by J.D. Durkin | MEDIAITE
According to sources that are familiar with the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton‘s use of a private email server, the former Secretary of State is not expected to face charges in the probe.
This, according to CNN’s Senior Producer Edward Mejia Davis, who took to Twitter shortly ago to indicate the likely announcement of “no charges”:
Sources tell CNN's Evan Perez: expectation is that there will be announcement of no charges in Clinton email probe w/in next two weeks or so
— Los Angeles Lawyer (@AnLALawyer) July 2, 2016
During an unexpected interview hit on MSNBC this evening withChuck Todd, Clinton herself was asked about the reports that she would not face charges. “As we were talking, there are news reporters that indicate no charges may be brought against you and a final decision in a couple weeks,” said Todd in the waning seconds of the hit.
“Chuck I am not going to comment on the process. I have no knowledge of any timeline. This is entirely up to the Department,” said Clinton, who voluntarily sat with the FBI this morning for 3.5 hours as part of their final stage of the investigation into the possible violation of the law and the handling of classified material.
However, not everyone is so sure.
During an exchange on the topic moments ago, conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt responded to me directly with his skepticism about the “all clear” at this point of the process:
That "source" would have had to have been in this AM's interview if only for 18 USC 1001 purposes. They called Evan? https://t.co/Fp37aeioWF
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) July 2, 2016
1. No. I meant False Statements Act. @CNN source could not know what she said in interview unless source was there https://t.co/C3jw6lcdZJ
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) July 2, 2016
2. So while 18 USC 1924 is underlying issue, any "source" would have to have been in meeting to know if https://t.co/C3jw6lcdZJ
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) July 2, 2016
3. 18 USC 1001 was violated. Time will tell. I'm just skeptical of any source telling people all is clear for https://t.co/C3jw6lcdZJ
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) July 2, 2016
4. @HillaryClinton It may turn out to be, but no one who knows is talking and anyone talking doesn't know.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) July 2, 2016
Even the Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump heard the reports, and unsurprisingly got ahead of the story with his immediate response:
It was just announced-by sources-that no charges will be brought against Crooked Hillary Clinton. Like I said, the system is totally rigged!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2016
Yesterday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that she would be welcoming the recommendation from the FBI and bureau directorJames Comey about the findings of the investigation. The FBI’s last step was to interview Clinton directly, though no time frame has been revealed as to when the findings would be made public or passed along to the Justice Department. While Republicans have sought to drag this story out into the news cycles surrounding the 2016 Presidential campaign cycle, Democrats are hoping for an expedited end to the investigation, just weeks ahead of the party’s national convention in Philadelphia.