The Morning Briefing: Say What? 'Multiple Security Incidents' Involved with Hillary Homebrewed Email Setup

Good Tuesday morning.

Here is what’s on the president’s agenda today:

The president receives his intelligence briefing
President Trump delivers remarks at Trump Victory Reception
The president delivers remarks at Make America Great Again Rally

State Department finds some security “incidents” with Hillary Clinton’s homebrewed email server

The State Department revealed Monday that it has identified “multiple security incidents” involving current or former employees’ handling of Hillary Clinton’s emails, and that 23 “violations” and seven “infractions” have been issued as part of the department’s ongoing investigation.

The information came in a letter to Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, who is responsible for overseeing the security review.

“To this point, the Department has assessed culpability to 15 individuals, some of whom were culpable in multiple security incidents,” Mary Elizabeth Taylor, the State Department’s assistant secretary in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, wrote to Grassley. “DS has issued 23 violations and 7 infractions incidents. … This number will likely change as the review progresses.”

Wow, guys, I’m shook. I was told that it is perfectly acceptable to set up a homebrewed email server with the same security protection as a mid-90s Hotmail account to manage highly classified communications to skirt government reporting and archiving requirements. I was told that its not criminal to transmit and print out highly classified information, even if one is briefed on and signed off on the protocol for handling classified information and material. And furthermore, I was told that it was no big deal (quick. squirrel!) that President Obama knew about and engaged with these unsecured communications.

“Given the volume of emails provided to the Department from former Secretary Clinton’s private email server, the Department’s process has been necessarily more complicated and complex requiring a significant dedication of time and resources,” Taylor wrote.

At least Clinton’s server wasn’t hacked by any malign powers. Oh, wait:

The document release revealed numerous episodes in which the Clinton team either suspected it had been hacked or seemingly acknowledged that security measures had come up short.

“omg,” top Clinton aide Huma Abedin wrote to Justin Cooper, the technology pro overseeing Clinton’s private home-based email servers, when he told her shortly after midnight on Jan. 9, 2011, that “someone was trying to hack us.”

The State Department has not released the identity of those current and former employees but indicated there may be more than the 15 identified. They should immediately release the names since it’s perfectly acceptable in the new normal to reveal the identities of people who are suspected of crimes but not charged or indicted.

Let’s see what happens.

Trump tweets: ICE to remove ‘millions of illegal aliens’ next week

President Trump tweeted yesterday that Immigration and Border Protection Services will:

Next week ICE will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States. They will be removed as fast as they come in. Mexico, using their strong immigration laws, is doing a very good job of stopping people…….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2019

Yesterday the State Department said it would freeze $185 million in aid to El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala “until the department is satisfied the Northern Triangle countries are taking concrete actions to reduce the number of migrants.”

1,000 troops heading to Middle East

In response to the Iranian attack on two oil tankers, the U.S. is sending 1,000 troops to the Middle East, acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan announced. He said the troops would be used for “defensive purposes to address air, naval and ground-based threats in the Middle East.”

“The recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behavior by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten United States personnel and interests across the region,” Shanahan said.

“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. The action today is being taken to ensure the safety and welfare of our military personnel working throughout the region and to protect our national interests,” Shanahan said in the statement.

“We will continue to monitor the situation diligently and make adjustments to force levels as necessary given intelligence reporting and credible threats,” he added.

Other morsels:

CA Pension Fund Faces Crisis After Shunning Guns, Tobacco

New York latest state to approve driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants

San Francisco PD sued for discrimination… against white men

It wasn’t the double homicide. Washington Post Opinion: The Bronco chase showed whites had ‘conditional’ comfort with black athletes

Trump ABC interview with Stephanopoulos finishes third in time slot

Buttigieg off campaign trail until at least Wednesday after fatal shooting in South Bend

Justice Department intervenes, keeps Manafort from being sent to Rikers Island: report

Libyan National Found Guilty Of Terrorism Charges In Attacks On US Embassy In Benghazi

Eric Swalwell proposes Australia-style gun buyback program

Florida man says he had sex with stolen pool toys instead of raping women

Tennessee man arrested after police say human torso found in car: report