Yesterday the Inspector General of the State Department harshly criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for conducting federal business on her private email system.

Steven Linick went on to say that Mrs. Clinton did not seek permission to circumvent the rules but, most damning of all, the IG reports that Hillary Clinton refused to talk to him about the violations.

Each federal agency has an Inspector General who is in charge of investigating alleged wrongdoing.

Now this is a major development because the FBI is investigating Secretary Clinton for possible criminal wrongdoing and Linick provides motive.

His report says Mrs. Clinton refused to use government email because she feared that some of her correspondence might be made public.

Reaction to the story came quickly:

REPORTER VOICEOVER: “Overnight Clinton’s first response to that report, telling Univision her emails won’t be an issue.”

CLINTON: “It’s the same story (EDIT) and it’s not an issue that’s going to affect either the campaign or my presidency.”

((EDIT))

TRUMP: “She's as crooked as they come, she had a little bad news today as you know from some reports came down, weren't so good.  But, not so good.  The inspector general’s report, not good.”

And at the State Department itself there was this:

MARK TONER, DEPUTY STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: “I do know that there were hack attempts but none of them were successful.”

QUESTION: “How do you know that none of them were successful?”

TONER: “I’d just have to refer you to –“

QUESTION: “How do you know that?  Because the report does not say that none of them were successful.”

TONER: “I apologize, actually.  I misspoke.  Yep.  But I will say, but I just would refer you to Secretary Clinton’s team to, for questions about the security of her system.”

Mr. Toner is being ridiculous, referring questions to Clinton's team?

Come on, you are insulting us.

Hillary Clinton is banking on the FBI not recommending charges.

If the agency does, it's over for the secretary.

But if no indictment is forthcoming, voters will most likely shrug - especially because her base is so ardently anti-Trump.

Summing up, not a good Wednesday for Hillary Clinton.

And that's the memo.