Lawsuits

Lawsuits are a political weapon.

Lawsuits elevate an accusation--possibly entirely speculative and groundless--into a news story and an area of legitimate question and inquiry.   And lawsuits give people the right to subpoena documents and to require testimony under oath.

Remember back:   Paula Jones' accusation that Bill Clinton had sexually harassed her allowed her lawyers to question Bill Clinton under oath on the entirety of his sexual history relating to female employees, which is what set up the perjury trap.   They asked him questions about Monica Lewinsky.

There are accusations that Hillary Clinton maybe/surely used her position as Secretary of State to enrich the Clinton Foundation.  It is a powerful idea to raise questions about.   That puts the accusation on record as "questionable" behavior.   In politics "questionable" is nearly as good as "proven" and found guilty, and to be "questionable" all that is needed is someone motivated to ask questions.

A new lawsuit by the RNC demands to look at Bill Clinton's email and schedule record for the period when he was a former president.  Surely there will be some emails written or received that will be embarrassing or at least raise questions.  There are some 5,400 pages of records that exist.  Bill Clinton has release a 14 page summary of what they want, which introduces yet another controversy: why won't Bill Clinton release everything, immediately.  He must be hiding something.   The lawsuit gives legitimacy to the demand for opening up what had previously been personal.  Here is a story on the new lawsuit:  Click here for the Politico story.

This one comes on top of a lawsuit by the Sanders people.   Apparently Bill Clinton was politicking too near a Massachusetts polling place, shaking hands and saying nice things about his wife.   The lawsuit demands that the Massachusetts primary election results be voided and Sanders receive the Massachusetts delegates.

Meanwhile, two parents of men who died in Benghazi are suing Hillary Clinton personally, charging that her use of a private email server caused the deaths of their sons and they want damages paid.   This lawsuit is a "wrongful death" suit filed by Lawrence Klayman of Freedom Watch, a conservative legal organization which has been suing the Clintons for years.   Here is a Fox News story:  Breaking News Story on Fox

Clinton controversy exhaustion

People have a right to sue  Clients of lawyers, doctors, financial advisors have a right to file complaints.   The complaint itself goes onto their record, even if it is utterly frivolous.  It is a black mark.   Anyone anytime has a right to sue, and lawsuits become a matter of public record.   In politics, unhappy people have a right to sue and then to go on camera an make a newsworthy assertion.   After all, there is an active lawsuit.  

This is very good strategy for the Republicans.   The Clintons have been in the news for 25 years and they have been subjects of lawsuits repeatedly.   Indeed, Hillary was questioned repeatedly about whether she killed Vince Foster, whether she had help making money in cattle futures, whether there was some deal regarding a failed real estate development called Whitewater, whether she abused power changing venders for a travel office and more recently there were multiple investigations regarding Benghazi.   The voters are exhausted by Hillary being questioned, and questionable behavior is now, once again, put onto the Breaking News clang of the media.

Where there is smoke there is fire.   Maybe.   But what is not in doubt is that legal questions raised of Hillary Clinton is exhausting and tiresome and it raises the voters desire to "move on."   But Hillary can never move on from lawsuits being raised.   The filing of the lawsuits themselves helps make the case that the country needs to press re-set, that Hillary continuity does not just mean the continuity of government. It also means the continuity of endless lawsuits and questions.

If voters feel "Enough, already!!" that is exactly the intent of the lawsuits.  It is ugly politics at its worst, but it is very good political strategy.