By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Wednesday, August 22, US Representative Martha Roby (R-Montgomery) announced that after years of legal wrangling, partial truths, and failure to disclose information to Congress that the US Justice Department has finally taken possession of the private home server of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) that was used to conduct official email correspondence while she was the US Secretary of State.
Congresswoman Martha Roby said in a statement on Facebook, “The U.S. Department of Justice will finally take possession of the server former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used to house the personal email system she used to conduct official business. Of course, the Clinton spin is that she directed her lawyers to turn it over to the FBI, making it seem like some act of transparency. When the Washington Post specifically ask her spokesman if the FBI ordered her to turn it over, he “declined” to say. Draw your own conclusions from that…”
Rep. Roby continued, “A few takeaways. We all know that late last year, Secretary Clinton deleted more than 30,000 emails and “wiped” her server clean. So, we don’t know what can truly be gleaned from what was turned over. I hope the FBI, Inspectors General and the Select Committee can get to the bottom of it all.”
Rep. Roby wrote, “Also, I’m not sure if you saw it, but this week NBC News reported that Chinese hackers penetrated the personal emails of many top Executive Branch officials. The officials’ government accounts, though, were not penetrated because they have a much higher level of security. The point is, there’s a reason we have security protocols for those who deal with sensitive, classified information. Secretary Clinton deliberately flouted those protocols with this personal email arrangement and in doing so threatened the security of sensitive, classified information. Her apparent obsession with retaining absolute control of her email came at the expense of national security, and that should concern all Americans.”
According to information provided by Rep. Roby’s office: Federal law prohibits storing classified information in unauthorized places, with penalties ranging from a fine to one year in prison.
Congresswoman Roby said, “There is a reason we have security protocols for those who deal with sensitive, classified information. Secretary Clinton deliberately flouted those protocols with her personal email arrangement and in doing so threatened the security of classified, Top Secret information. Her apparent obsession with retaining absolute control of her email came at the expense of national security, and that should concern all Americans.”
Representative Roby is a Member of the Select Committee on Benghazi whose investigative efforts have led to Clinton’s exclusive use of personal email for government business being uncovered.
Rep. Roby said, “I realize much has been wiped from this server, but I remain hopeful the Inspectors General and the Select Committee can get to the bottom of this. Given all her previous statements, she certainly has some explaining to do when she appears before the Committee this fall.”
After congressional investigators demanded all the mails Clinton late last year deleted more than 30,000 emails and “wiped” the server housing them. That was more than two years after she stepped down as Secretary of State, leaving a wide gap of time when sensitive, classified information on her system would be vulnerable.
Rep Roby credited the formation of the Select Committee and the hard work of its Chairman – Rep. Trey Gowdy for uncovering this major breach in security protocol. Roby said, “None of this would be possible without the Select Committee being formed or the diligent work of Chairman Gowdy and his investigators toward finding the truth.”
The revelations on her alleged improper handling of classified information have hurt Hillary Clinton in recent polls versus her top Democratic rival for the Presidency, US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). Sen, Sanders has chosen not to attack Secretary Clinton. According to original reporting by NBC News’ Carrie Dann, Sanders said,
“I honestly believe the American people are tired of old-fashioned politics where you’re supposed to be beating up all your opponents. We’re trying to run a campaign which is not negative, but which talks to the needs of middle class and working families, which creates an economy that works for everybody and not a handful of billionaires.” Sanders visited Birmingham last month where he met with a core group of ~400 potential supporters.
Sanders is presently leading Clinton in recent polling in New Hampshire. If Clinton’s campaign continues to stumble many pundits expect that Vice President Joe Biden (D) could enter the contest.
Congresswoman Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
