FBI agreed to destroy laptops of Clinton aides with immunity deal, lawmaker says

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FBI destroyed laptops of Clinton aides after reviewing


SECRETARY OF STATE
FBI agreed to destroy laptops of Clinton aides with immunity deal, lawmaker says
Published October 03, 2016 . FoxNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/10/03/fbi-agreed-to-destroy-immunized-clinton-aides-laptops-sources-say.html

  "Immunity deals for two top Hillary Clinton aides included a side
   arrangement obliging the FBI to destroy their laptops after reviewing
   the devices, House Judiciary Committee sources told Fox News on Monday.
   
   Sources said the arrangement with former Clinton chief of staff Cheryl
   Mills and ex-campaign staffer Heather Samuelson also limited the search
   to no later than Jan. 31, 2015. This meant investigators could not
   review documents for the period after the email server became public --
   in turn preventing the bureau from discovering if there was any
   evidence of obstruction of justice, sources said. 
   
   The Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee fired off a
   letter Monday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking why the DOJ and
   FBI agreed to the restrictive terms, including that the FBI would
   destroy the laptops after finishing the search.
   
   "Like many things about this case, these new materials raise more
   questions than answers," Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., wrote
   in the letter obtained by Fox News.
   
   "Doesn't the willingness of Ms. Mills and Ms. Samuelson to have their
   laptops destroyed by the FBI contradict their claim that the laptops
   could have been withheld because they contained non-relevant,
   privileged information? If so, doesn't that undermine the claim that
   the side agreements were necessary?" Goodlatte asks.
   
   The immunity deals for Mills and Samuelson, made as part of the FBI's
   probe into Clinton's use of a private email server when she served as
   secretary of state, apparently included a series of "side agreements"
   that were negotiated by Samuelson and Mills' attorney Beth Wilkinson.
   
   The side deals were agreed to on June 10, less than a month before FBI
   Director James Comey announced that the agency would recommend no
   charges be brought against Clinton or her staff.
   
   Judiciary Committee aides told FoxNews.com that the destruction of the
   laptops is particularly troubling as it means that the computers could
   not be used as evidence in future legal proceedings, should new
   information or circumstances arise.
   
   Committee aides also asked why the FBI and DOJ would enter into a
   voluntary negotiation to begin with, when the laptops could be obtained
   condition-free via a subpoena.
   
   The letter also asked why the DOJ agreed to limit their search of the
   laptops to files before Jan. 31, 2015, which would "give up any
   opportunity to find evidence related to the destruction of evidence or
   obstruction of justice related to Secretary Clinton's unauthorized use
   of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State."
   
   Aides expressed shock at the parameter, saying it is especially
   troubling as Mills and Samuelson already had immunity from the
   consequences of whatever might be on the laptop.
   
   "You're essentially extending immunity to everyone," one aide said.
   
   The letter to Lynch sought to determine how many documents were blocked
   from FBI investigators because they fell outside of the date range
   agreed to by the DOJ.
   
   Fox News' Catherine Herridge and FoxNews.com's Adam Shaw contributed to
   this report."