Skip to main content

Colin Powell, Condi Rice’s Staff Also Got Secret Info on Their Personal Emails

 

colin powellThe State Department has confirmed that former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice‘s staff also received classified information at their personal email accounts, according to the Secretary of State’s Office of Inspector General. This was first reported by NBC News.

The IG says they found 12 emails that contained national security information that is now classified as “Secret” or “Confidential.”

“Last night, we were informed by the State Department Inspector General that former Secretary Colin Powell and the immediate staff of former Secretary Condoleezza Rice received classified national security information on their personal email accounts,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Collin Powell said in an interview with NBC News that he strongly disputes that any secret information went to his personal account and the contents were “fairly minor.”

Two of the messages went to Powell’s account, and 10 others were sent to the personal accounts of Rice’s aides, according to the State Department official. The Inspector General said none of the messages were marked classified when they were originally sent. Powell did admit using his personal account at times which he said was faster but denies any breach in protocol.

This revelation comes as the IG’s office is investigating how current and past secretaries of state used their emails with regards to classified information. The FBI is also probing to see whether Clinton, who maintained a personal server, used her email to receive top secret information.

[H/t NBC News, screengrab from Meet The Press]

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Filed Under:

Follow Law&Crime:

Rachel Stockman is President of Law&Crime which includes Law&Crime Productions, Law&Crime Network and LawAndCrime.com. Under her watch, the company has grown from just a handful of people to a robust production company and network producing dozens of true crime shows a year in partnership with major networks. She also currently serves as Executive Producer of Court Cam, a hit show on A&E, and I Survived a Crime, a new crime show premiering on A&E this fall. She also oversees production of a new daily syndicated show Law&Crime Daily, which is produced in conjunction with Litton Entertainment. In addition to these shows, her network and production company produce programs for Facebook Watch, Cineflix and others. She has spent years covering courts and legal issues, and was named Atlanta Press Club's 'Rising Star' in 2014. Rachel graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and Yale Law School.