Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged Tuesday on Capitol Hill that neither he nor his staff uses a private email server because of the "vulnerability of our system" in "today's world."
Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) questioned Kerry about the issue, evidently to spotlight the improper use of a private, unsecured server by Hillary Clinton, Kerry's predecessor.
"Would you allow any of the members of your staff to use a non-official, non-secure server for transmitting classified information?" Johnson asked.
Kerry bristled at the question, but Johnson stayed on him, demanding a yes or no.
"We have very specific procedures in place in the department," Kerry said. "I brought in an inspector general. I wrote a letter to the inspector general asking him to review our entire process. In today's world, given all that we've learned and what we understand about the vulnerability of our system, we don't do that, no."
Clinton's usage of one and her transmission of classified information over it has triggered a federal investigation that has clouded her presidential campaign.
Full exchange:
RON JOHNSON: So you don't use, you don't allow yourself to use a private server. Would you allow any of the members of your staff to use a non-official, non-secure server for transmitting classified information?
JOHN KERRY: Look.
JOHNSON: Just yes or no.
KERRY: Senator--
JOHNSON: Just yes or no.
KERRY: We have very specific procedures in place in the department. I brought in an inspector general. I wrote a letter to the inspector general asking him to review our entire process. In today's world, given all that we've learned and what we understand about the vulnerability of our system, we don't do that, no.
JOHNSON: So the answer's no.