In Uncharacteristic Statement, Trump Slams FBI Decision On Clinton Emails

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at Saint Anselm College Monday, June 13, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
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Donald Trump released a statement Tuesday condemning the FBI’s decision not to recommend charges against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state.

While Trump had previously tweeted his reaction to the decision, his written statement was more considered and crafted, like a typical candidate statement. He focused in the statement on what he called a “rigged system” in which Clinton was above the law.

“But because of our rigged system that holds the American people to one standard and people like Hillary Clinton to another, it does not look like she will be facing the criminal charges that she deserves,” Trump said.

He also brought up the controversial meeting between Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former President Bill Clinton last week on a tarmac in Houston and questioned the timing of the FBI’s announcement.

“Hillary Clinton didn’t accidentally sneak into the FBI during one of the country’s biggest holiday weekends to testify on her illegal activities, something that wouldn’t be afforded to others under investigation (and on a Saturday of all days),” Trump said. “It was no accident that charges were not recommended against Hillary the exact same day as President Obama campaigns with her for the first time.”

Despite the fact that the Comey announcement signaled the end of the criminal investigation, Trump gave every indication that he would continue to flog the issue.

“The normal punishment, in this case, would include losing authority to handle classified information, and that too disqualifies Hillary Clinton from being President,” the statement concluded. “The final jury will be the American people, and they will issue the verdict on her corruption, incompetence, and bad judgment on November 8th.”

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