Legislative leaders said on Friday that the release of FBI notes on its investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private email server demonstrate her recklessness as secretary of state.
FBI Director James Comey previously testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that Clinton had acted in an “extremely careless” manner, but Comey recommended that no charges be brought against her.
Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Richard Burr (R-NC) said that the FBI’s notes from the investigation confirm publicly that Clinton’s emails contained classified information.
“And those sending the emails knew they contained classified information — they just refuse to take any responsibility for it, and instead blame others in the State Department,” Burr said. “The excuses never end, and no one is ever held responsible. Classified information should be handled with utmost care because the lives of those tasked with keeping America safe are at risk.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) echoed those sentiments, stating that Clinton’s “dangerous handling” of classified information while secretary of state demonstrates Clinton’s recklessness.
“(The FBI documents) also cast further doubt on the Justice Department’s decision to avoid prosecuting what is a clear violation of the law,” Ryan said. “This is exactly why I have called for her to be denied access to classified information.”
U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) said that the FBI documents exemplify Clinton’s recklessness in handling highly classified documents.
“It is laughable that the secretary of state can claim she cannot remember or does not know what classified markings are,” Marino said. “Yet, in her response to FBI agents, Mrs. Clinton claimed she couldn’t recall critical information nearly 40 times. Ignorance of the law is not an acceptable excuse for endangering our national security. As I have said before, we must appoint an independent, special prosecutor to investigate the misconduct of Hillary Clinton while secretary of state.”