Last month I promised myself that I wouldn’t write in July about the election, even though the Republican and Democratic conventions would occur this month.

What I couldn’t know was that the director of the FBI would announce that he would not recommend prosecution of Hillary Clinton for improper storage of classified information.

That was followed the next day by the attorney general, who announced she wouldn’t prefer charges, and Director Comey’s testimony before the House a day later in that very busy week. It’s my understanding that gross negligence is a reason to charge under the relevant law, so I don’t understand his legal reasoning.

Why did the director of the FBI give a detailed explanation of the reason not to indict, but the attorney general refused? The decision to indict or not is hers, not his.

O.K., so she won’t be prosecuted; I refuse to beat a dead horse. Consider this, if she were applying for a very demanding job that would call for life-and-death decisions, would or should she be hired after displaying such terrible judgment? What kind of Secretary of State would use an unsecured email server in her basement for all her official e-mail correspondence? Before announcing that he wouldn’t recommend indictment to the DOJ, Comey confirmed that she lied these past months numerous times.

On July 7, Comey exposed Clinton’s lies about her email set-up one-by-one.

Yes, there were emails sent and received that were classified when sent or received.

Yes, Clinton had multiple hand-held devices.

Yes, there were e-mails marked classified on her server.

Yes, the FBI found traces of work-related emails that were not forwarded to the State Department.

No, her lawyers did not err on the side of being inclusive when searching for work-related emails to return to the State Department.

The FBI director stated that it was probable that her emails were hacked by sophisticated hackers.

Clinton even used her unsecured system in Russia and China where her communications system was most vulnerable. These were new revelations beyond the old news like the fact she had many emails on her server that were so highly classified members of Congress couldn’t read them. The irony is that congressmen couldn’t read messages that enemies of the United States likely had read — years ago.

The most laudatory thing that Comey said about Clinton was that she apparently wasn’t very sophisticated about the security of computer correspondence. He didn’t say in so many words that Hillary Clinton is incompetent. What other explanation can a reasonable person take away from his briefing and testimony?

If she is not incompetent, then she is, in the words of William Safire, a congenital liar.

Before Democrats break out the champagne with the announcement that Clinton won’t be prosecuted for the improper handling of classified information, remember that Comey refused to answer any questions about whether the FBI is investigating the Clinton Foundation. During the Congressional hearing, various congressmen asked why Clinton’s now obvious lies to Congress weren’t investigated. Comey said he needed a referral (incorrect). My guess is that a referral for lying under oath to Congress is now at the FBI. Put away the funny hats and the balloons until the convention. It’s too early in July.

So what comes next? Donald Trump received the nomination of the Republican Party. Hillary Clinton will receive the nomination of the Democrat Party next.

In about four months, voters must choose between these two horrible choices.

I don’t know what I’ll do. I won’t vote for Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Trump.

My decision will not be affected by the running mate on either ticket. I may write in the name of someone whom I do admire.

Speaker Paul Ryan, are you ready?

 

Michael Waldron is a retired lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army, who was born and raised in Niles. He previously served on the Niles Community School Board of Education. He can be reached at ml.waldron@sbcglobal.net.