Two More Problems Have Popped Up for the Clinton Camp
The problems related to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state are seemingly multiplying by the day.
Two more developed Tuesday morning.
First, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, announced he has issued subpoenas to the technology firms that were involved in the set up and maintenance of Clinton’s server. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, concurred with the request.
“Companies providing services to Secretary Hillary Clinton’s private email account and server are not above the law,” Smith said. “These companies have failed to comply with our committee’s request for documents and interviews that would provide information critical to understanding Secretary Clinton’s private server and informing policy changes in how to prevent similar email arrangements in the future.
“The committee is issuing subpoenas to obtain the information necessary to answer questions about the structure and security of the email system and whether or not the cybersecurity standards and measures used to protect information stored on Secretary Clinton’s private server were in accord with NIST standards. The committee is also concerned about the preservation of the records on Secretary Clinton’s private server.
“Our committee plans to provide the American people with the transparency they deserve from our government leaders and the systems used to secure operations.”
The subpoenas were sent to Datto Inc. CEO Austin McChord, SECNAP Network Security Corp. CEO Victor Nappe, and Platte River Networks CEO Treve Suazo. The three companies provided software and services to Clinton that played a role in maintaining her private email server.
“The companies have direct and unique knowledge of her private server and email account,” Johnson said. “The information being sought is a crucial step in bringing greater transparency to Secretary Clinton’s ‘extremely careless’—I would call it dangerously reckless and grossly negligent—email practices. I hope the information we will obtain will inform policy changes that can prevent similar misconduct in the future.”
Second, it appears Clinton wasn’t the only person mishandling potentially classified material at the State Department during her tenure. Her longtime aide, Huma Abedin, according to a new report by The Daily Caller’s Chuck Ross, had a “burn bag” of potentially classified material sitting in the front of her car—that was parked in a foreign country.
“Favor” is the subject of Abedin’s July 20, 2009 email to Lauren Jiloty, Clinton’s personal assistant. Judicial Watch obtained the records and hundreds more pages of Abedin emails as part of its ongoing Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the State Department.
“I’m going to have ambassador ride on next drive,” wrote Abedin. “There’s a bunch of burn stuff in the pocket of my front seat.”
And seemingly realizing the significance of her error, Abedin asked Jiloty to move the documents to a more secure location.
“Can u put in trunk?” she asked.
Jiloty told Abedin she would.
Ross noted the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual outlines rules related to the burning of agency materials and records, and that only classified material should be burned. State Department officials said other sensitive materials that aren’t classified may also be considered “burn stuff.”
Abedin reportedly told Judicial Watch attorneys in late June during her deposition that such material could include Clinton’s daily schedule. Given her significance due to presidential succession—as well as a former first lady—those schedules would be extremely sensitive material.
“Abedin’s apparent carelessness with classified information highlights the complaints that Clinton and her staff played fast and loose with classified information,” Ross wrote. “FBI director James Comey said last month that Clinton’s use of an off-the-books email system to conduct State Department business was ‘extremely careless.'”
