Bipartisan Group of Former DOJ Officials Raise Concerns Over Comey’s Breach Of Protocol

Sunday, as reported by the Associated Press, a group of nearly 100 former federal prosecutors and high-ranking DOJ officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations, including former AG Eric Holder and former Deputy AG Larry Thompson, issued the following joint letter expressing serious concerns over FBI Director Comey’s departure from long-standing department protocols:

As former federal prosecutors and high-ranking officials of the U.S. Department of Justice, we know that the impartiality and nonpartisanship of the United States justice system makes it exceptional throughout the world.  To maintain fairness and neutrality, federal law enforcement officials must exercise discipline whenever they make public statements in connection with an ongoing investigation.  Often, evidence uncovered during the course of an investigative inquiry is incomplete, misleading or even incorrect, and releasing such information before all of the facts are known and tested in a court of law can unfairly prejudice individuals and undermine the public’s faith in the integrity of our legal process.

For this reason, Justice Department officials are instructed to refrain from commenting publicly on the existence, let alone the substance, of pending investigative matters, except in exceptional circumstances and with explicit approval from the Department of Justice officials responsible for ultimate supervision of the matter.  They are also instructed to exercise heightened restraint near the time of a primary or general election because, as official guidance from the Department instructs, public comment on a pending investigative matter may affect the electoral process and create the appearance of political interference in the fair administration of justice.

It is out of our respect for such settled tenets of the United States Department of Justice that we are moved to express our concern with the recent letter issued by FBI Director James Comey to eight Congressional Committees.  Many of us have worked with Director Comey; all of us respect him.  But his unprecedented decision to publicly comment on evidence in what may be an ongoing inquiry just eleven days before a presidential election leaves us both astonished and perplexed. We cannot recall a prior instance where a senior Justice Department official—Republican or Democrat—has, on the eve of a major election, issued a public statement where the mere disclosure of information may impact the election’s outcome, yet the official acknowledges the information to be examined may not be significant or new.

Director Comey’s letter is inconsistent with prevailing Department policy, and it breaks with longstanding practices followed by officials of both parties during past elections.  Moreover, setting aside whether Director Comey’s original statements in July were warranted, by failing to responsibly supplement the public record with any substantive, explanatory information, his letter begs the question that further commentary was necessary.  For example, the letter provides no details regarding the content, source or recipient of the material; whether the newly-discovered evidence contains any classified or confidential information; whether the information duplicates material previously reviewed by the FBI; or even “whether or not [the] material may be significant.”

Perhaps most troubling to us is the precedent set by this departure from the Department’s widely-respected, non-partisan traditions.  The admonitions that warn officials against making public statements during election periods have helped to maintain the independence and integrity of both the Department’s important work and public confidence in the hardworking men and women who conduct themselves in a nonpartisan manner.

We believe that adherence to longstanding Justice Department guidelines is the best practice when considering public statements on investigative matters.  We do not question Director Comey’s motives. However, the fact remains that the Director’s disclosure has invited considerable, uninformed public speculation about the significance of newly-discovered material just days before a national election.  For this reason, we believe the American people deserve all the facts, and fairness dictates releasing information that provides a full and complete picture regarding the material at issue.

Signatories:

• Eric H. Holder, former Attorney General of the United States
• Stuart M. Gerson, former Acting Attorney General of the United States, former Assistant Attorney General
• Donald B. Ayer, former Deputy Attorney General of the United States
• James M. Cole, former Deputy Attorney General of the United States
• Jamie S. Gorelick, former Deputy Attorney General of the United States
• Gary G. Grindler, former Acting Deputy Attorney General of the United States
• Larry D. Thompson, former Deputy Attorney General of the United States
• David W. Ogden, former Deputy Attorney General of the United States
• Wayne A. Budd, former Associate Attorney General of the United States, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
• Tony West, former Associate Attorney General of the United States
• Neal Kumar Katyal, former Acting Solicitor General of the United States
• Lanny A. Breuer, former Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division
• Christine A. Varney, former Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division

• Lourdes Baird, former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
• Paul Coggins, former U.S. Attorney for Northern District of Texas
• Jenny Durkan, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington
• Melinda L. Haag, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
• Timothy Heaphy, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
• Scott R. Lassar, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
• Michael D. McKay, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington
• Harry Litman, former U.S. Attorney for Western District of Pennsylvania
• Neil H. MacBride, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia
• Bill Nettles, former U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina
• Timothy Q. Purdon, former U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota
• Donald Stern, former U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts
• Anne M. Tompkins, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina
• Elkan Abramowitz, former Chief of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York

• David B. Anders, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Jodi L. Avergun, former Section Chief, U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division
• Marion Bachrach, former Chief of General Crimes, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York
• Richard Ben-Veniste, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and former Assistant Watergate Prosecutor
• Shay Bilchik, former Director, U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
• David M. Buckner, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
• Alex Busansky, former prosecutor, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
• Helen V. Cantwell, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Sandra Cavazos, former Assistant US Attorney for the Northern District of California and the Eastern District of New York
• Charles E. Clayman, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
• Joel M. Cohen, former Chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York
• Leo P. Cunningham, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
• Bert Deixler, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
• Keir Dougall, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
• Ira M. Feinberg, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Cary M. Feldman, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
• Martin Flumenbaum, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Stuart L. Gasner, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii
• Douglas F. Gansler, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and former Attorney General of Maryland
• Faith Gay, former Deputy Chief of the Special Prosecutions and Civil Rights Divisions, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York
• Gerald Greenberg, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
• Fred Hafetz, former Chief of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
• John Heuston, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
• Michele Hirshman, former Chief of the General Crimes and Public Corruption Units, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
• Sydney Hoffmann, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
• June M. Jeffries, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
• Marcia Jensen, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
• John Joseph, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• Nancy Kestenbaum, former Chief of General Crimes, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
• David V. Kirby, former Chief of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont
• Barbara E. Kittay, former prosecutor, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
• David S. Krakoff, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
• Larry H. Krantz, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
• Miriam Krinsky, former Chief of General Crimes, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California
• Laurie Levenson, former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Central District of California
• Tim Lewis, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and former federal judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals
• Lori Lightfoot, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
• Debra Long-Doyle, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
• Carl H. Loewenson, Jr., former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Jeffrey Marcus, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
• Richard Marmaro, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
• Douglass B. Maynard, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Seth Miles, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
• Amy Millard, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Curtis B. Miner, dormer Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
• Cynthia Monaco, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
• Martin Perschetz, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Elliot R. Peters, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Karen A. Popp, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
• Jeff Rabkin, former Assistant U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and for the Northern District of California
• Daniel L. Rashbaum, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Southern District of Florida
• Alicia Strohl Resnicoff, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• David H. Resnicoff, former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• Lawrence Robbins, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
• Frank A. Rothermel, former U.S. Department of Justice Civil Fraud Prosecutor
• Lee Rubin, former prosecutor, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
• Betty Santangelo, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• John Savarese, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Richard L. Scheff, former Chief of the Corruption and Labor Divisions, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• William Schwartz, former Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
• John Siffert, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• David Sklansky, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California
• Matthew E. Sloan, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Central District of California
• Judge Mike Snipes, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas
• Stephen R. Spivack, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
• Jeremy H. Temkin, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Eric Tirschwell, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
• Michael Tremonte, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York
• Amy Walsh, former Chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York
• Richard D. Weinberg, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Peter Zeidenberg, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and U.S. Department of Justice Public Integrity Section
• Lawrence J. Zweifach, former Chief of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York

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News Source: The Briefing

Clinton Campaign Calls for full Disclosure from the FBI

On Saturday, Hillary for America responded to the revelation that the FBI has found “additional evidence” related to Hillary Clinton’s email with a call for more information from the FBI and Director James Comey. Campaign Chair John Podesta and Manager Robby Mook held a press phone briefing earlier today. A transcript of their comments is below:

CAMPAIGN CHAIR JOHN PODESTA: The extraordinary letter that was long on innuendo and short on facts that Director Comey sent yesterday to eight Republican committee chairs. Twenty-four hours after that letter was sent, we have no real explanation of why Director Comey decided to send that letter to congressional leaders. In fact, the more information that has come out, the more overblown this all seems, and the more concern it creates about Director Comey’s actions. For starters, it seems clear that some of initial characterizations of the FBI’s actions were inaccurate, despite initial reporting that the letter amounted to the quote, unquote, “Reopening of the investigation concluded last July.” It seems that that is not at all the case. That notion was pushed of course was by Congressman Jason Chaffetz.

It is not surprising that Congressman Chaffetz would take the opportunity to distort the facts to mount an attack on Hillary Clinton. This is someone who has promised to launch years of new Hillary Clinton investigations when she is president. Even conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin, and said earlier this week that Chaffetz says undermined his own legitimacy and he was – that he was “obsessed with finding something, anything to hang around Hillary Clinton’s neck.” So while some initially ran with the notion that an investigation was being reopened, those were Chaffetz’s words, not Comey’s, and outlets have already walked back this claim.

But this is exactly the problem that Director Comey has created with sending off his letter just 11 days out from the presidential election. By providing selective information, he has allowed partisans to distort and exaggerate in order to inflict maximum political damage, and no one can separate what is true from what is not because Comey is not been forthcoming with the facts. What little Comey has told us makes it hard to understand why this step has been warranted at all. For instance, he says, quote, “The FBI cannot assess whether or not this material may even be significant,” unquote.

And the reporting that has surfaced in the hour since this letter surfaced create even more confusion why Comey would have raised this on the eve of the election. NBC has reported from law enforcement sources that the emails in question were never withheld by Hillary Clinton or the Clinton campaign. NBC reported that the emails in question did not come from Clinton’s server at all. That has now been corroborated by a slew of other news outlets, and according to the Los Angeles Times, Clinton did not even personally or receive any of the emails in question.

Reports indicate that many of these emails are likely duplicates of ones that have already been turned over and reviewed by the bureau and its investigation last July. It is in fact entirely possible all the emails in question are just that, duplicates. So that is what we have learned from reporting in the wake of Director Comey’s message to congressional leaders. So just to recap and to put this in perspective, there is no evidence of wrong doing, no charge of wrong doing, no indication that this is even about Hillary. In fact, there are reports that the emails they want to look at are duplicates of things they already have and aren’t even from or to Hillary.

Even Director Comey said, “This may not be significant.” If that is all true, it is hard to see how this amounts to anything, and we are not going to be distracted, and Hillary is not going to be distracted in the final days of this election over nothing. But we should not be forced to get this information from second and third hand sources, from leaks, from law enforcement and FBI sources, Director Comey was the one who decided to take this unprecedented step. We now learned against the advice of senior Justice Department officials, who told him it was against long-standing department policy from Democratic and Republican administrations. Director Comey was the one who wrote a letter that was light on facts, heavy on innuendo, knowing full well what Republicans in Congress would do with it. It’s now up to him, who owes the public answers to the questions that are now on the table, and we’re calling on him to come forward and give those answers to the American public. So with that, let me turn it over to our campaign manager, Robby Mook.

CAMPAIGN MANAGER ROBBY MOOK: Well, thank you John, and this is a very concerning situation. As John explained, the more information that comes out, the more overblown this entire situation seems to be. That, in turn, has raised more questions about Director Comey from his colleagues in law enforcement circles to take this extraordinary step 11 days out from the presidential election. Just this morning, there is a startling report in the Washington Post saying that senior Justice Department officials warned Director Comey not to do this and that it was inconsistent with the practices of the department. He was apparently told that “we do not comment on an ongoing investigation, and we don’t take steps that will be viewed as influencing an election,” according to one Justice official who spoke to the Post. As a result of this, Comey has come under considerable pressure from not just Democrats but also Republicans and legal experts alike.

The Washington Post amplifies this point. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Akerman says, “Director Comey acted totally inappropriately. He has no business writing to Congress about supposed new emails that neither he nor anyone in the FBI had ever reviewed. It is not the function of the FBI director to be making public pronouncements about an investigation, never mind about an investigation based on evidence that he acknowledges may not be significant.”

Also former federal prosecutor Peter Zeidenberg said he respects Comey, however, quote, “I don’t understand this idea of dropping this bombshell, which could be a big dud. Doing it in the last week or 10 days of a presidential election without more information, I don’t think that he, I don’t think he should because how does it inform voters? It just invites speculation.” And in addition, former Justice Department spokesperson, Matt Miller, said, “The Justice Department’s long-time, long-standing practice is ‘don’t do anything seen as trying to influence an election.’ That’s usually interpreted as 60 days, let alone 11. It’s completely unfair to Secretary Clinton, and it’s really unfair to the voters. There’s no reason he had to send this letter.”

And finally, according to reports, Attorney General Loretta Lynch “expressed her preference that Comey follow the department’s long-standing practice of not commenting on ongoing investigations and not taking any action that could influence the outcome of an election,” but he said he felt compelled to do otherwise. So as John said, “It’s now incumbent on Director Comey to immediately provide the American people with more information than what is contained in his letter.” He owes the public the whole story, or else he shouldn’t have cracked open this door in the first place. Both campaigns and leaders in both parties of Congress are in full agreement on this fact.

And the last thing I’d say before I turn it back to Brian is that based on the anecdotes I’m hearing from our team on the ground, this situation has created an urgency, an intensity among our volunteers and activists that was already high because we are so close to the election but that our volunteers are rallying behind Hillary. They know what a fighter she is. I think they were heartened that she came out and addressed this so forthrightly, that she is calling for the full story to be told. And they’re as upset and concerned as we are here, and they are turning out, not only to have her back but to rally our supporters to turn out and vote as early voting goes into full swing. And we’re not just seeing this in our offices on the ground, but also in our, in our online, in the online space as well. And the, I think this is, we already had momentum and wind behind our back going into yesterday. I think this has only increased the momentum that we’re feeling among our activists on the ground.

In addition, HFA released two briefs featuring articles and coverage from the press showing that as more details have been released, the less significant the evidence appears. The releases are below:

Comey Under Fire After Sending Unprecedented Letter

FBI Director James Comey is under widespread criticism for breaking department precedent by commenting on an ongoing investigation, and doing so just days before a presidential election. Indeed, the Washington Post reported this morning senior Justice Department officials made perfectly clear to Comey that he would be in violation of long-standing DOJ policy.

Moreover, according to CNN, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates both objected to Comey sending this inappropriate letter to Congress. Nevertheless, Director Comey independently decided to move forward, rattling the presidential election with a note that was heavy on innuendo and extremely light on actual information or needed details.

The result? Broad bipartisan condemnation and demands for the swift disclosure of more information:

Washington Post: Justice officials warned FBI that Comey’s decision to update Congress was not consistent with department policy: “Senior Justice Department officials warned the FBI that Director James B. Comey’s decision to notify Congress about renewing the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server was not consistent with long-standing practices of the department, according to officials familiar with the discussions. Comey told Justice Department officials that he intended to inform lawmakers of newly discovered emails. These officials told him the department’s position “that we don’t comment on an ongoing investigation. And we don’t take steps that will be viewed as influencing an election,” said one Justice Department official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the high-level conversations.”

CNN: Comey notified Congress of email probe despite DOJ concerns: “Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates objected to FBI Director James Comey’s decision to notify Congress about his bureau’s review of emails related to Hillary Clinton’s personal server, law enforcement officials familiar with the discussion said. Comey decided to disregard their objections and sent the letter Friday anyway, shaking the presidential race 11 days before the election and nearly four months after the FBI chief said he wouldn’t recommend criminal charges over the Democratic nominee’s use of the server.

New York Times: Justice Dept. Strongly Discouraged Comey on Move in Clinton Email Case: “Mr. Comey’s letter opened him up to criticism not only from Democrats but also from current and former officials at the F.B.I. and the Justice Department, including Republicans. ‘There’s a longstanding policy of not doing anything that could influence an election,’ said George J. Terwilliger III, a deputy attorney general under the first President George Bush. ‘Those guidelines exist for a reason. Sometimes that makes for hard decisions. But bypassing them has consequences.’”

Politico: Comey’s disclosure shocks former prosecutors: “James Comey’s surprise announcement that investigators are examining new evidence in the probe of Hillary Clinton’s email server put the FBI director back under a harsh spotlight, reigniting criticism of his unusual decision to discuss the high-profile case in front of the media and two congressional committees.”

Los Angeles Times: “The emails were not to or from Clinton, and contained information that appeared to be more of what agents had already uncovered, the official said, but in an abundance of caution, they felt they needed to further scrutinize them.

Washington Post Editorial: The damage Comey’s bad timing could do: “Mr. Podesta said he is ‘confident’ full disclosure ‘will not produce any conclusions different from the one the FBI reached in July.’ If so, the question will be how badly damaged was Ms. Clinton’s candidacy by the 11th-hour re-eruption of a controversy that never should have generated so much suspicion or accusation in the first place.”

New York Times Editorial: “But Mr. Comey’s failure to provide any specifics about a new, potentially important development, less than two weeks before Election Day, is confounding. As Mr. Comey put it in July: “The American people deserve those details in a case of intense public interest.” They deserve details even more urgently today.”

Bloomberg: FBI Shocker on Clinton Fuels Criticism of Comey’s Tactics: “FBI Director James Comey is facing extraordinary pressure to explain himself after dropping a bombshell on the campaign of Hillary Clinton just 11 days before the presidential election… Former prosecutors and lawmakers from both parties expressed shock and dismay at Comey’s highly unusual decision, which flouted decades of legal custom that call for avoiding taking actions that could affect the outcome of an election.”

Washington Post: FBI Director James B. Comey under fire for his controversial decision on the Clinton email inquiry: “Nick Ackerman, a former federal prosecutor in New York and an assistant special Watergate prosecutor, said Comey ‘had no business writing to Congress about supposed new emails that neither he nor anyone in the FBI has ever reviewed.’”

Huffington Post: News Outlets Dial Back Reports Of FBI ‘Reopening’ Clinton Email Case: “The story took several other turns on Friday afternoon that complicated the early, screaming headlines, and then ensured the story would remain a topic of discussion in the days ahead. Multiple outlets subsequently reported that the new emails weren’t sent by Clinton and didn’t come from her private server.”

CNN Legal Analyst, Paul Callan: Time for FBI director Comey to go: “Comey’s public announcement in July that the FBI had concluded its investigation regarding Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server in the conduct of official State Department business and would not recommend the lodging of criminal charges was historically unprecedented in a high-profile political case.”

Washington Post Op-Ed by Former DOJ Spokesman Matt Miller: James Comey fails to follow Justice Department rules yet again: “With each step, Comey moved further away from department guidelines and precedents, culminating in Friday’s letter to Congress. This letter not only violated Justice rules on commenting on ongoing investigations but also flew in the face of years of precedent about how to handle sensitive cases as Election Day nears…. The director of the FBI has great power at his disposal…. With that independence comes a responsibility to adhere to the rules that protect the rights of those whom the FBI investigates. Comey has failed that standard repeatedly in his handling of the Clinton investigation.”

New York Times: F.B.I. Chief James Comey Is in Political Crossfire Again Over Emails: “The reaction was swift and damning, with Mrs. Clinton’s supporters and even some Republicans blasting Mr. Comey. Indeed, Mr. Comey, who was attacked this summer by Democrats and Republicans for both his decision not to bring charges against Mrs. Clinton and for the way he handled it, found himself in an even stronger crossfire on Friday.”

Los Angeles Times’ Michael McGough: FBI director should have known what his Clinton emails letter would unleash: “Having raised new doubts about Clinton so close to an election, Comey has an obligation —a moral obligation if not a legal one — to do everything he can to expedite the “additional work” required to determine whether this new information does, in fact, cast doubt on his earlier conclusion that Clinton wasn’t criminally culpable.”

Aurora Sentinel Editorial: FBI’s Comey needs to come clean on details, motivation — or resign: “If there’s damning or critical information about Clinton staff handling of email that creates the clear and immediate threat to national security that would warrant such a ploy, Americans deserve to have Clinton explain them, and Clinton must get that opportunity. Otherwise, Comey needs to apologize for his infelicity and possibly politically motivated stunt, and immediately step aside.”

Newsweek: Hillary Clinton’s Emails: The Real Reason The FBI Is Reviewing More Of Them: “Unfortunately, by trying to have things both ways – revealing the change in circumstances while remaining vague about what the agents know – Comey has created that misleading impression that could change the outcome of a presidential election, an act that, if uncorrected, will undoubtedly go down as one of the darkest moments in the bureau’s history.”

New Yorker: James Comey Broke With Loretta Lynch And Justice Department Tradition: “Coming less than two weeks before the Presidential election, Comey’s decision to make public new evidence that may raise additional legal questions about Clinton was contrary to the views of the Attorney General, according to a well-informed Administration official. Lynch expressed her preference that Comey follow the department’s longstanding practice of not commenting on ongoing investigations, and not taking any action that could influence the outcome of an election, but he said that he felt compelled to do otherwise.”

Charlotte Observer Editorial: Comey drops Hillary Clinton email bombshell; so tell us more: “But it is extraordinary for such volatile information to emerge so close to Election Day and that’s especially true given how few specifics are known. Because Comey was so vague, voters can’t know what to think. The new emails could be anything from meaningless to evidence of criminal activity by Clinton to most anything in between.”

ThinkProgress: The ‘new’ Clinton emails might all be duplicates: “So, to be clear, the FBI Director delivered a gut punch to the Clinton campaign, despite the fact that 1) he doesn’t know what he has; 2) it may be something that he already had; and, 3) whatever it is that he has, it reportedly didn’t come from Secretary Clinton, and was not sent to her.”

Huffington Post: Heat Rises For FBI Director James Comey As Both Campaigns Demand Email Answers: “Both camps demanded that FBI Director James Comey disclose more details about the emails and the bureau’s investigation, which he made known in a letter to Congress just 11 days before the election…. Many challenged the FBI director’s motives, increasing the pressure on him to comply with calls from both campaigns for more information.”

Once Again, “Bombshell” Clinton Revelation Fizzles As Facts Come Out

Yesterday, Republican Congressional leaders leaked an unprecedented letter from FBI Director James Comey, with initial reports including dire headlines for Hillary Clinton. But like most “bombshell” discoveries about Clinton over the course of this campaign, it fizzled rapidly as facts actually became available. Let’s review…

YESTERDAY’S BOMBSHELL: NBC News: FBI re-opening investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private e-mail server

• Jason Chaffetz: “FBI Dir just informed me, ‘The FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation.’ Case reopened”
• GOP: “BREAKING NEWS: The FBI is re-opening their investigation into @HillaryClinton’s secret server.”

…facts emerge:

1.  Investigation not reopened. Huffington Post: News Outlets Dial Back Reports Of FBI ‘Reopening’ Hillary Clinton Email Case
2. No emails had been withheld. NBC News: “the e-mails Comey announced today were NOT originally withheld by Clinton or campaign.”
3. Emils not from Clinton’s server. Bloomberg: New Clinton E-mails Not From Her Private Server, AP Says
4. Emails reportedly not to or from Clinton. Los Angeles Times: “The emails were not to or from Clinton”
5. No indication emails bear significance. Comey memo to employees: “we don’t know the significance of this newly discovered collection of emails”
6. Many emails likely duplicates of ones already turned over. ThinkProgress: The ‘new’ Clinton emails might all be duplicates
7. Comey letter violates DOJ policy. Washington Post: Justice officials warned FBI that Comey’s decision to update Congress was not consistent with department policy
8. Comey overruled AG Loretta Lynch. CNN: “Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates disagreed with FBI Director James Comey’s decision to notify Congress about his bureau’s review…”
9. Former officials on both sides of aisle criticized Comey. New York Times: “Mr. Comey’s letter opened him up to criticism not only from Democrats but also from current and former officials at the F.B.I. and the Justice Department, including Republicans.”
10.  Clinton and Trump both calling for more information. Huffington Post: “Both camps demanded that FBI Director James Comey disclose more details about the emails and the bureau’s investigation”

This is hardly the first time. It seems the script is always the same:

1. Bombshell allegation is made hastily without facts available
2. Media breathlessly covers the latest supposed Clinton Scandal
3. Republicans declare that this time they’ve found the smoking gun
4. Initial explosive reports slowly fizzle on account of facts

Here are just five of the many recent examples:

BOMBSHELL: @GOP, 8/30/16: “BREAKING: State Dept discovered 30 emails recovered from Hillary Clinton’s private server that discussed Benghazi.”

…facts emerge: Los Angeles Times, 9/7/16: “There appears to be only one new communication related to Benghazi… a complimentary note from a diplomat to Clinton, praising how she handled herself before a Senate panel investigating the matter.”

BOMBSHELL: @GOP, 5/5/16: “Hacker ‘Guccifer’ told news outlets that he repeatedly accessed Clinton’s unsecure email server & that ‘it was easy’”

…facts emerge: FOX News, 7/7/16: Comey: Hacker ‘Guccifer’ Lied About Accessing Clinton’s Emails

BOMBSHELL: @AP, 8/23/16: “BREAKING: AP analysis: More than half those who met Clinton as Cabinet secretary gave money to Clinton Foundation.”

…facts emerge: Vox, 8/24/16: “Except it turns out not to be true. The nut fact that the AP uses to lead its coverage is wrong, and Braun and Sullivan’s reporting reveals absolutely no unethical conduct….  the AP excluded from the denominator all employees of any government, whether US or foreign.”

BOMBSHELL: Washington Post, 8/22/16: The FBI found 15,000 emails Hillary Clinton didn’t turn over. Uh oh.

…facts emerge: CNN, 10/7/16: “Okay, so what’s in this latest batch? Short answer: No bombshells. More than half of the emails are these so-called “near duplicates” of previously released emails… There are also a number of emails between Clinton and her close aides in which they discuss scheduling matters — timing for phone calls, meetings, etc…. None of the new emails contained information marked as classified or upgraded to classified.”

BOMBSHELL: The Hill, 7/5/16: FBI director: Clinton emails were marked as classified at the time

…facts emerge: MediaIte, 7/7/16: FBI Director Admits Hillary Clinton Emails Were Not Properly Marked Classified

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FBI Announces it is Reopening Clinton Email Investigation

Scroll down for updates.

On Friday, FBI Director James Comey sent a letter to a Congressional Judiciary Committee explaining that the FBI had decided to reopen the case investigating Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State. The three page letter did not go into much detail which lead the Clinton campaign to respond. Campaign Chair John Podesta released a statement calling on Comey and the FBI to release more information surrounding their reasoning considering the election is less than two weeks away. The statement from Podesta is below.

“Upon completing this investigation more than three months ago, FBI Director Comey declared no reasonable prosecutor would move forward with a case like this and added that it was not even a close call. In the months since, Donald Trump and his Republican allies have been baselessly second-guessing the FBI and, in both public and private, browbeating the career officials there to revisit their conclusion in a desperate attempt to harm Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

FBI Director Comey should immediately provide the American public more information than is contained in the letter he sent to eight Republican committee chairmen. Already, we have seen characterizations that the FBI is ‘reopening’ an investigation but Comey’s words do not match that characterization. Director Comey’s letter refers to emails that have come to light in an unrelated case, but we have no idea what those emails are and the Director himself notes they may not even be significant.

It is extraordinary that we would see something like this just 11 days out from a presidential election.

The Director owes it to the American people to immediately provide the full details of what he is now examining. We are confident this will not produce any conclusions different from the one the FBI reached in July.”

The FBI did elaborate later in the day saying that additional evidence related to the Clinton investigation was discovered on a laptop seized during the investigation of Rep. Anthony Weiner. FBI officials said that the bureau will investigate the newly discovered emails on the laptop and that it is possible that the emails could be duplicates of ones previously turned over by the Clinton camp. State Department officials said they have not been made aware of the FBI’s new evidence. More details are likely to be released in the coming weeks, but the news of a reopened investigation could affect Clinton at the polls.

Read the letter from Comey to Congress below (download the letter HERE).

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UPDATE (10/28): Following an event in Des Moines, Iowa, Hillary Clinton spoke at a press event and addressed the issues of the FBI reopening its investigation. Clinton said that the FBI needs to release additional details regarding its investigation with the election being less than two weeks away. “Voting is underway, so the American people deserve to get the full and complete facts immediately,” she said. She said that she was confident that nothing new would be found and that she did not know what new evidence the FBI might be referring to adding, “Right now, your guess is as good as mine, and I don’t think that’s good enough.” A video of Clinton’s statement is below.

UPDATE (10/29): The Washington Post obtained a copy of an internal memo sent by FBI director James Comey to FBI employees. In the letter, he briefly explains his reasoning for taking the early details of an investigation to Congress. Read the letter below:

To all:

This morning I sent a letter to Congress in connection with the Secretary Clinton email investigation.  Yesterday, the investigative team briefed me on their recommendation with respect to seeking access to emails that have recently been found in an unrelated case.  Because those emails appear to be pertinent to our investigation, I agreed that we should take appropriate steps to obtain and review them.

Of course, we don’t ordinarily tell Congress about ongoing investigations, but here I feel an obligation to do so given that I testified repeatedly in recent months that our investigation was completed. I also think it would be misleading to the American people were we not to supplement the record.  At the same time, however, given that we don’t know the significance of this newly discovered collection of emails, I don’t want to create a misleading impression.  In trying to strike that balance, in a brief letter and in the middle of an election season, there is significant risk of being misunderstood, but I wanted you to hear directly from me about it.

Jim Comey

UPDATE (10/29): Hillary for America responded to the news with several press releases and a post on Medium from campaign chair John Podesta.

UPDATE (10/30): The FBI announced that it obtained a warrant to search the emails found on a laptop belonging to former Congressman Anthony Weiner. While it is unclear how many emails on the laptop, if any, are relevant to the Hillary Clinton email investigation, an official revealed that there are over 650,000 emails on the computer. It is likely that the majority belong to the former Congressman, but his wife, Clinton aide Huma Abedin, also used the laptop. FBI officials also revealed today that several lower level investigators knew the emails existed weeks ago, but only recently brought them to the attend of Director James Comey. It is also unclear why a warrant was received after Comey briefed Congress of the investigation on Friday.

Hillary for America campaign chair John Podesta and campaign manager Robby Mook have been on the defensive since the revelations were announced. The campaign released a video about the facts of the case and calling for more details to be released considering the timing. The video released by The Briefing is below.

UPDATE (10/31): Former Attorney General Eric Holder wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in which he called FBI director James Comey “a good man,” but said that he made a mistake by telling Congress about evidence that may have nothing to do with the Hillary Clinton email case. In the editorial, Holder says, “The department has a practice of not commenting on ongoing investigations. Indeed, except in exceptional circumstances, the department will not even acknowledge the existence of an investigation. The department also has a policy of not taking unnecessary action close in time to Election Day that might influence an election’s outcome. These rules have been followed during Republican and Democratic administrations. They aren’t designed to help any particular individual or to serve any political interest. Instead, they are intended to ensure that every investigation proceeds fairly and judiciously; to maintain the public trust in the department’s ability to do its job free of political influence; and to prevent investigations from unfairly or unintentionally casting public suspicion on public officials who have done nothing wrong.” Read the full editorial HERE.

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News Source: The Washington Post, The New York Times, ABC News, Politico, CNN, MSNBC, Medium, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Washington Post

Number of Prominent Republicans and Independents Backing Hillary Clinton Grows

Hillary for America and Together for America released a list of Republicans and Independents who are supporting Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump for president. Their release is below.

Following Hillary Clinton’s successful debate on Monday night, Together for America announced today that the ranks of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to back Hillary Clinton for President are growing. An additional 40 prominent leaders — including several senior administration officials and congressional staff, officials from the national security community, business leaders, and more than 10 prominent elected officials from battleground states — are all stepping forward to put country ahead of party.

Today’s announcement includes: three former Members of Congress: Sherwood Boehlert (NY), Claudine Schneider (RI), and John Schwarz (MI); former administration officials, including a Deputy Under Secretary of Transportation for President Ford, Solicitor General of the United States under President Reagan, chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, Director of Presidential Personnel for President Reagan, and others; national security officials like the former Director of the White House Situation Room for President Bush on 9/11 and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council; and political leaders including Finance Co-Chair of Florida Governor Rick Scott’s 2014 campaign, a New York City Budget Director under Mayor Giuliani, a former Chairman of Veteran and Military Families Advisory Board for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, a former senior advisor to the McCain for President Campaign, a former Attorney General of Arizona, and many others.

The list comes on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that former Republican Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator John Warner of Virginia, is supporting the Clinton-Kaine ticket. In August, Together for America launched with an initial 50 endorsements.

John Podesta, Chair of Hillary for America

“At the first debate, which was viewed by 84 million Americans, Hillary Clinton strengthened her support with voters in that debate because she offered a vision of an America rooted in the belief that we are stronger together, while Donald Trump was unprepared, had nothing to offer on straightforward policy questions, and once again, showed that he had lacked the knowledge, values, and temperament to be president. Watching that debate made clear how unique this election is. The growing group of Republicans and Independents who are backing Hillary is a testament to how important the choice is in this election — it’s really not about Republicans or Democrats, it’s about what country we will be, it’s about our children’s future and which candidate can bring people together to get things done, which candidate is fit to serve the office of President and Commander in Chief. People know that Hillary has a successful track record of working across the aisle, of bringing people together to get solutions and solve problems and that’s why she continues to attract support from all parties. Today, Together for America is announcing that the ranks of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to back Hillary Clinton for president is growing, an additional 40 prominent leaders, including several senior administration officials in Republican administrations and congressional staff, officials from the national security community, business leaders and more than 10 prominent Republican-elected officials from battleground states are all stepping forward to put country ahead of party.”

These endorsements send a strong signal to Republican and Independent voters that respected leaders are putting country over political party in this election.

Sherwood Boehlert, Former U.S. Congressman from New York (1983-2007)

“I have seen firsthand Hillary’s commitment to helping people, and how hard she works to deliver what she’s promised. As a Senator, she worked across party lines to get things done, including helping bring jobs to the rust belt communities of upstate New York. She’s smart, she’s informed, she’s responsive, and she’s responsible. She has the right temperament for the job. The choice in this election is obvious.”

Claudine Schneider, Former U.S. Congresswoman (1981-1991) and first woman elected to major political office in Rhode Island

“The debate this week made crystal clear that only one candidate in this race is prepared, qualified, and temperamentally fit to be President of the United States. Hillary Clinton can work across the aisle and bring people together to get things done. Her life has been one of public service: representing Americans’ interests, and working cooperatively to build consensus for solutions. I was proud to be elected as part of the Reagan Revolution, to work with President Reagan, and to be a Republican my entire adult life. But when it comes to this election, I have to put my country ahead of my party, and that means voting for Hillary Clinton.”

Deborah Loewer, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.), and former Director of The White House Situation Room (2001-2003)

“My support of Clinton is derived from the hard lessons learned during my years of service to our country. I served as The Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. I commanded the USS CAMDEN, the USS MOUNT BAKER and all of the U.S. Navy’s mine warfare assets. I deployed to every region on the globe — including the Persian Gulf and the Asia Pacific — in support of our nation’s security. I watched and listened and firmly believe Clinton understands not only how to deploy our forces, but also, how to bring them safely home when the mission is done.”

Nicholas Rostow, Former Special Assistant to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush for National Security Affairs and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council under Colin Powell and Brent Scowcroft (1987-1993); Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Cox Committee (House Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People’s Republic of China) (1998-1999); Staff Director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1999-2000); General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2001-2005)

“George Washington exhorted his fellow citizens to put the country above party or parochial interest. His message is especially compelling this year. Though I have served in three Republican administrations, I shall vote for Mrs. Clinton. Of the candidates with a realistic chance of winning, she alone has the competence to be President.

“Competence is important. Foreign and domestic crises — including economic collapse, major terrorism, some new cyber harm, and increased tensions with Russia or China — are foreseeable. Mr. Trump has not in any way demonstrated a capacity to preserve and protect the American republic. He has shown no respect for the essential work of government, the democratic system, or the Constitution. Of the two principal candidates, Hillary Clinton is by far the safer bet to guide the ship of state in the choppy seas ahead. This is not a year for protest votes. The vote must be for Secretary Clinton.”

The full list of Republicans and Independents newly participating in Together for America is below. The previous list is available here.

• John Elizabeth Alemán, Miami Beach Commissioner
• Jacob Avneri, Nevada Republican; Retired businessman; Stepfather of a U.S. Soldier who was killed in action in Afghanistan
• Stuart Bernstein, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark for President George W. Bush
• Sherwood Boehlert, Former U.S. Congressman from New York (1983-2007)
• Phil Brady, Special Assistant to Vice President George H.W. Bush (1985-1988); Deputy Counsel to President Ronald Reagan (1988-1989); General Counsel U.S. Department of Transportation (1989-1991); Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary to President George H.W. Bush (1991-1993); member of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Board
• Michael Browne, Former Deputy Under Secretary of Transportation under President Gerald Ford and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner in two Republican administrations
• Warren Chase, Palm Beach Gardens, former Naval officer and Vietnam veteran; Republican candidate for Congress; Two-term Reagan appointee; 2012 member of Governor Romney’s Defense Policy Working Group
• James Clad, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for President George W. Bush
• Tim Clancy, Former Chief of Staff, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert
• Anita Daly, New York Republican; former Saratoga County Supervisor for 22 years
• Howard Denis, Former Maryland State Senator (1977-1995); former Montgomery County Council member (2000-2006); and five-time delegate to the Republican National Convention
• Douglas Durst, Chairman of the Durst Organization
• Miguel “Mike” Fernandez, Jeb Bush, major supporter; Lifelong Republican; Republican Finance Co-Chairman Florida Governor’s 2014; Chairman MBF Healthcare Partners; former Chairman Simply Healthcare; former Chairman CarePlus Health Plans
• Charles Fried, Solicitor General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan (1985-1989) and Beneficial Professor of Law at Harvard Law School
• Diedra Garcia, Colorado Republican and former CEO of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Carlos Gonzalez, New Hampshire Republican State Representative
• Marty Haynie, Comptroller of Orange County, Florida
• Saif Ishoof, Florida Republican and Community Leader
• Abe Lackman, NYC’s Budget Director under Mayor Giuliani; Secretary of the NYS Senate Finance Committee and special advisor to Joseph L. Bruno, the NYS Senate Majority Leader
• Mark P. Lagon, D, Former U.S. Ambassador-At-Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2007-2009); Centennial Fellow, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
• Deborah Loewer, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.), and former Director of The White House Situation Room (2001-2003)
• David Maddux, Colorado Republican; Navy Veteran; Project Manager in Denver
• Rosario Marin, Former U.S. Treasurer (2001-2003)
• Jack McGregor, Former Pennsylvania State Senator from Pittsburgh and the founder of the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins
• Helen Migchelbrink, Colorado Republican and Engineer in Fort Collins
• David Nierenberg, President of Nierenberg Investment Management Company; one of eight original national finance chairs of Romney for President (2006-2012)
• Richard Painter, Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Minnesota Law School and former associate counsel to the president and chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush
• Mark Pasquerilla, Chairman and CEO of Crown American and a former At-Large Delegate to the 2004 and 2008 Republican National Conventions
• William A. Pierce, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (2001-2005) and former press secretary for Congresswoman Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Congressman William Thomas (R-CA)
• Nicholas Rostow, Former Special Assistant to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush for National Security Affairs and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council under Colin Powell and Brent Scowcroft (1987-1993); Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Cox Committee (House Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People’s Republic of China) (1998-1999); Staff Director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1999-2000); General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2001-2005)
• Scott Rutter, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.); former Chairman of the National Advisory Board: Veterans and Military Families, Romney for President
• Mark Salter, Former chief of staff to Senator John McCain and senior advisor to the McCain for President campaign
• Claudine Schneider, Former U.S. Congresswoman (1981-1991) and first woman elected to major political office in Rhode Island
• John J.H. Schwarz, D., Former U.S. Congressman from Michigan (2005-2007)
• Rick Stoddard, Colorado Republican and Banker in Denver
• Martin Torrey, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
• Robert H. Tuttle, Former Assistant to the President and former Director of Presidential Personnel for President Ronald Reagan; U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom for President George W. Bush
• Roger Wallace, Co-Chair of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute Advisory Board and member of the Council on Foreign Relations; former Deputy Undersecretary for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce (1989-1991); former Chair of the Inter-American Foundation (2003-2009); and former Deputy to the National Co-Chair of the 1980 Reagan Bush Campaign
• Lezlee Westine,Former White House Director of Public Liaison under and Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush
• Grant Woods, Arizona Attorney General (1991-1999)

The individuals listed herein have endorsed in their personal capacity and this does not reflect the endorsement of any organization, corporation or entity with which they are affiliated. Titles and affiliations of each individual are provided for identification purposes only. While all the individuals herein are newly involved with Together for America, some have previously made public pronouncements about their support for Hillary Clinton since our last Together for America announcement.

Additional comments are available below:

John Elizabeth Alemán, Miami Beach Commissioner

“In Miami Beach, we cannot support a candidate who believes climate change is a hoax. Donald Trump refuses to accept the science that points to this imminent concern, which jeopardizes our national security. Hillary Clinton will be a president who makes America the world’s clean energy superpower and will take affirmative action on climate change. That’s why, in this election, I will vote for Hillary Clinton.”

Jacob Avneri, Nevada Republican; Retired businessman; Stepfather of a U.S. Soldier who was killed in action in Afghanistan

“As someone who lost a stepson in Afghanistan, I was deeply offended by the remarks that Trump has made against the men and women in our armed forces and against Gold Star parents. It also pains me to hear the disparaging and divisive comments Trump has made against Latinos, like my wife and step kids. Trump does not respect that Americans are born equal, and the way he has run his campaign makes me afraid for the future of our country should he become president. Secretary Clinton, for all her faults, has demonstrated a lifetime of concern for all Americans and will make an effective leader and role model for all. Even though I have been a lifelong Republican, I will be putting my country ahead of my party this election — I will proudly cast my vote for Secretary Clinton in November.”

Michael Browne, Former Deputy Under Secretary of Transportation under President Gerald Ford and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner in two Republican administrations

“As a Marine Corps veteran who volunteered to fight in the Vietnam War, I am dismayed by Donald Trump’s approach to the military and to veterans. He loves to talk aggressively about war and militaristic actions. Yet, he dodged the draft during the Vietnam War by obtaining 5 deferments to avoid serving his country, including the excuse of heel spurs, which then magically disappeared. He has insulted John McCain, an American hero, because he was a prisoner of war and insulted the parents of an American hero who died serving his country in Iraq because they are Muslim. Such a man should not be Commander in Chief.”

Warren Chase, Palm Beach Gardens, former Naval officer and Vietnam veteran; Republican candidate for Congress; Two-term Reagan appointee; 2012 member of Governor Romney’s Defense Policy Working Group

“By temperament and by long experience, Hillary Clinton is very clearly prepared to serve as our Commander in Chief. We live in a dangerous world with multiple, complicated threats to our national security. Hillary knows what must be done to protect our freedom in these uncertain times. She will listen to our allies and work with them because she understands that we are stronger together.”

James Clad, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for President George W. Bush

“Secretary Clinton has demonstrated her skills as Secretary of State, especially but by no means exclusively in helping other Asian countries counter Chinese bullying in the western Pacific. For Republicans and Democrats alike, everything in national security requires clarity and steadiness, whether managing nuclear weapons or balancing great power rivalries. Never losing sight of the national interest is key — a discipline which Secretary Clinton possesses in full measure. Our adversaries must never hear flippancy or ignorance in America’s voice. They should never take satisfaction from an incompetent president. Giving an incoherent amateur the keys to the White House this November will doom us to second or third class status. In my career, I’ve seen close-up what happens when American reliability falters. It’s not pretty, for us or for the world. There is no choice: In razor sharp contrast to her opponent, Secretary Clinton is ready, steady and prepared. With a proven preference for bipartisanship, she must win this election.”

Anita Daly, New York Republican; former Saratoga County Supervisor for 22 years

“As a lifelong Republican, with 22 years of elected service in a predominantly Republican county, I am supporting Hillary for President. As a wife, mother and grandmother, I view this presidential election as a choice between known and unknown leadership qualities and not at all about party affiliation. Simply put, Hillary Clinton is prepared to be President.”

Douglas Durst, Chairman of the Durst Organization

“As a New York City developer, I have had a front-row seat to the curious career of Donald Trump. He morphed from a builder to a showman to an aspiring statesman. I have seen nothing in the forty years I have known Donald to qualify him to be President of the United States. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is a tested public servant with a steady hand and head that is ready to lead.”

Miguel “Mike” Fernandez, Jeb Bush, major supporter; Lifelong Republican; Republican Finance Co-Chairman Florida Governor’s 2014; Chairman, MBF Healthcare Partners; former Chairman, Simply Healthcare; former Chairman, CarePlus Health Plans

“I have arrived at this difficult moment. A moment that may define leaders and followers. I harbor no illusion that Hillary Clinton is perfect; none of us is. I do not see eye to eye on some issues with the former Senator from New York. However, Clinton is, without doubt, a vastly superior choice to Donald Trump. She is not impulsive, a dangerous quality in any position, but rather she is deliberate, intelligent, and experienced; and she has the humility to accept that she does not have all the answers. She has delegated effectively over the decades in public service. These attributes will serve her well as president.”

Charles Fried, Solicitor General of the United States under President Ronald Reagan (1985-1989) and Beneficial Professor of Law at Harvard Law School

“Respect for our country, its Constitution, its history and traditions, just a sense of common decency, require that we not allow Donald Trump to be elected president of the United States. To invoke party loyalty, to dwell on one’s reservations about Hillary Clinton, to contemplate not voting at all, or the silly and self-defeating gesture of voting for the Libertarian or Green Party candidate, would be a frivolous failure of the most urgent present duty of patriotism. I support and shall vote for Hillary Clinton. Any other course risks complicity in a national catastrophe.”

Carlos Gonzalez, New Hampshire Republican State Representative

“Whether as a new law school graduate, First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the U.S., Senator, or Secretary of State, Hillary has spent her career taking on the hard challenges and delivering for children, women, families, and our country. No matter the odds, she has been a champion for those who have been forgotten or left behind. Unlike Donald Trump, who continues to run a campaign fueled by divisive rhetoric, Hillary has squared her focus on policies that would actually make a real difference for families and businesses across New Hampshire. I know Hillary will help bring us together and work across the aisle to solve our biggest challenges and create opportunities for every American to succeed.”

Marty Haynie, Comptroller of Orange County, Florida

“With more than 15 years experience as a CPA in private industry, I was elected as the chief financial officer in one of Florida’s largest counties, where I have served for 28 years. I know the difference between private business and public service. It seems that Donald Trump does not. His arrogant refusal to release his tax returns is just one example of his utter lack of respect for the public, and his expectation that he can continue to make his own rules. For this and so many other reasons, I am proud to support Hillary Clinton for president.”

Saif Ishoof, Florida Republican and Community Leader

“In South Florida and across the nation, Americans are looking for a President who will bring us together to tackle the big challenges we face. With his divisive rhetoric and reckless policies, Donald Trump has proven himself unworthy and unfit to be in the Oval Office. Well before her time in the public eye, Hillary Clinton has dedicated her life to serving the American public. That’s why I’m proud to stand with Hillary Clinton.”

Mark P. Lagon, Ph.D, Former U.S. Ambassador-At-Large to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2007-2009); Centennial Fellow at the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

“I endorse Hillary Clinton for President because she will strongly promote U.S. leadership, strong bonds with democratic allies, and freer governance worldwide. The election of Donald Trump would be a calamity for America and for a stable and prosperous world. Hillary Clinton exhibits the distinctive qualities to be a strong President. Her deep experience and commitment to human rights and the U.S. as a unique positive force in the world deserve the backing of Republicans and Democrats alike.”

David Maddux, Colorado Republican; Navy Veteran; Project Manager in Denver

“I have always called myself an Eisenhower Republican. Ike would be horrified by where his party is today, as exemplified by Trump. Ralph Carr understood that we all should be equally, without exception, protected by our Constitution. This is now the time for us to be like Mr. Carr, to place our feet and votes and our hearts in a place where country comes before party, and decency comes before complacency. And for me that place, and my vote, will be with Secretary Clinton.”

Jack McGregor, Former Pennsylvania State Senator from Pittsburgh and the founder of the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins

“I’ve been involved in Republican presidential campaigns for more than 60 years. It took the selection of Donald J. Trump to drive me out of my party. My old political heroes and mentors like Ike, Bill Scranton, John Sherman Cooper, my father and both grandfathers must be turning in their graves about my change in party registration. But I’m confident that every one of those honorable and dignified men would be repulsed by Donald Trump and saddened by what has become of their Republican Party. This is serious stuff, and I won’t waste my vote on a protest candidate. Since the future of our country may depend on preventing Donald Trump from becoming president, I’m with her this November, and I urge other Republicans to join me.”

David Nierenberg, President of Nierenberg Investment Management Company; one of eight original national finance chairs of Romney for President (2006-2012)

“I have decided to endorse and support Hillary Clinton for president, even though almost everybody else I will vote for this November will be a real Republican. Hillary Clinton knows her stuff. She is emotionally mature and centered. She respects and enjoys working with people from all backgrounds. She has the diplomatic skills needed to break the gridlock in Washington and lead our country well. America needs a steady hand on the tiller.”

Richard Painter, S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Minnesota Law School; and former associate counsel to the president and chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush

“Clinton’s campaign rhetoric echoes that of her husband and Barack Obama, two Democratic presidents who oversaw significant economic growth. It is not always the pro-business and pro-economic liberty message that Republicans want to hear, but investors and business owners know what we’ll get from Hillary and we can plan for the future. Trump, by contrast, is volatile and unpredictable — a businessperson’s and investor’s worst nightmare.”

Mark Pasquerilla, Chairman and CEO of Crown American and a former At-Large Delegate to the 2004 and 2008 Republican National Conventions

“I could not be more disappointed in my party’s choice of nominee. I served as a former Pennsylvania At-Large Delegate for the 2004 and 2008 Republican National Conventions and my father ran for Pennsylvania state treasurer on the same ticket as President Richard Nixon. I cannot stand by as Donald Trump hate mongers and bullies hard-working Americans around. Our country needs a president who will treat everyone with the respect they deserve and that’s why Hillary Clinton will have my vote on November 8.”

William A. Pierce, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (2001-2005) and former press secretary for Congresswoman Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and for Congressman William Thomas (R-CA)

“Our choice this election could not be more clear — Hillary Clinton is a strong and clear supporter of American democracy interests at home and abroad and has a clear and coherent policy agenda for addressing the challenges facing the U.S. and the world. Donald Trump is a danger to our democracy.”

Scott Rutter, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.); former Chairman of the National Advisory Board: Veterans and Military Families, Romney for President

“Secretary Clinton is dedicated and committed to supporting Veterans and their families. I have witnessed this firsthand. I would not be ‘with her’ if I didn’t think she was the best candidate to be our next President and Commander-in-Chief.”

Rick Stoddard, Colorado Republican and Banker in Denver

“I didn’t leave the Republican party, the party left me. It’s time for all Republicans and independents in Colorado to put country before party and vote for Secretary Clinton. Trump is too dangerous and too unfit to hold our nation’s highest office.”

Robert H. Tuttle, Former Assistant to the President and former Director of Presidential Personnel for President Ronald Reagan; U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom for President George W. Bush

“The Republican nominee for president has no government experience and has done nothing in his career to demonstrate that he is competent to be president. He has made repeated misstatements and inaccurate statements. He has insulted minorities, women, a war hero and Gold Star parents. He is unqualified and unfit to be president. I have never voted for a Democrat but I will vote for Secretary Clinton.”

Lezlee Westine, Former White House Director of Public Liaison under and Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush

“Our nation faces a unique set of challenges that require steady and experienced leadership. That is why I am personally supporting Hillary Clinton. She has the expertise and commitment to American values to grow the economy, create jobs and protect America at home and abroad.”

Grant Woods, Arizona Attorney General (1991-1999)

“Hillary Clinton is one of the most qualified nominees to ever run for President. Donald Trump is the least qualified ever. The stakes are too high to stand on the sideline. I stand with Hillary Clinton for President.”

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Kaine Campaigns in Florida

On Monday, Tim Kaine campaigned in Florida beginning with a rally in Lakeland. During his speech, Kaine spoke about a number of Hillary Clinton’s platform points and about her personally. He framed her as a hard worker with supporters on both sides of the aisle saying, “Even when folks have been battling with her about stuff, she knows them. And in the Senate, which I know better than the House, there’s high regard for her work ethic, (and a view that) we can work together with her.” Kaine also spoke about tonight’s debate between Clinton and Republican Donald Trump saying he is anxious to see Trump answer for a number of his lies. A video from the event is below.

Kaine then traveled to Orlando where he attended a roundtable discussion with a group of Latino community leaders. During the event, Kaine spoke about the importance of Latino voters and urged them to register. He also spoke about Clinton’s proposals for immigration reform and how they are starkly different from those of Trump. “We should be a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Our focus shouldn’t be on deportation en masse, it should be on people who pose serious safety challenges,” he said. Kaine then listened as the community leaders and local residents expressed their concerns. A video from the event will be added when/if available.

A series of fundraisers were held today on behalf of Hillary for America. The first was a Disability Action for Hillary event in Washington, DC. The event featured a conversation with Eric H. Holder, Jr., 82nd Attorney General of the United States. A fundraiser in support of the Hillary Victory fund was held for American Citizens living in the Toronto, Canada area.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, be sure to subscribe to the campaign’s official Podcast, With Her.

News Source: ABC Action News, Tampa Bay Times, Orlando Sentinel

Kaine, Bill Clinton, Senator Warren Campaign for Hillary on Friday

On Friday, campaign events were held across on the country on behalf of Hillary Clinton and featured speeches from Tim Kaine, Bill Clinton, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Kaine began in Birmingham, Alabama where he attended a fundraiser, toured the 16th Street Baptist Church, and spoke to the press about Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric and the allegations that the Trump Foundation illegally gave campaign donations to the Florida state Attorney General. A video of Kaine’s press briefing is below.

Kaine then returned to his home state of Virginia where he and his wife, Anne Holton, attended a rally in Norfolk. During his speech, Kaine spoke about his time in Virginia where he has served a Governor and is currently one of the state’s Senators. Kaine spoke about a number of Clinton’s platform points and went after Donald Trump for his praise of dictators saying, “If you can’t tell the difference between leadership and dictatorship, you wouldn’t have passed a fifth-grade civics exam. You shouldn’t be a president of the United States. … Tyranny is not leadership. Persecution is not leadership.” A video from the event is below.

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bill campaigned on behalf of his wife and spoke about a number of Hillary’s platform points and criticized a number of proposals made by Trump. Bill spoke about the importance of this election, but said that can sympathize with the anger that many voters and Trump supporters are feeling. He warned, “Don’t substitute anger for answers. Don’t substitute resentment for responsibility. Remember empowerment comes from being stronger together. We can do it. You can do it. But Hillary, to do it, has to win Pennsylvania and that’s you.” Bill continued, “We need answers, not anger. And she [Hillary] is the only candidate offering any.” A video of Bill’s speech is below.

The final event of the day was a speech by Senator Warren who campaigned on behalf of Hillary in Philadelphia. Warren spoke to a crowd of supporters about the importance of defeating Trump and electing Hillary in November. She covered a number of Hillary’s proposals before delivering a series of one-liners attacking Trump. In her speech, Warren referred to Trump as “the large orange elephant in the room,” called the controversial Trump University “Scam University,” and went after his praise of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Warren’s speech offers a mix of clever criticism of Trump and important policy proposals. A video from the event is below.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, a Hillary for America fundraiser was held for American citizens living abroad. The event featured a conversation with Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues for the State Department.

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News Source: AL.com, The Virginian-Pilot, Pittsburgh Gazette, NBC News

Bill and Chelsea Clinton Campaign for Hillary/Kaine

On Wednesday, Bill and Chelsea Clinton were on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine. At a rally in Orlando, Florida, Bill spoke about a number of Hillary’s plans including creating new jobs, improving the economy, and passing immigration reform. He also spoke about something important to him, the Clinton Foundation. The foundation has come under fire recently for claims that donors were given special access to Hillary when she was Secretary of State. While there is not evidence to support his claim, Donald Trump’s Trump Foundation has been fined for an illegal donation to Florida state Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bill took the attacks on the Clinton Foundation personally saying that Trump “attacked my foundation. I think that’s because he knew they [the news media] were about to report that he used his foundation to give money to your attorney general.” A video from the rally is below.

In Pennsylvania, Chelsea attended two events. The first was an organizing event in Carlisle where she spoke about a number of Hillary’s key platform proposals including her plans to ensure women receive equal pay, improvement to the health care system, and introducing common sense gun control. Chelsea then traveled to State College where she spoke with supporters at the local Democratic National Committee office. Chelsea was there to help launch a local phone bank initiative, and she spoke about the importance of voting in November. “I hope you’ll keep having conversations about why it’s so important to register to vote,” she told the group. A video of Chelsea’s remarks in Carlisle are below.

Meanwhile, two fundraisers were held on behalf of Hillary for America. The first was in Miami, Florida where Bill Clinton and Hall of Fame Star Alonzo Mourning spoke with supporters at The Fillmore. Then, Melanne Verveer attended a fundraiser for American citizens living in Taipei, Taiwan.

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News Source: Orlando Sentinel, Fox 43, Daily Collegian

HFA Responds to Trump Foundation’s Involvement in Actual Pay-To-Play Scandal

In response to a new Washington Post report revealing that the Internal Revenue Service has fined Donald Trump for using funds from his charitable foundation to make a campaign donation to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Hillary for America Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri released the following statement:

“Donald Trump has been falsely attacking the charity run by President Clinton when it is Trump’s own Foundation that has been caught in an actual pay-to-play scandal.

While the Clinton Foundation has received the highest ratings from independent charitable watchdogs, Donald Trump’s use of foundation money to donate to the Florida Attorney General actually broke the law. Worst of all, it appears the payment may have been intended to stave off an investigation into the sham Trump University that has ripped off unsuspecting students.

Donald Trump has no standing whatsoever to question the Clinton Foundation, which works to make AIDS and malaria drugs more accessible, when it’s been proven he uses his own foundation to launder illegal campaign donations.”

Below is a key excerpt from the Washington Post bombshell:

Trump pays IRS a penalty for his foundation violating rules with gift to aid Florida attorney general

By David A. Fahrenthold

Donald Trump paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty this year, an official at Trump’s company said, after it was revealed that Trump’s charitable foundation had violated tax laws by giving a political contribution to a campaign group connected to Florida’s attorney general.

The improper donation, a $25,000 gift from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, was made in 2013. At the time, Attorney General Pam Bondi was considering whether to investigate fraud allegations against Trump University. She decided not to pursue the case.

Read the full article here.

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Meet the Clinton-Kaine Transition Team

Hillary Clinton’s campaign released the names of the Clinton-Kaine senior transition team. The group will be tasked with building an administration if she wins in November. The group will begin working out of Washington, DC. The full detailed release from Hillary for America is below.

Two weeks after paperwork was filed to formally establish the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, John Podesta — the Chair of Hillary for America and the President of the Transition project — announced several top officials who will lead the transition planning over the coming months. This senior leadership team will oversee a Washington-based operation that is dedicated to preparing for a potential Clinton-Kaine administration, enabling the Brooklyn-based campaign organization to stay exclusively focused on the task of electing Hillary Clinton as the nation’s 45th President of the United States.

Ken Salazar, former Secretary of the Interior and United States senator from Colorado, will serve as Chair of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project.

Salazar will serve alongside four co-chairs — former National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, President of the Center for American Progress Neera Tanden, and Maggie Williams, Director of the Institute of Politics, Harvard University.

Ed Meier and Ann O’Leary, two top campaign policy advisers, will shift full-time to the Transition team to serve as co-executive directors and manage the project’s day-to-day operations. Heather Boushey, the Executive Director of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, will serve as Chief Economist.

“We are extremely pleased that such an accomplished group of public servants has agreed to lead the transition planning for a potential Clinton-Kaine administration,” Podesta said. “While our campaign remains focused on the task at hand of winning in November, Hillary Clinton wants to be able to get to work right away as President-elect on building an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. These individuals, who bring a deep level of experience in the work of presidential transitions, will help us build a team that is ready to govern after the general election.”

“Once Hillary Clinton makes history by being elected as the nation’s first woman President, we want to have a turnkey operation in place so she can hit the ground running right away,” Salazar said. “A Clinton-Kaine administration will build on the progress we’ve made under President Obama, and tackle a new set of challenges both at home and abroad. This transition team will undertake the preparations necessary to ensure our next President has the resources and staff to carry out this all-important work.”

The Clinton-Kaine Transition Project is a 501(c)(4) organization. It was officially established through the filing of paperwork two weeks ago in the District of Columbia, with Podesta named as the entity’s President and Hillary for America senior adviser Minyon Moore as Secretary.

A 2010 law, known as the Pre-Election Transition Act, formalized the process for the transfer of powers from one administration to the next, and provided new resources to both party nominees so they each could take steps ahead of the general election to ensure a seamless transition. In keeping with the law, the Obama administration will host initial, transition planning meetings with representatives of both the Trump and Clinton campaigns. After the two parties’ conventions, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough phoned both campaigns to indicate that, among other steps, workspace administered by the General Services Administration in Washington, D.C., was officially available to both campaigns to use for their respective transition planning.

Biographies for the leadership of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project appear below.

Ken Salazar, Chair of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, served under President Obama as the 50th Secretary of the Interior from 2009-2013. Prior to that, he was U.S. Senator from Colorado from 2005-2009. From 1999 until his election to the U.S. Senate, Salazar served as Attorney General for Colorado. He currently works as a partner at the international law firm WilmerHale.

Tom Donilon, Co-Chair of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, served as National Security Advisor to President Obama from 2010-2013. Donilon had leadership roles in the State Department and NSC transitions in 2008. He served as Deputy National Security Advisor before becoming President Obama’s top national security aide. Donilon served during the Clinton Administration as Chief of Staff at the Department of State. Donilon is currently Vice Chair at the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers.

Jennifer Granholm, Co-Chair of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, was the 47th Governor of the State of Michigan. Prior to her two terms as Governor, she served as Michigan’s Attorney General from 1999-2003. She was the first woman in state history to be elected to either position. During her tenure as Governor, she led Michigan through a severe economic downturn by diversifying the state’s economy, strengthening its automotive industry and investing in new sectors such as clean energy. After leaving office, Granholm served as an advisor to Pew Charitable Trusts’ Clean Energy Program. She is also a Senior Research Fellow with the Berkeley Energy and Climate Institute.

Neera Tanden, Co-Chair of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, currently serves as President of the Center for American Progress. Prior to that, she served as a senior adviser for health reform at the Department of Health and Human Services, working to help enact President Obama’s landmark health reform law. During the 2008 campaign, Tanden served as policy director for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, then became the director of domestic policy for the Obama-Biden campaign during the general election. Earlier in her career, she was Legislative Director for Clinton in her Senate office, and deputy campaign manager on Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign.

Maggie Williams, Co-Chair of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, is the Director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She is the former Communications Director for the Children’s Defense Fund; served as the 1992 transition director for First Lady Hillary Clinton, and as Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to First Lady Hillary Clinton. Maggie is founding partner of management consulting firm, Griffin Williams CPM, from which she took a leave of absence in 2008 to manage the presidential primary campaign of then-Senator Clinton. Maggie is Vice Chair of the Trustee Board of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and serves on the Board of the Scholastic Corporation.

Ed Meier, Co-Executive Director of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, most recently served as the Director of Policy Outreach at Hillary for America. Prior to his work on the campaign, Meier served as Senior Adviser to the Deputy Secretary of State during Clinton’s tenure at the State Department. In addition to his service in government, Meier has worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and served as Chief Operating Officer at Big Thought, an education nonprofit in Dallas.

Ann O’Leary, Co-Executive Director of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, most recently served as Senior Policy Adviser at Hillary for America, handling issues including college affordability, health care and family economic security.  Prior to joining the campaign, O’Leary was senior vice president and director of the Children and Families Program at Next Generation. O’Leary was also founding executive director of the University of California, Berkeley, Law School’s Center on Health, Economic & Family Security, and a Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Francisco. She held a number of roles during the Clinton administration, including policy adviser to the First Lady and assistant to the President on the Domestic Policy Council. She was also Legislative Director in Clinton’s Senate office from 2001-2003.

Heather Boushey, Chief Economist of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project, is the Executive Director and Chief Economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth and a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. Dr. Boushy previously served as as an economist for the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, the Center for Economic and Policy Research, and the Economic Policy Institute. She is a leading researcher on the issue of income inequality and author of “Finding Time: The Economics of Work-Life Conflict” from Harvard University Press.

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News Source: The New York Times, Vox

Tim Kaine Addresses the National Urban League

Tim Kaine spoke at the National Urban League Conference in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday. During his speech, he said that a Hillary Clinton administration would combat social and economic issues in the country’s cities. He spoke about the need to “end the era of mass incarceration” and vowed that as president, Clinton would work toward passing criminal justice reform. As a part of the reform, Kaine called for additional police training and increasing the collection of data on crime. He said, “A profound distance has grown up between law enforcement and communities in too many places in America, and that distance is dangerous. Let’s support independent data collection, investigation, and, if necessary, prosecution of police involved in deaths.” While in Baltimore, Kaine met with Representative Elijah Cummings, and they discussed voter ID laws, the economy, and their work as civil rights attorneys. A video from his speech is available on C-SPAN.

Fundraisers were held on behalf of Hillary for America in two states today. The first was in McLean, Virginia and included a conversation with Deputy Foreign Policy Advisor Bishop Garrison, Former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Matt Olsen, and Foreign Policy Advisor Laura Rosenberger. The event was held at the home of Andrew Borene. The second event was held in New York City and included a conversation with Assemblyman Michael Blake and Director of State Campaigns and Political Engagement Marlon Marshall.

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News Source: The Baltimore Sun, CBS Baltimore