Ryan: Deny Clinton From Classified Briefings
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- House Speaker Paul Ryan wants the director of national intelligence to deny Hillary Clinton the type of classified briefings given to presidential nominees before the general election.
Ryan says that in light of the FBI's findings from its investigation of Clinton's email practices while secretary of state, barring her from classified briefings "certainly constitutes appropriate sanctions.''
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The Wisconsin Republican says in a letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper that if Clapper rejects the request, Ryan wants him to provide his rationale for granting Clinton access to such information "despite the FBI's findings.''
"There is no legal requirement for you to provide Secretary Clinton with classified information, and it would send the wrong signal to all those charged with safeguarding our nation's secrets if you choose to provide her access to this information despite the FBI's findings," he says. "I firmly believe this is necessary to reassure the public that our nation's secrets are secure."
FBI Director James Comey said on Tuesday there was no evidence Clinton or her aides willfully or intentionally mishandled classified information and that "no reasonable prosecutor'' would pursue such a case.
But he cited them for being "extremely careless'' and he contradicted many of the explanations Clinton has long put forward.
Comey is testifying Thursday morning before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
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