."

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[Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons]