If I had treated classified information the way Hillary Clinton did, I would be going to jail. She may get out of this, despite what is clear evidence of wrongdoing to an objective observer, says Jim Jatras, former US diplomat and GOP Senate policy adviser.

US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton was interviewed by the FBI over her use of a private e-mail server for government affairs.

The former Secretary of State's attitude towards security has been branded careless and even ridiculed. But while Hillary Clinton tried to laugh off the scandal, it has been gaining more and more serious attention ahead of the presidential election.

RT: Why do you think former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was interviewed just before July 4 by the FBI?

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Jim Jatras: I think she had really no choice. She did it voluntarily only in the sense that if she had not talked to FBI, she would have been subpoenaed and been required to talk to the FBI. So, she was coming in with really very little choice except to have this discussion with them. And by all accounts this is happening near the end of the investigation when they have all the information they need and can compare her answers with what they already know.

RT: What is your stance on Bill Clinton’s meeting with US Attorney General Loretta Lynch at Phoenix, Arizona’s Sky Harbor Airport? Was it related to the FBI email probe?

JJ: I don’t think there is a human being on the planet who believes that Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch spent a half hour talking about grandchildren and golf. The accounts we’ve seen are that Clinton delayed his departure from the airport so he could be there when her plane was available. If she had any sense, she would have said: 'Sorry, Mr. President, I cannot talk with you.' Instead she allows him to come onto her plane and to have this discussion for an extended period. She tried to do some damage control by saying 'I will accept the FBI’s findings'… which gives her some wiggle room. It doesn’t necessarily say she will follow those findings. This has been read radically different by different people. Some people read this that Obama and Lynch are going to throw Hillary under the bus. Other people read this that the fix is already in, that they would not have indicated they would follow the FBI recommendations if they did not have reason to believe this would come back in a way that does not destroy Hillary Clinton.

READ MORE: FBI director on Clinton probe: Thousands of emails not turned over, case to be sent to DOJ

RT: Is this FBI investigation so important concerning Hillary Clinton’s competence and qualifications to become US president?

JJ: I am a former government official. If I had treated classified information the way she did - even without intending harm - I’d be going to jail. That is one issue that needs to be faced. The second one is, does she misrepresent anything to the FBI; people get tripped up, essentially lying to the authorities about things that they know are not true. And thirdly, is the question of what’s in the emails. Whether there is indication of corruption in the sense of contributions to the Clinton foundation or trading favors - these massive speaking fees to her husband while she was Secretary of State - and favors to foreign governments. So, there is a lot that could come out here if the FBI is really doing its job.

President Obama makes his campaign trail debut with Hillary Clinton today https://t.co/05qzbc0bf4pic.twitter.com/XvwbTTUbne — CNN (@CNN) July 5, 2016

RT: How will this affect Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign?

JJ: If you look at the entire history of the Clinton family – whether we are talking about Bill or Hillary - they essentially believe they are above the law and have managed to get treated that they are above law and not held accountable for their actions. She obviously thinks she can beat this and she may be right because if she is being protected by President Obama and Attorney General Lynch, she may very well get out of this, despite what is clear evidence of wrongdoing to any objective observer.