House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) demanded Friday that Hillary Clinton hand over her email server "immediately" in light of reports that two inspectors general have recommended the Department of Justice launch a probe into the former secretary of state’s use of a personal email account.
According to The Weekly Standard, Boehner accused Clinton of "undermin[ing] our national security" by exclusively using a private email system to conduct State Department business.
The inspectors called for a criminal investigation into Clinton’s email practices after concluding that her personal email account contained "hundreds of potentially classified emails," according to a memo written on June 29 by Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick F. Kennedy.
"If Secretary Clinton truly has nothing to hide, she can prove it by immediately turning over her server to the proper authorities and allowing them to examine the complete record," Boehner said of the revelations Friday.
"What these reports demonstrate is the inherent risk of conducting our nation’s diplomacy and foreign policy on your home email and personal server," the House Speaker continued. "Secretary Clinton has repeatedly claimed that the work-related emails on her private home server did not include classified information, but we know that is not true."
During a March press conference regarding the initial story about her exclusive use of a personal email system, Hillary Clinton insisted that she "did not email any classified material to anyone on my email," describing herself as "well-aware of the classification requirements."
Boehner said that Clinton exhibited "poor judgement" in using her private email system that as a result has compromised U.S. national security.
"She has claimed she is well-aware of what matters are classified and what are not, and yet she set up a personal email server to discuss matters of national security despite guidance to the contrary from both her State Department and the White House," Boehner explained. "Her poor judgement has undermined our national security and it is time for her to finally do the right thing."
The Justice Department insisted Friday that the investigation request has nothing to with criminal wrongdoing.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal the same day, an internal government review revealed that a least four emails sent from Clinton’s personal account during her time at State contained classified information.