If it is true that "where there is smoke there is fire," then the Clintons should be charred black and locked away for life. However, to this day, no allegations have be independently verified regarding their presumptive misdeeds. Even months into the administration of a man carried into office by chants of "lock her up," Hillary Clinton seems untouchable.

There is a danger when dealing with divisive people that the sight of smoke may only be the expected side-effect of intense scrutiny; highly magnified by the anger of the internet. The burns of a detective's magnifying glass should not be used as evidence of arson. Considering how partisan the 2016 election was, it would not be surprising if some, if not many, of the connections made by internet theorists turned out to be more inference than fact. All smoke, no fire.