BY FRANK CAMP
Independent Journal
Getty – Joe Raedle / Staff / Court Documents / U.S. Navy
Friday, U.S. Navy Officer Kristian Saucier was sentenced to one year in prison, with an additional six months of house arrest and three years of “supervised release” for taking photos inside a nuclear submarine in 2009. In addition, Saucier will pay a $100 fine, participate in 100 hours of community service, and he will no longer be able to own firearms.
Although Saucier plead guilty in May to “retaining national defense information without permission,” according to Politico, his attorney attempted a unique defense strategy to lighten his sentence.
Saucier’s crime pertained to section 793(e) of the U.S. penal code, which is part of the Espionage Act. While under investigation by the FBI, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was being scrutinized for a potential violation of nearly the same thing–section 793(f) of the Espionage Act.
Saucier’s attorney, Derrick Hogan, argued that the precedent set by the outcome of Hillary Clinton’s case should be applied to his client:
“Democratic Presidential Candidate and former Secretary of State Hilary [sic] Clinton…has come under scrutiny for engaging in acts similar to Mr. Saucier…
In our case, Mr. Saucier possessed six (6) photographs classified as ‘confidential/restricted,’ far less than Clinton’s 110 emails. It will be unjust and unfair for Mr. Saucier to receive any sentence other than probation for a crime those more powerful than him will likely avoid.”
It’s impossible to know whether the argument held any weight in the sentencing process, however, The Washington Times reports that Saucier’s legal team “believe invoking the so-called ‘Clinton defense’ may have helped their client avoid additional time behind bars.”
It’s certainly a possibility, as Kristian Saucier escaped a possible prison sentence of up to ten years, and instead, will be serving just one.
According to The Daily Mail, despite saying he was “pleased” with the outcome, one of Saucier’s layers, Greg Rinckey, said what his client did was simply “a foolish mistake by a very young man,” and that it’s not indicative of “his true character.”
Saucier will begin his year-long prison sentence on October 12.
Hillary Clinton is unlikely to face any charges related to her email scandal