Troops using 'Clinton defense' in classified information cases

By Kristina Wong - 08/20/16 09:07 AM EDT

Lawyers for troops facing charges of mishandling classified information are using the “Clinton defense” to argue for leniency.

A lawyer for a 29-year-old sailor facing a felony charge for taking and keeping six photos of a submarine's propulsion system cited Hillary Clinton's mishandling of classified information this week to argue he should get probation instead of jail time.

In the case, Petty Officer 1st Class Kristian Saucier was facing up to 78 months in prison for his conviction on mishandling information. But a federal judge on Friday sentenced him to 12 months instead, as well as six months of low-level home confinement, three years post-release supervision and 100 hours of community service.

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