Elections

Emails: Hillary Staffers Willing To Target Rand Paul’s Family To Protect Clintons

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Font Size:

Leaked emails between Hillary Clinton campaign staffers showed a willingness to target Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s family if it meant protecting the Clintons.

One Clinton staffer remarked on Paul’s unwillingness to comment on his 22-year-old son’s DUI, suggesting it could be used the next time Paul “attacks someone in [Hillary]’s family.”

Paul has been a stern critic of Bill Clinton’s treatment of women and has referred to the former president as a sexual predator.

After Rand Paul’s 22-year-old son William was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol in May of 2015, the Clinton campaign appeared ready to use that information to hit back at Paul if they felt it was needed.

Clinton spokesman Josh Schwerin blasted out to the campaign’s rapid response team an AP story with the headline “Son of Presidential Candidate Cited for DUI After Crash.” The story noted William was never arrested.

“Worthwhile nugget to save next time he attacks someone in HRC’s family,” said Clinton spokesman Jesse Ferguson, noting a quote from the story that said, “A campaign spokesman said Sen. Rand Paul does not comment on any private matters in regards to his family.”

In addition to calling Bill Clinton a predator who must be disowned by Democrats, Rand Paul has criticized the former president for his criminal justice policies, claiming he put a “generation” of black men in jail. (RELATED: Rand Paul: Democrats Should ‘Disown’ Bill Clinton For Being A ‘Sexual Predator’)

After Ferguson’s comment, the email chain continued with Clinton adviser Karen Finney saying it “Seems odd that his son was cited and not arrested given how tough Kentucky’s laws are.” Coverage of the incident at the time noted that this was standard practice in Kentucky.

Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson