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FBI: Powell Warned Clinton Not to Use BlackBerry Because Messages ‘Subject to The Law’

 

ColinPowell via Shutterstock and Thomas Koch

Remember the she-said, he-said between former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and General Colin Powell? She said he recommended she use her own email except for classified documents. He said her people were throwing him under the bus, blaming him for the email debacle.

Well, on Friday, the FBI released their investigation summary into Clinton’s alleged misuse of emails, and they happened to mention Powell.

From the report, page 11:

The FBI investigation indicated Clinton was aware of her use of a personal device, e-mail account, and server did not negate her obligation to preserve federal records. On January 23, 2009, Clinton contacted former Secretary of State Colin Powell via email to inquire about his use of a BlackBerry while he was Secretary of State (January 2001 to January 2005). In his e-mail reply, Powell warned Clinton that if it became “public” that Clinton had a BlackBerry, and she used it to “do business,” her emails could become “official record[s] and subject to the law.” Powell further advised Clinton, “Be very careful. I got around it all by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data.” Clinton indicated to the FBI that she understood Powell’s comments to mean any work-related communications would be government records, and she stated Powell’s comments did not factor into her decision to use a personal e-mail account.

[image via Shutterstock and Thomas Koch]

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