FBI/CLINTON UPDATE – AT 12:36 P.M. ET:  Hillary Clinton was interviewed by the FBI today.  From AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton has been interviewed Saturday by the FBI about her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.

Clinton campaign spokesman Nick Merrill says in a statement the voluntary interview with federal agents took place Saturday.

The interview was not unexpected and does not suggest that Clinton or anyone else is likely to face prosecution. Legal experts view criminal prosecution as exceedingly unlikely. The interview may indicate that the Justice Department's yearlong probe is drawing to a close.

Still, it's awkward for Democrats to have FBI agents question Clinton mere weeks before their party formally nominates her for president.

COMMENT:  I'd be awfully careful about assuming there'll be no criminal prosecution.  It's unlikely that the FBI has gone on a year-long fishing expedition.

Indeed, if there's no criminal prosecution, the optics can still be extremely negative.  People might logically ask, "How did she get away with it?"

Also, in the absence of a criminal indictment, there could still be a scathing report on Clinton's behavior, her judgment, her presumed negligence while secretary of state.

And remember, the Clinton foundation, as we've noted, is still under investigation.

July 2, 2016