But he also said there was no evidence anyone willfully or intentionally mishandled classified information and that “no reasonable prosecutor” would pursue such a case.
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He did not elaborate on what the State Department’s review would entail, but said it would be “as expeditious as possible” with no “artificial deadlines” placed on the process. The FBI uncovered several thousand additional emails related to her position, some of which contained classified material, that were not included in the 30,000 emails Clinton handed over to the State Department.
As of right now, Kirby and the State Department announced no completion date for the internal investigation against the presidential candidate.
In lengthier comments before lawmakers on Thursday, Comey again spoke of Clinton’s and her staff’s carelessness and “real sloppiness”, adding that it seemed she was not “particularly sophisticated with respect to classified information”. He also said the former officials can still face “administrative sanctions”.
While the most serious outcome – loss of security clearance – seems impossible (bordering on absurd) to enforce on Mrs Clinton were she to be elected president, it could prevent her from placing any affected staff into high levels of her administration.
Beyond Clinton, the probe is most likely examining confidants Cheryl Mills, Jake Sullivan and Huma Abedin, AP reported.
The department first started its investigation in January after more than 20 emails containing “top secret” information were discovered on Clinton’s private email server located inside her NY home.
Two days after that announcement, the Republican-leaning House Oversight Committee called FBI Director called James Comey to a hearing to explain the investigation.
“Will you cooperate with this new State Department investigation?”
“I totally get people’s questions”, he said, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation was obliged to follow the law.
In May, the department’s Inspector General released a scathing report that said the State Department “did not – and would not – approve [Clinton’s] exclusive reliance on a personal e-mail account to conduct Department business”. The employees could face a reprimand or even lose their security clearance.
“Director Comey’s testimony clearly knocked down a number of false Republican talking points and reconciled apparent contradictions between his previous remarks and Hillary Clinton’s public statements”.
“I believe this investigation was conducted consistent with the highest traditions of the FBI”, Comey said.
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“The American people are exasperated when there are no consequences for the mishandling of state secrets”.
