WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (UPI) — The State Department’s inspector general found U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, along with other United States diplomats in Japan, conducted official business through private email accounts.
Inspector General Steve A. Linick identified instances where emails with “sensitive but unclassified” information was sent from, or received by, personal email accounts. The report comes as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democratic presidential hopeful, comes under fire for her use of a private email server during her years as America’s top diplomat.
The use of private email accounts by top-level State Department officials is allowed for some government purposes under a specific set of rules. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday there was “absolutely no indication” that Kennedy violated the department’s rules.
“In accordance with department policy, the mission requires the use of official email accounts to conduct official business whenever possible,” Kirby said. “It is not prohibited to use private email. It is discouraged, obviously, and we recognize there are instances when there may be no other choice, as long as the records are being preserved and recorded.”
Clinton and her campaign have long defended her use of a personal account, saying it was permitted under State Department rules. Records show she had messages with “sensitive but unclassified” information. Officials also found she received emails that should have been marked as “top secret.” The FBI is continuing its review of the information.
