Fully 69% of those following the Hillary Clinton email scandal want the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor to determine whether she mishandled classified information on the private email account she used while secretary of state, according to the latest IBD/TIPP Poll.
That finding comes just as the State Department released a new batch of Clinton's emails on Friday. The poll was taken in the wake of recent revelations that some of Clinton's emails contained classified information, despite repeated claims to the contrary by the Democratic presidential candidate. Two inspectors general asked the Justice Department to launch an investigation into the matter.
In a July 23 letter to Richard Burr and other Senate Intelligence Committee members, the IG for the Intelligence Community, Charles McCullough, said, "There are potentially hundreds of classified emails within the approximately 30,000 provided by former Secretary Clinton." He noted, "My office's limited sampling identified four emails containing classified IC (intelligence community) information."
However, the poll question was asked before the revelation that Clinton's emails contained classified information from as many as five separate U.S. intelligence agencies. Nearly two-thirds of those polled (63%) say that they are closely following the Clinton email story.
Not surprisingly, support for a special prosecutor was stronger among Republicans (89%) than Democrats (39%), but a shockingly high 76% of independents want Justice to take this move.
And support for a special prosecutor is overwhelming across age, income, geographic, education and other groups. Fully 83% of those 18-24, for example, back a special prosecutor, as do 61% of those 65 and older.
Clinton's use of a private email server in her New York home to handle all her official State Department emails — which came to light in the spring — has continued damage to her campaign as more details emerge.
Politico this week reported on the fact that two months' worth of her emails — from the spring of 2012 when violence in Benghazi was starting to erupt — appear to be missing.
The State Department on Friday released another batch of about 1,300 emails that Clinton sent while secretary of state.
Other IBD/TIPP Poll findings:
President Obama's approval rating dropped from 47% in last month's poll to 43% now.
Just 39% say that Obama is overall doing a good job as president, down from 44%.
The share who say that the country is headed in the right direction overall took a nose dive, dropping to 39% from last month's 45%.
Of those who are following the Kate Steinle murder in San Francisco, 78% support Kate's Law, which would make jail time mandatory for convicted felons who return to the U.S. illegally after being deported. Steinle was shot by a Mexican illegal with seven felony convictions who had been deported five times.
More than half the public (53%) opposes the Obama administration's nuclear arms agreement with Iran and wants Congress to vote it down. Six in 10 Americans don't think the agreement will stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Donald Trump's unfavorable rating is 54%, but half the public says that it's refreshing to have a politician who "speaks honestly and candidly about issues."
The IBD/TIPP Poll of 905 people was conducted July 25-30.
