Hillary clinton email scandal

The Hillary Clinton email scandal, also known as the Hillary email controversy, was a political controversy that arose in 2015 during the 2016 United States presidential election. It centered on the use of a private email server by Hillary Clinton, then the United States Secretary of State, to conduct official business and send classified information.

In March 2015, it was reported that Clinton had used a private email account, [email protected], to conduct official business while serving as Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013. The account was not covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which requires federal agencies to disclose certain records to the public.

The controversy surrounding Clinton's email use was fueled by concerns that she had:

  1. Used a private email server to conduct official business, which raised questions about the security and integrity of the emails.
  2. Deleted thousands of emails from her private server, which some critics claimed was an attempt to conceal information.
  3. Used her private email account to send and receive classified information, which was potentially compromised by the lack of proper security measures.

The controversy led to a number of investigations and hearings, including:

  1. The FBI's investigation: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched an investigation into Clinton's email use in July 2015. The investigation was led by FBI Director James Comey, who ultimately recommended against charging Clinton with any crimes.
  2. The House Select Committee on Benghazi: The House of Representatives established a select committee to investigate the 2012 Benghazi attack, which was also tied to Clinton's email use. The committee held numerous hearings and issued a report criticizing Clinton's handling of the attack.
  3. The State Department's investigation: The State Department launched an internal investigation into Clinton's email use, which found that she had violated department policies by using her private email account for official business.

The controversy surrounding Clinton's email use had significant political implications, including:

  1. Damage to Clinton's reputation: The controversy led to widespread criticism of Clinton's judgment and trustworthiness.
  2. Impact on the presidential election: The controversy was a major issue in the 2016 presidential election, with many voters expressing concerns about Clinton's honesty and ability to handle classified information.
  3. Legal consequences: Clinton was ultimately cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by the FBI, but the controversy led to a number of legal consequences, including a fine for the Clinton Foundation and a reprimand from the State Department.

Some of the key findings and conclusions from the investigations and hearings include:

  1. The FBI found that Clinton had been "extremely careless" in her handling of classified information, but ultimately recommended against charging her with any crimes.
  2. The State Department's investigation found that Clinton had violated department policies by using her private email account for official business.
  3. The House Select Committee on Benghazi concluded that Clinton had been responsible for the Benghazi attack, but the report was widely criticized as partisan and biased.

Overall, the Hillary Clinton email scandal was a significant political controversy that had far-reaching implications for Clinton's reputation and the 2016 presidential election.