Letter: Clinton’s email certainly an issue

I must respond to the the chairman of the Beaufort County Democratic Party who called Hillary Clinton’s emails on her private server a non-issue and big lie. He accused Republicans of employing a lie “that began in the McCarthy era of the early 1950s.”

Obviously, this line of thought is not the position of the FBI, which is conducting an investigation to see if she should be indicted or exonerated.

The article further stated, “Clinton has indicated none of the emails on her personal account were marked as classified when received” or forwarded. Thus, “it was not Clinton’s responsibility to make certain they were properly classified.” It is my understanding classification is based on content, not markings, and Clinton, therefore, did have a responsibility to handle and process the emails accordingly.

The State Department recently announced that seven email chains found in 22 of Clinton’s emails would be withheld in full as they contained information too sensitive to release. That undercuts claims that none of the emails were classified when they “hit” Clinton’s personal server.

I believe it prudent for all parties to withhold judgment on this very important matter pending the FBI findings and recommendations.

This story was originally published March 20, 2016 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Letter: Clinton’s email certainly an issue."