Hillary Clinton has escaped criminal charges over the use of her private email server while secretary of state. This clears a major legal threat to her presidential bid, as Barack Obama joins the campaign trail.
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FBI Director James Comey said Tuesday that although the investigation revealed "extremely careless" behavior on the part of Clinton and her aides in the handling of sensitive information, the agency ultimately concluded that "no charges are appropriate."
Comey told a news conference that the FBI found 110 emails containing classified information were sent or received on Clinton's server. He added that it was possible foreign governments spied on the contents of some messages, but that investigators had found no "direct evidence" the system was breached.
"Any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton's position or those with whom she was corresponding should have known the system was no place for those conversations," Comey said.
Within hours of the announcement, US President Barack Obama made a joint appearance with Clinton in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of several joint high-profile events intended to boost her chances against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in the race for the White House.
"I'm here today because I believe in Hillary Clinton," Obama told the fired-up crowd.
"There has never been any man or woman more qualified for this office. Ever!" Obama said, adding that "the other side's (Trump) got nothing to offer you."
Thorough probe
The FBI has been investigating whether Clinton broke the law by using a personal email server kept in her Chappaqua, New York, home while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.
The yearlong probe has dogged Clinton's campaignImage: Reuters/K. Lamarque
Comey said that after thoroughly reviewing the findings, he believed Clinton had not intended to violate laws and that "no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case."
Republicans have sought to use the email controversy to question Clinton's judgment as she runs for president. And although Tuesday's announcement lifts a legal hurdle for Clinton's campaign, it is unlikely to erase concerns some voters have about her trustworthiness.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump slammed the decision, saying the "system is rigged."
"Very very unfair! As usual, bad judgment," Trump wrote on Twitter soon after Comey's announcement. "FBI director said Crooked Hillary compromised our national security. No charges. Wow!"
Attorney General Loretta Lynch said last week that she would accept the recommendations of the FBI director and of career prosecutors, meaning that Comey's decision almost certainly removes the threat of criminal charges.
Hillary Clinton's running mate should square the circle. Required is the gravitas to be vice president. But he or she should also give her a boost in a key state or with a key constituency and appeal to progressives.
Image: Getty Images/D. Angerer
Elizabeth Warren
The senator from Massachusetts is the darling of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. The former Harvard law scholar is a passionate voice on economic justice and consumer rights issues. She has also shown herself to be an outspoken surrogate for Hillary Clinton willing to go-head-to-head with Donald Trump. By selecting Warren, Clinton would opt for an historic all-female ticket.
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Tim Kaine
The former governor and current senator of Virginia is considered the safe, if somewhat uninspired choice for a running mate. Kaine has several assets and one downside: He represents a swing state, speaks fluent Spanish and boasts extensive political experience. But like Clinton herself, Kaine would be a clear establishment choice in an election rife with anti-establishment fervor.
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Julian Castro
Seen by many as the future of the Democratic Party, Julian Castro would be the first Hispanic candidate on a presidential ticket of either of the two major parties. The youthful former mayor of San Antonio in Texas is currently Barack Obama's housing and urban development secretary. A graduate of both Stanford and Harvard, Castro has been a strong proponent for same-sex marriage.
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Sherrod Brown
A liberal Democrat from Ohio, Brown has been representing the swing-state in Washington since 1993. A vocal opponent of international trade agreements and strong supporter of his state's industrial base, he could help Clinton win over an important constituency: white workers. But choosing Brown would lead to a vacancy in the Senate which would likely be filled by a Republican.
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Cory Booker
A former mayor and current senator from New Jersey, Booker could help Clinton energize a key Democratic constituency: African-American voters. With his progressive leanings on social issues coupled with his more conservative stance on economic affairs, he offers something for both wings of his party. Unusual for a senator, Booker, with more than 1 million followers, is a Twitter celebrity.
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Xavier Becerra
The chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the US House of Representatives is the Democratic Party's highest ranking Latino and a strong advocate of immigration reform. Becerra, who hails from California and is fully bilingual, serves as an important link to the Hispanic community. He has been a strong Clinton supporter, but his progressive leanings could make him acceptable to Sanders' supporters.
