Washington (CNN)Hillary Clinton repeatedly told the FBI she couldn't recall key details and events related to classified information procedures, according to notes the bureau released Friday of its July interview with the Democratic presidential nominee, along with a report on its investigation into her private email server.
Clinton told the FBI she "could not
recall any briefing or training by State related to the retention of federal
records or handling classified information," according to the bureau's
notes of their interview with Clinton. The documents indicate Clinton told
investigators she either does not "recall" or "remember" at
least 39 times — often in response to questions about process, potential
training or the content of specific emails.
Much of the report reiterated what FBI Director James
Comey testified in open hearings before Congress, including that more than six
dozen email chains contained classified information at the time they were sent
and that there appeared to have been hacking attempts on her server, though
there is no evidence they were successful. Still, the report added fuel to the criticisms
of Clinton and the narrative that her team acted "extremely
careless," as Comey said.
GOP nominee Donald Trump and other Republicans have
stepped up their attacks connecting the emails to questions over whether
Clinton gave preferential treatment to donors to her family's foundation. The
release of the documents Friday comes as Clinton's lead over Trump has been cut
in half since her post-convention bounce last month, according to CNN's Poll of
Polls released Thursday.
The bureau is making the information public in response
to numerous Freedom of Information Act requests.
"Today the FBI is releasing a summary of former
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's July 2, 2016 interview with the FBI
concerning allegations that classified information was improperly stored or
transmitted on a personal e-mail server she used during her tenure," the
agency said in a statement. "We also are releasing a factual summary of
the FBI's investigation into this matter."
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