Intel Chief Denies Ryan’s Request for Clinton to Be Blocked From Receiving Classified Briefings
The director of National Intelligence shot down House Speaker Paul Ryan Monday, denying the Wisconsin Republican’s request that Hillary Clinton be blocked from receiving classified briefings as a candidate for president.
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Ryan made the formal request several days ago, citing the fact that, though the FBI did not recommend charges against Clinton, agency director James Comey said the former secretary of state was “extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.” So in his letter for Intel Chief James Clapper, the speaker requested she be denied access to classified information “for the duration of her candidacy.”
“There is no legal requirement for you to provide Secretary Clinton with classified information, and it would send the wrong signal to all those charged with safeguarding our nation’s secrets if you choose to provide her access to this information despite the FBI’s findings,” the letter read. “I firmly believe this is necessary to reassure the public that our nation’s secrets are secure.”
But Ryan’s letter was unsuccessful in persuading Clapper to revoke the traditional privilege from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
In a response to the senior Republican’s letter, Clapper said he “does not intend to withhold briefings from any officially nominated eligible candidate.”
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