Thread: Comey Statement: Will it result in changing the U.S. legal system?

My hope is that we can leave politics out of this thread. I listened to FBI Director Comey's statement on the Clinton email findings (again, don't weigh in on this thread as to whether you support or are against his statement) and wondered the following:

My take away from his statement was that while Clinton was careless in breaching security measures, and did breach security measures her intent was not to breach any security measures and therefore he does not recommend any criminal prosecution.

That part is fascinating to me and I wonder if it may change the face of justice and the legal system in the U.S.?

Here's are examples of what I mean:

Drunk driver is caught recklessly driving; caught because he injured or killed someone. He's proven to have been drunk and driving recklessly, not open for debate. However, what if he in no way intended on injuring or killing another party by his actions? Is a committed illegal act grounds for prosecution or does prosecution hinge on whether the person intended on committing an illegal act? No intent to injure or kill from driving drunk....no prosecution?

If a person exceeds the speed limit in an area they're not familiar with (no intent to speed since they didn't know the speed limit), no ticket?

A person does not properly store pollutants as required and they end up leaking into the ground or water table. The person did not intend for that to happen. No fine?

I actually think the legal system would be more streamlined and much more basic if prosecution was only possible if a person's intent could be proven, but I don't think up until now that it works that way?

In its simplest form, Comey from what I gather was saying this: Clinton broke the law but did not INTEND to break the law so....no prosecution. Could that be the new legal standard? Could this not be used as precedence in future cases on all levels?

I think it's possible to have an exchange in this thread by sticking to legal aspect of this in general terms rather than make this thread about Clinton.

Chris L