State Department Asked Hillary Clinton Attorney to Delete Copies of Classified Benghazi Email

State Department Asked Hillary Clinton Attorney to Delete Copies of Classified Benghazi Email

An email captured in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit demonstrates that the State Department asked Hillary Clinton’s attorney to delete copies of a classified email related to the 2012 Benghazi terror attacks.

Judicial Watch reported that Patrick Kennedy, the undersecretary for management at the State Department, penned a letter to Clinton attorney David Kendall in May recommending he delete all electronic copies of the “secret” email.

Kennedy wrote:

I am writing in reference to the following e-mail that is among the approximately 55,000 pages that were identified as potential federal records and produced on behalf of former Secretary Clinton to the [Department] of State on December 5, 2014: E-mail forwarded by Jacob Sullivan to Secretary Clinton on November 18, 2012 at 8:44 pm.

(Subject: Fw: FYI- Report of arrests–possible Benghazi connection).

Please be advised that today the above referenced e-mail, which previously was unclassified, has been classified as “Secret” pursuant to Section 1.7(d) of Executive Order 13526 in connection with a review and release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In order to safeguard and protect the classified information, I ask–consistent with my letter to you dated March 23 2015–that you, Secretary Clinton and others assisting her in responding to congressional and related inquiries coordinate in taking the steps set forth below. A copy of the document as redacted under the FOIA is attached to assist you in your search.

Once you have made the electronic copy of the documents for the Department, please locate any electronic copies of the above-referenced classified document in your possession. If you locate any electronic copies, please delete them. Additionally, once you have done that, please empty your “Deleted Items” folder.

The letter demonstrates that the State Department recognized the presence of classified material on Clinton’s personal email system months before it was disclosed in the media.

Kendall declined to immediately follow Kennedy’s orders, writing back in June that it would not be “prudent” to delete copies of the email until after document preservation requests from the House Select Committee on Benghazi, the State Department inspector general, and the intelligence community inspector general expire.

Kendall was in possession of three computer thumb drives containing all of Clinton’s work-related emails until the FBI determined that he could not continue to hold emails containing classified information. The attorney was forced to hand over the drives to the Justice Department at the same time Clinton relinquished her server.

 

Multiple intelligence agencies have confirmed that at least two of the emails contained on the former secretary of state’s personal system held top secret information at the time they were sent. Hundreds more have been flagged for possibly containing classified information.

Clinton has repeatedly denied sending or receiving information marked classified on her personal email.

Courtesy : Morgan Chalfant , www.freebeacon.com

Hillary Clinton opposes Keystone XL pipeline

Hillary Clinton opposes Keystone XL pipeline

Hillary Clinton said Tuesday she opposes the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, taking sides with progressives who are fighting the 1,179-mile project over environmental concerns.

The announcement, which comes after months of Clinton remaining mum over the hot-button 2016 issue, immediately drew praise from liberals and environmental groups but was criticized by Republican presidential candidates.

"I think it is imperative that we look at the Keystone pipeline as what I believe it is -- a distraction from important work we have to do on climate change," Clinton told a community forum in Des Moines, Iowa.

"And unfortunately from my perspective, one that interferes with our ability to move forward with all the other issues," she said. "Therefore I oppose it."

The Democratic 2016 front-runner announced her opposition to the project -- which is still the subject of a years-long State Department review -- as Pope Francis landed in the United States, dominating national media attention.

"I think it is imperative that we look at the Keystone pipeline as what I believe it is -- a distraction from important work we have to do on climate change," Clinton said

Clinton says decision on Keystone pipeline coming 'soon'

Clinton had not previously disclosed her position on the campaign trail despite consistent questions about her position on the project, which is widely favoured by conservatives but opposed by liberals who believe it will contribute to climate change. In explaining her answer Tuesday, Clinton said she didn't want to interfere with a review process that started under her watch.

"I was in a unique position as secretary of state at the start of this process, and not wanting to interfere with ongoing decision-making that the President and Secretary (of State John) Kerry have to do in order to make whatever final decisions they need," Clinton said. "So I thought this would be decided by now, and therefore I could tell you whether I agree or disagree, but it hasn't been decided, and I feel now I've got a responsibility to you and voters who ask me about this."

Speaking to the Des Moines Register's editorial board after the event, Clinton said she had "no idea" she would be asked about the pipeline Tuesday.

Poll: Clinton's lead over Sanders grows

Poll: Clinton's lead over Sanders grows

Hillary Clinton's lead in the Democratic presidential primary race has grown -- and if Vice President Joe Biden decides to stay out of the race, her numbers would rise even higher, a new CNN/ORC poll shows.

Clinton is backed by 42% of Democratic primary voters nationally, compared to 24% for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 22% for Biden and 1% for former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

That's a marked improvement over an early September CNN/ORC poll that found Clinton leading Sanders, 37% to 27%, with Biden at 20%.

 

And Biden's support comes almost entirely from Clinton's camp. Without the vice president in the race, Clinton's numbers climb by 15 percentage points, while Sanders' increase by only 4 points -- giving Clinton a nearly 2-to-1 lead at 57% to 28%, with O'Malley moving up to 2%.

While Clinton has led national polls, she has been found trailing in New Hampshire and at times in Iowa -- two key early voting states. And her downward trend nationally -- amid questions about her use of a private email server during her tenure as President Barack Obama's secretary of state -- has fuelled speculation of a late Biden entry, and provided the vice president with an opening even as he grieves the death of his son Beau Biden.

Biden is still mulling a potential bid.

The poll surveyed 392 Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party from September 17-19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 points.

Courtesy: Eric Bradner, CNN