Hillary Clinton and Top Aides Defy Federal Court

Government watchdog group Judicial Watch reported startling new developments in the Clinton email saga Friday evening. It appears that Hillary Clinton, Human Abedin, and Cheryl Mills are openly defying a federal judge’s order, and one of the three, according to her attorney, may be preparing to destroy government records.

Judicial Watch reports that the State Department on Friday provided a status report as required by a July 31 federal court order. The order required the State Department to “request that Hillary Clinton and her top State Department aides Human Abedin and Cheryl Mills confirm, under penalty of perjury, that they have produced all government records in their possession, return any other government records immediately, and describe their use of Hillary Clinton’s email server to conduct government business.”

The State Department filing shows that the agency sent the former officials the request and a copy of Judge Sullivan’s order but that both Mills and Abedin, who responded through their attorneys, ignored Judge Sullivan’s request to submit information under penalty of perjury.  The State Department reports that Mrs. Clinton has yet to respond.  Contrary to both Judge Sullivan’s order and the State Department’s request, Ms. Mills’ attorney said that she told Ms. Mills to destroy federal records in her possession on Monday, August 10. Tonight, Judicial Watch filed an urgent response informing Judge Sullivan of this plan to destroy federal records.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement, “Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills are showing contempt for a federal court order.  And now we know that Cheryl Mills may very well destroy federal records as soon as Monday, August 10.  We just alerted Judge Sullivan to this potential destruction of records by Cheryl Mills, who serves as Mrs. Clinton’s lawyer and was her top aide at the State Department.  Why is Mrs. Clinton refusing to confirm, under penalty of perjury, to disclose facts about her email system and to confirm she isn’t withholding federal records?”