Media Figures Debunk Flawed NY Times Allegation And Acknowledge Clinton Did Not Violate Federal Regulations

Written by Lis Power

Published

Media figures are acknowledging that Hillary Clinton did not violate federal regulations with her use of personal email, a contrast to The New York Times' initial rush to judgment of possible wrongdoing on Clinton's part that kicked off a media feeding frenzy.

The New York Times Erroneously Charged Clinton's Email Use May Have Broken Laws

NY Times Insinuated That Clinton Broke Law With Use Of Non-Government Email. In a March 2 report, The New York Times insinuated that Hillary Clinton “may have violated federal requirements” through her use of a non-government email address while serving as secretary of state. [The New York Times, 3/2/15] 

Law Overseeing Retention Of Private Emails Was Not Changed Until After Clinton Left The State Department. The Federal Records Act of 1950 was updated in 2014, after Hillary Clinton left the State Department, to clarify responsibilities of government officials using non-government emails. Clinton turned over all work-related emails in line with the State Department's initiative to update its records after the law was clarified. Regulations put forth in 2009 did not establish a deadline for government officials to turn over work related email. [Media Matters, 3/3/15, 3/6/15; National Law Journal, 3/9/15]

Media Figures Acknowledge That No Law Was Broken, In Contrast To NY Times' Rush To Judgment

NBC's Chuck Todd: “We Know She Followed The Letter Of The Law.” On the March 10 edition of MSNBC's MSNBC Live, Chuck Todd, host of NBC's Meet the Press, acknowledged that no law was broken, stating, “we know there are disclosure laws, we know she followed the letter of the law.” [MSNBC, MSNBC Live, 3/10/15]

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell: “Absolutely” Agree That Clinton's Actions Were Legal. During the March 10 edition of MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports, host Mitchell said she “absolutely” agreed with an assertion by her guest James Carville that Clinton's actions were “totally legal.” [MSNBC, Andrea Mitchell Reports, 3/10/15]

Newsweek's Kurt Eichenwald: Clinton Did Not Violate Any Regulation. In a March 10 Newsweek opinion piece, senior writer and former New York Times columnist Kurt Eichenwald lambasted the Times' “weak standards employed to manufacture the scandal du jour,” noting that Clinton did not violate any regulations because the Federal Records Act rules changed after Clinton left office. [Newsweek, 3/10/15]

CNN: “It Doesn't Appear Clinton Violated Federal Laws.” In a March 9 article, CNN reported that “experts have said it doesn't appear Clinton violated federal laws” and explained that Clinton's emails have “become more about bad optics and politics than any actual wrongdoing.” [CNN.com, 3/9/15]