WASHINGTON — After months of investigation into the “unique” email arrangement of former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Justice Department officials took possession of a hard drive and a thumb drive containing thousands of emails Tuesday—reportedly including multiple documents marked higher than “top secret.”
Alabama Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL2), who is a member of the Select Committee to Investigate the Benghazi Terror Attacks, says these revelations are even more shocking considering the recent rash of foreign hackers infiltrating U.S. government databases.
“Just yesterday it was revealed that Chinese hackers had penetrated many executive branch officials’ private email accounts as far back as 2010,” Roby told Yellowhammer Tuesday evening. “The officials’ government accounts weren’t penetrated because they have a much higher level of security. The point is there’s a reason we have security protocols for those who deal with sensitive, classified information.”
“Secretary Clinton deliberately flouted those protocols with this personal email arrangement and in doing so threatened the security of sensitive, classified information. I hope the Inspectors General and the Select Committee can get to the bottom of it all. Given all her previous statements, she certainly has some explaining to do when she appears before the Committee this fall.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) chairman of the Judiciary Committee, revealed Tuesday night that Charles McCullough, the inspector general for U.S. intelligence agencies, had reported that two of the emails not only were classified but were in fact categorized as “Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information”—one of the strictest security classifications.
Congressman Trey Gowdy, who chairs the Select Committee, said Clinton’s email practice should concern everyone.
“Secretary Clinton’s decision to prioritize her own convenience—and desire for control—over the security of our country’s intelligence should concern people of good conscience. This is a serious national security issue and the seriousness of it should transcend normal, partisan politics.”
Both Roby and Gowdy lauded the work of the Select Committee to bring the controversial email situation to light.
“None of this would be possible without the Select Committee being formed or the diligent work of Chairman Gowdy toward finding the truth,” Roby said.
“The revelation that Secretary Clinton exclusively used private email for official public business, and the multiple issues that emanated from her decision, including this most recent one, demonstrates what can happen when Congress and those equally committed to exposing the truth, doggedly pursue facts and follow them,” Rep. Gowdy concluded.
Secretary Clinton is expected to testify before the Select Committee in October.
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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
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