A House committee has launched a new probe of Hillary Clinton’s personal email server that will focus on the private companies who provided software and services to the former secretary of state.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R., Texas), chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, is spearheading the investigation. Smith sent letters Thursday to multiple private companies involved in the setup and maintenance of Clinton’s personal system, which she used exclusively to conduct government business while secretary of state.
Smith intends to use the information gleaned in the probe to improve the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) framework and laws that set standards for cyber security and enable federal government oversight of information technology programs.
"Understanding these companies’ roles in providing software and services to maintain former secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s private email server is critical to improving government cybersecurity standards. A high profile government official deviating from established information security requirements raises significant concerns," Smith in a statement.
"The sensitive nature of the information stored on Sec. Clinton’s private server created a unique challenge to ensure all of the information was properly safeguarded. The committee takes seriously its duty to ensure the NIST cybersecurity framework is properly equipped to safeguard our nation’s information."
Smith sent letters to CEOs at Datto, Inc., SECNAP Network Security Corp., Platte River Networks, and Forinet, Inc., all of which had a hand in the set up of Clinton’s server and its cyber security.
In the letters, the Texas lawmaker requested all documents and communications related to Clinton’s personal server. He also asked the companies to provide information about security breaches that may have occurred during her time as secretary of state.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.), who chairs the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, has been heading a similar probe for months.
The FBI has also been investigating Clinton’s personal email set up since the inspector general of the intelligence community determined that two emails held on her private system contained top secret information at the time they were sent and received. Clinton’s server has been found to have been vulnerable to hackers.