FBI director’s Clinton comment gives ammunition to Nevada Republicans

The FBI’s conclusion Tuesday about Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state didn’t contain any huge surprises.

But FBI Director James Comey’s comment that Clinton was “extremely careless” in her handling of classified emails is already giving ammunition for Republicans in Nevada’s down-ballot races. Whether the ammunition turns into sustainable firepower that sways voters remains to be seen.

Nevada Republicans started to call on Democratic candidates to criticize Hillary Clinton not long after the FBI press conference wrapped up Tuesday. That’s likely only the beginning. Even without recommending an indictment, the FBI statement about Clinton will continue to give Republicans, presidential candidate Donald Trump and GOP-leaning PACs fodder for attack ads, a Nevada political observer said.

“Trump, I think, will keep banging that drum,” said Fred Lokken, a political science professor at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno.

For Republicans, the issue is not going away.

“Hillary Clinton should know better, and the lengths she went to in order to hide her email and lie to the American people should raise serious red flags about her ability to be the president of the United States,” said Greg Bailor, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party, calling it a “clear indictment on Hillary Clinton’s character, honesty and ability to be commander in chief.”

Democrats are pivoting by comparing Clinton to Trump.

In a statement, Nevada State Democratic Party spokesman Stewart Boss said: “As President Obama said earlier today, Hillary Clinton is the most qualified man or woman to ever seek the White House, and she’s the clear choice for voters in November. Meanwhile, Nevada Republicans are stuck with Donald Trump, a thin-skinned bully who has disqualified himself from the White House with his racist rants, sexist insults, extreme views and a failed career in business enriching himself at the expense of working families.”

The two candidates in the state’s U.S. Senate race also gave statements.

U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., called it a “painfully obvious double standard,” pointing to Comey’s comment that individuals often face security or administrative sanctions in similar situations.

“People in lesser positions would have been punished, but she gets to run for president of the United States,” Heck said.

Heck added: “This is entirely consistent with the career of my opponent, Catherine Cortez Masto, who has supported Clinton throughout this criminal investigation. As Nevada’s attorney general, Ms. Cortez Masto abused her power by prosecuting a political opponent for far less, while letting multiple fellow Democrats off with slaps on their wrists. Nevadans are sick and tired of one set of rules for them and another for politicians like Clinton and Cortez Masto.”

Heck’s statement was a reference to Cortez Masto’s 2008 indictment of Brian Krolicki while she was attorney general. Krolicki was accused of mishandling college savings program funds while state treasurer shortly after the Republican announced he might run against U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in 2010. A judge dismissed the case, saying it lacked merit.

Cortez Masto’s campaign spokesman, Zach Hudson, responded by criticizing Heck’s campaign for taking Wall Street donations.

“Congressman Heck is under fire for accepting more than $300,000 from Wall Street after sponsoring a tax break for the big banks, so it’s natural his campaign would try to change the subject,” Hudson said. “The truth is: while Catherine Cortez Masto has spent her career working with Republicans and Democrats to solve problems, Congressman Heck supports Donald Trump for President and has spent half a decade in Washington siding with his party’s leaders against Nevadans.”

Though the Republican attacks on Clinton’s trustworthiness will continue, it’s not a worst-case scenario.

“For the Democrats, the worst nightmare would have been an indictment,” Lokken said.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find @BenBotkin on Twitter.