Obama says Clinton was careless with emails but didn’t harm national security
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton exits after speaking at New Greater Bethel Ministries during a campaign stop today in New York.
WASHINGTON » Wading into a campaign controversy, President Barack Obama said today that Hillary Clinton was careless but did not harm national security by using a nonsecure email system when she served as secretary of State.
“I continue to believe that she has not jeopardized America’s national security,” Obama said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”
“What I’ve also said is that — and she has acknowledged — that there’s a carelessness, in terms of managing emails, that she … recognizes,” he said. He added that she did an “outstanding job” as America’s top diplomat.
The FBI is investigating whether Clinton or her aides mishandled classified information when they used a private email server for some work-related communications during her four years as secretary of State.
The issue has dogged Clinton’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama’s comments may serve to reassure Clinton supporters as she heads into a crucial final round of primaries against rival Bernie Sanders.
The State Department has said 22 emails on a server her aides had set up in the basement of her home in Chappaqua, N.Y., contained top secret information, the highest level of classification.
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Obama suggested that any secret information in Clinton’s emails was not highly sensitive.
“There’s classified, and then there’s classified,” Obama said. “There’s stuff that is really top-secret, top-secret, and there’s stuff that is being presented to the president or the secretary of State, that you might not want on the transom, or going out over the wire, but is basically stuff that you could get” from unclassified sources.
Clinton has denied using the email account to send or receive materials marked classified.
Though some emails have since been deemed to be too sensitive to release publicly, Clinton’s campaign has attributed that to overzealous intelligence officials and “over-classification run amok.”
The FBI has taken the server and is investigating the case with U.S. Justice Department attorneys.
Many legal experts believe that Clinton faces little risk of being prosecuted for using the private email system to conduct official business.
Using a private email system was not banned at the time, and others in government had used personal email to transact official business.
Obama repeatedly guaranteed the White House would not seek to influence a decision by the Justice Department or FBI about whether to prosecute Clinton if they find evidence of wrongdoing.
“I do not talk to the attorney general about pending investigations,” Obama said. “I do not talk to FBI directors about pending investigations. We have a strict line, and always have maintained it.”
The interview was the Obama’s first on Fox News since February 2014.
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©2016 Tribune Co.
21 responses to “Obama says Clinton was careless with emails but didn’t harm national security”
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marcel lazar will entertain f.b.i. interrogators about the ease of which he hacked hiliar’s private unsecured email system that trafficked classified information. coupled with bryan pagliano’s statements naming who among hiliar’s coconspirators used hiliar’s state department passwords to access and distribute classified information lazar’s statements will have a profound effect on the remaining hiliar staff currently weighing the risk/reward of turning state’s evidence.
of course obama sees nothing wrong in hiliar’s staff accessing classified information using hiliar’s passwords, transferring the classified information into new documents and distributing them using unsecured networks and servers.
obama and hiliar didn’t see anything wrong in blaming an unknown video for the benghazi attack the killed four american ambassadors and resulted in the loss of code books, cypher machines, satellite phones, and advanced weaponry kept at the lybian embassy.
USELESS IDIOTS SUPPORT HILLARY CLINTON!!!
Definition of Top Secret: containing or being information whose unauthorized disclosure could result in exceptionally grave danger to the nation……Seems like it does threaten national security. Perhaps President Obama is wrong and doesn’t know what he’s talking about?
I agree. Now, the Clinton Foundation donors–now, that’s TS!!
That the president says there’s classified and then there’s classified is seriously insane. Ask any of our local military members who have a clearance and you will see how absolutely asinine of this so called commander in chief to say such foolishness.
It is now obvious, the Obama Justice Dept. will not indict Clinton no matter what.
Nice of him to promise not to influence the justice department – in a nationally televised interview where he says she didn’t do anything wrong. “I don’t talk to the AG or FBI about pending investigations.” Just everyone in the world.
My late Momma would say, “What he take me for…damn fool?” … sadly there are those who are fools and continue to be fools and never learn…sad
Millions of fools, they elected Obama to a second term and will elect Clinton for president. Fools fools fools nothing but fools.
Has Obama has pre-empted the decision on an indictment of Hillary Clinton? Basically, he has just sent a message to the FBI and the Attorney General and citizens of the U.S. that Hillary is not guilty…so I guess we’ll just take his divine statement as such and cease all this madness…sad.
What does Obama know about national security???? He trained and supplied Syrian rebels, aka ISIS against the top generals wishes, who’s side is he on? This is what we get for electing a muslim.
Maybe TS-SCI stands for Top Secret – Sorta-Classified-Ish
Or … there are two legal standards that apply in this “getting things done” bipartisan big money political system
Heh!
The Black Emperor from Hawaii has spoken. Of course, he would never influence any investigation of the Justice Department. By appointing only black, liberal Attorney Generals of the United States, he gets his message clearly understood. Has his AG ever investigated the murder of a white police officer by black killers. Can’t remember any since 2009.
If I carelessly drive under the influence and get stopped, will I be released because I didn’t harm anyone? Clinton knows what she did was wrong but is trying to squirm her way out of it with the help of friends and allies.
Loose lips sink ships.
Obama in damage control mode for the party trying to dispel any belief that Clinton could be indicted. Bernie’s been beating her bad lately and the establishment is beginning to worry people are flipping on Clinton.
It wouldn’t bother so much if I knew for a fact that any other federal employee or contractor who enabled such “spillage” would be granted the same level of deference or special consideration. Sadly, I just don’t see President Obama rushing to the defense of a lowly government peon or worker bee.
I would LOVE for her to run against Cruz or The Donald,this would be a sure WIN for the GOP !! The Chris Wallace interview with Obama on FoxNews,about Hillary’s emails?? Is all about DAMAGE Control Folks!! Two people with the same credibility as The Joker!!Obama’s statements regarding those emails, that is was “careless” and The DOJ will do their job regardless of who that person is? Is unbelievable is laughable!!! You can bet the DOJ will not indict her! And if you win and they do indict ? As the consolation prize,you will win the Honolulu Rail project! Ha!ha!ha!….Must take us for fools!
This will have no effect what so ever! On Hillary’s “Trust worthiness” …..the Voters simply don’t trust her!! This is why her campaign numbers are sliding…..no wait! Falling drastically.Thus the rise of Socialist Bernie Sanders!
teaser….. If Hillary was “Careless”. Wouldn’t it be the Same for General Patreus??
Democrats stick together.