Rasmussen Poll: Most Disagree with Decision Not to Indict Clinton
Most Disagree with Decision Not to Indict Clinton
Wednesday, July 06, 2016
Most voters disagree with FBI Director James Comey’s decision not to seek a criminal indictment of Hillary Clinton.
The FBI concluded that Clinton potentially exposed top secret information to hostile countries when she used a private e-mail server as secretary of State, but Comey announced yesterday that the FBI has decided not to pursue a criminal indictment in this matter. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey – taken last night - finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the FBI’s decision. But 54% disagree and believe the FBI should have sought a criminal indictment of Clinton. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here .)
Sixty-four percent (64%) of Democrats agree with Comey’s decision not to seek an indictment of their party’s presumptive presidential nominee. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Republicans, 63% of voters not affiliated with either major political party and 25% of Democrats disagree with the decision.
Many critics of the FBI’s decision claim that lower-level individuals caught mishandling classified information have been subject to prosecution and severe penalties. But 81% of all voters believe powerful people get preferential treatment when they break the law. Just 10% disagree.
Among those who think powerful people get preferential treatment, 63% disagree with the FBI’s decision not to seek a criminal indictment of Clinton. Ninety percent (90%) of those who do not believe the powerful are treated differently agree with the FBI’s action.
If Clinton had been indicted, however, only 46% of all voters think it would have been possible for her to get a fair trial. Thirty-three percent (33%) say a fair trial would not have been possible, but 21% are not sure.
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 5, 2016 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology .
Voters predicted months ago what the FBI would decide. Sixty-five percent (65%) think it’s likely Clinton broke the law by sending and receiving e-mails containing classified information through a private e-mail server while serving as secretary of State. But just 25% said in January that it was even somewhat likely she would be charged with a felony .
Sixty-two percent (62%) of voters have a favorable opinion of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but that includes only 16% with a Very Favorable one. Twenty-eight percent (28%) share a favorable view of the federal agency, with 11% who see it Very Favorably.
Eighty-two percent (82%) of voters who agree with the Clinton decision have a favorable opinion of the FBI, compared to just 49% of those who disagree.
Men and those 40 and over are more likely to disagree with the Clinton decision than women and younger voters are. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of blacks agree with the FBI’s decision not to pursue a criminal indictment against Clinton; 57% of whites and 60% of other minority voters disagree.
Sixty-four percent (64%) of political liberals agree with the decision not to go after Clinton on criminal charges. Seventy-five percent (75%) of conservatives and 53% of moderates disagree with that decision.
Those who agree with the decision not to seek an indictment are much more doubtful that Clinton could have received a fair trial.
But sizable majorities across nearly every demographic category agree that powerful people get preferential treatment when they break the law.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of Democrats – and 50% of all voters – said in late May that Clinton should keep running for the presidency even if indicted – until a court determines her guilt or innocence. Just 30% of voters give Clinton good or excellent marks for her handling of questions about her use of the private e-mail server while secretary of State. Forty-nine percent (49%) rate her performance as poor.
Fifty-four percent (54%) said earlier this year that the Justice Department should name an independent prosecutor to decide whether criminal charges should be brought against Clinton . Thirty-three percent (33%) disagreed, while 13% were undecided.
Following the release last week of the final report by the special congressional committee investigating the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, 49% of voters believe Clinton lied to the families of those killed in Benghazi about the cause of their deaths.
Even prior to the FBI’s announcement yesterday, Republicans had a lot more confidence in Donald Trump’s honesty than Democrats do in Clinton's .
Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.
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Wow only 64% of Democrats agree with the decision not to indict Clinton. Trouble for Clinton? It appears aprx 36% of her core base don't have their head up their ass anymore.
I think Clinton's biggest problem is that 36% of democrats don't consider themselves part of her core base.
Like I said, 36% seem to have pulled their head out of their ass. LOL!
From what I experience, a similar percentage of republicans feel the same way about Trump. My goal is to convince as many of these sane people as possible, on both sides, to not stay home on election day, and to vote Green or Libertarian. I've had a great deal of success so far, just have to keep an eye out for "backsliders".
I will be voting Libertarian.
The only thing that matters right now is that Donald Trump still has a chance to be president. That disgusting thought will rally the Democrats.
Actually, a larger percentage of Trump voters support him simply to stop Hillary then vice versa. A substantial number of democrats actually support an incompetent liar.
Actually here are the numbers done just 3 days ago
...and yet most will still play the game the way the duopoly wants them to.
Gunny, I bet this is the one.
The way I did it. At the top of the screen where she is looking at the YouTube video is what is called the address bar. That is the link of the screen you are on at that time. Left click down in the screen where nothing happens (not live) and then left click in the address bar. It will turn blue. Keep your cursor in the blue and right click while it is blue. Choose "Copy" and then go back to your comment. Left click once in your comment and then right click. Choose "Paste". Then click on "Post Your Comment". Mind you the last time I showed someone to do that, she was an ate up Liberal and she beat it up with YouTube videos. LOL
Here's another one.
The young lady in the bottom video appealed to Donald Trump's integrity. I couldn't stop laughing long enough to truly admire her ample bosom.
Although I know I should mind my own business, I truly pity you Americans for having to choose between a crook and an idiot to be your next POTUS, but IMO either one would be a relief from what you've had to bear for the past 8 years. Forget the independent candidates, your system won't realistically work when most of the electorate is made up of polarized "feet in concrete - brains in absentia" Republicans and Democrats. Your convoluted electoral system is enough to confuse anyone - electoral college, superdelegates - does it work for you?