Abedin reportedly not on campaign plane, fueling speculation on future with Clinton
Hillary Clinton’s closest and most-trusted adviser is on the hot seat after finding herself thrust back into the email scandals that have plagued her boss’ run for the White House — and the fact that she didn’t join the Democratic nominee yesterday is fueling speculation that the campaign is moving to distance itself from her.
“I wonder, is she going to keep Huma?” Donald Trump asked yesterday during a campaign rally in Golden, Colo., referring to embattled top Clinton aide Huma Abedin. “Huma’s been a problem … I wonder if Huma is going to stay there and I hope they haven’t given Huma immunity because she knows the real story — she knows what’s going on.”
Abedin, who two months ago left her scandal-plagued husband, Anthony Weiner, was roped into the latest political snake pit when the FBI started scrubbing emails related to Clinton’s investigation that they reportedly found on a family laptop of Abedin and Weiner. She wasn’t on the Clinton campaign plane yesterday, according to reports.
Trump also questioned why Clinton would keep Abedin on her staff after all of the scandals stemming from her husband’s infidelities.
“How can you have all of this incredible confidential, secret information and have your top person married to this guy?” Trump asked. “Everyone said one thing has nothing to do with another — well, it turns out it does.”
But Democratic strategists said it’s unlikely that Clinton will part ways with Abedin and predicted the trusted adviser — who has the shared bond of having had to defend her husband’s sex scandals — will wield a lot of clout in her administration should the campaign withstand the latest bombshell.
“I think Trump loves speculating about things that are never going to happen,” Democratic strategist Scott Ferson said. “I think if there’s a concern, it’s that Hillary Clinton maintains a Praetorian Guard around herself and isn’t expansive … You also need to hear other voices — and I think that’s where the deficit is.”
Massachusetts Democratic Party chairman Philip Johnston described Abedin as “a brilliant, talented, loyal person who has the total confidence of Hillary Clinton.”
“She has handled herself very well for many years — under sometimes very difficult circumstance. She’s a very admirable woman,” Johnston added. “I’ve always felt she plays an important role that is both good for her boss and for the country.”