MSNBC's Morning Joe reacted Friday to the New York Times report that two inspectors general have asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into whether Hillary Clinton mishandled classified information as secretary of state.
Director of the Earth Institute Dr. Jeffery Sachs said the possibility of a criminal investigation into Clinton's private email fuels the narrative that she's dishonest.
"This was a dumb thing for her to have done," Sachs said. "It feeds into a kind of narrative she can't quite be trusted. I think it's not smart. It is a problem."
Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough said the possible criminal investigation reminded him of the Clintons’ work on relief operations.
"It’s just so messy. It’s just so sloppy," Scarborough said. "There was always an angle. Even in relief operations in the most horrific circumstances. There was always an angle. And money was always part of that angle."
"Well, fast and loose. It’s not good. That’s a sense and image and this, of course, bolsters that," Sachs said.
Scarborough said the two huge stories of the Clinton campaign this week are her poor poll numbers and the possible criminal investigation into her private email use.
"The two big stories this week of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, one, the horrific polls in the swing states and the fact she's 20 points upside down even if they did skew three or four points Republican," Scarborough said. "And now, two, these inspectors generals, not right-wingers, but these inspectors generals coming out suggesting that a criminal investigation be looked into and possibly launched."
Bloomberg’s Mark Halperin said the possible investigation into Clinton is a significant one.
"On Hillary Clinton, Michael’s story is significant," Halperin said. "Obviously the notion of a criminal probe, there is the question of what laws might be violated and what some people are saying is the reason the Clinton campaign pushed for the change is maybe Hillary Clinton didn't initiate emailing of classified information."