Originally Posted: June 7, 2016
Texas Senator John Cornyn is taking the next step in the scandal surrounding Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
On Capitol Hill Thursday, the Republican Senator introduced a bill that if passed, would revoke the security clearance of the presumptive Democratic nominee and anyone else found to have acted extremely carelessly with classified information.
That’s how FBI Director James Comey described Mrs. Clinton’s actions while Secretary of State.
Cornyn said, “It’s really important that we send a firm message. I think that should mean at minimum that they forfeit the privilege of having a security clearance.”
Colby Volkey, a retired Lt. Col. and Judge Advocate for the U.S. Marines for 13 years, prosecuted and defended officers accused of mishandling classified information.
He agrees with that Mrs. Clinton should face a hearing to determine whether her security clearance should be taken away.
“That is fair,” said Volkey. “She’s facing the possible ramifications that every member of the military does if they do the same thing.”
Volkey says Mrs. Clinton, like members of the military, would go before an administrative law judge from a National Security agency.
He says that process took up to a year for his past clients, but would obviously take place much quicker for the former Secretary of State.
Until then, Volkey says she could also be sanctioned. “There can be a notice given that we’re suspending your access to classified information so she can’t look at stuff while they’re sorting this out.”
But SMU Political Science professor Matthew Wilson predicts the Obama administration wouldn’t allow that.
“But if it were to happen, I think symbolically, it would be a huge slap in the face,” said Wilson. “It would be really hard to run for the Presidency of the United States while the government has already decided you’re not trustworthy with confidential information.”
Senator Cornyn has also sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch demanding the Justice Department release the report and any transcript from the FBI’s interview with Mrs. Clinton.
On Thursday, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton’s campaign said Republican efforts to keep this issue alive would backfire.
Republicans disagree. READ MORE