A long-time close aide to Bill Clinton who helped Hillary Clinton set up her private email server testified on Tuesday that he had access to the entire server despite not having a security clearance.
Justin Cooper appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and was asked by chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R., Utah) if he had a clearance while setting up and managing the server. Cooper admitted he did not have one at any point while he had access to the server.
Chaffetz first asked Cooper when he left the White House, which Cooper said was in 2001.
"Did you ever have a security clearance at any level after that?" Chaffetz asked.
"No, I did not have a security clearance," Cooper said.
"And you had full access to the whole server the entire time that you were working for the Clintons?" Chaffetz asked.
"Yes, I had access to the server," Cooper responded.
"And you have no security clearance?" Chaffetz asked.
"I have no security clearance," Cooper said.
Chaffetz asked Cooper about his clearance because while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, classified information was transmitted over her private email server.
Two other witnesses who were heavily involved with the server, Paul Combetta and Bill Thornton of Platte River Networks, invoked their Fifth Amendment right and were excused from the hearing as they would not answer any questions. Another witness, Bryan Pagliano, refused to appear at the hearing. Both Combetta and Pagliano have been granted immunity by the Department of Justice for their assistance with the federal investigation into Clinton’s email practices.