Clinesmith getting a slap on the wrist should mean that the other small fry will take the LOTE (a 6 month sentence in return for singing on Brennan) rather the hope for Brennan to pull their asses out of the fire.
Brennan and Atty probably trying to stop the bleeding here, IMO. Between the lines it means that if Brennan walks, the small fry are fucked. Keeps the small fry from flipping.
DOJ needs a big arrest with no slap of the wrist deal now to show that Brennan is full of shit and can't protect anyone.
Not banking on it, though.