The Clintons have made a lifestyle out of scandal, and it has been quite profitable. However, with Hillary Clinton gearing up for the presidential stage, it may be more important than ever that she appear innocent. While she seems to have enlisted the Department of Justice’s help already, there may be a more efficient solution — President Barack Obama could just issue her a preemptive presidential pardon.
Admittedly a tongue in cheek idea, but there are some upsides. The Department of Justice won’t need to constantly be putting out brushfires on behalf of the Clinton Administration — and Congress won’t be focused on constantly impeaching her — because Obama just gave her a get out of jail free card.
Starting with the Clinton email dilemma. While having the FBI dismiss charges yet simultaneously admitting that actions were careless might seem like an injustice; in the Clintons’ world it is another example of the benefits of power.
Unfortunately, as FBI reports continue their release Clinton is still experiencing a fire of unhappy adversaries attempting to put her away. These documents release information ranging from Clinton’s knowledge of classification levels to the hacking of email accounts, potentially by Russian intelligence agents, of Clinton’s closest correspondents. With such information a conviction seems necessary, possibly for both Clinton and FBI Director James Comey for his handling of the case. In the meantime, the Justice Department’s inaction fuels the perception of Clinton as untrustworthy.
In fact, “Hillary for prison” has become a common chant and bumper sticker across the country. Not only for this scandal, but also for recent revelations regarding the Clinton Foundation as well. An Associated Press report from Aug. 2016 unveiled that during her time as Secretary of State “At least 85 of 154 people from private interests who met or had phone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family charity or pledged commitments to its international programs.”
Yet once again no charges are being brought. The Department of Justice is still unable to prove exactly what Clinton provided for these actors in exchange for their donations. As Clinton scrambles to justify her actions, the Department of Justice will likely provide her with the same cover federal courts and prosecutors have now provided for former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell.
In a similar case, McDonnell had his charges dropped on Sept. 8, 2016. The Difference? McDonnell had one meeting with an individual in his constituency to assist in the development of a new dietary supplement. Clinton met with nearly 90 individuals as Secretary of State while they donated to her charity.
With all this getting in the way of Clinton’s presidential run, perhaps she will just do everyone a favor and turn to her great friend President Obama for the answer — a presidential pardon. Rather than fighting the justice system, corrupting the justice system or awaiting impeachment, Clinton can solve all her problems with a stroke of President Obama’s pen.
But if he truly wants to do her justice, or rather injustice, then he needs to stretch even further back.
The Clintons have been ridden with controversy since the 1990s. A true pardon would excuse the behavior of Clinton and her husband all the way back to Whitewater. While individuals the Clintons worked with served prison time for pressured real estate deals, the FBI cleared the couple of any wrong doing.
As this was likely the first in the long and mutually beneficial relationship between the Clintons and national investigators, President Obama might as well clear the air on the issue now. Rather than having Clinton become president and serve under the cloud of possible impeachment, a parting shot pardon from the current president could be just the political favor Clinton needs.
Natalia Castro is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government.
