Clinton staffers searched for a way to come up with a response to Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while working at the Department of State, according to leaked emails.
Staffers tried to find a way to make Clinton’s statement simple and not “suspicious,” emails from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s email account reveal.
Jennifer Palmieri, the communications director, expressed concern with a draft of the statement because it was too long and went on “tangents” and didn’t stick to their main argument.
“Still think it is way too long and has too many tangents that are distracting and press will chase. Also I don’t think it has our core argument that nothing she sent or rec’d was classified at the time,” Palmieri wrote.
Palmieri also pointed out that the statement shouldn’t focus on the private Blackberry Clinton used while dealing with State Department business.
“Robby’s version is better, but still focuses on the Blackberry, which is weird and press will find suspicious,” Palmieri claimed.
Brian Fallon, a press secretary, made edits to a draft as well, warning other staffers to avoid using “serious” to describe the emails.
“In this line – ‘Some will be serious, some will be personal or mundane’ – the word ‘serious’ reads ominously/ suggestive of wrongdoing. I would say something like ‘some will give a real window into the day-to-day workings of the State Department…’ .” Fallon cautioned other staffers.
According to United States intelligence officials, the Wikileaks hacks have been tied to actors close to the Russian government. They believe that the hack on Podesta’s email account is possibly being used to interfere with the U.S. presidential election.
Send tips to amber@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.