Hillary Clinton's private email server was approved by the State Department
| Hillary Clinton's private email server was approved by the State Department | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "Hillary Clinton's use of a private email account and server as secretary of state was allowed and approved by the State Department." | |
| Domain | Government, Law & Courts |
| Tactic | Fabrication |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2015 |
| Origin | Hillary Clinton's statements after The New York Times revealed her private email use in March 2015 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Government, Law & Courts | |
After The New York Times reported in March 2015 that Hillary Clinton had used a private email account exclusively for government business, run on a server at her home in Chappaqua, New York, she said her practice "was allowed" and that she had followed the rules.
The State Department's inspector general found that she never sought approval and that it would not have been granted.
What the evidence shows
- No request. The May 2016 inspector general report found no evidence that Clinton requested or obtained guidance or approval to conduct official business on a personal server.
- Would have been denied. Officials told the inspector general that if she had asked, the request would have been denied because of security risks.
- Records rules. The report found she should have surrendered all emails dealing with department business before leaving office. Her practice did not comply with department policies.
- Earlier practice. The report also found longstanding weaknesses in records management, and noted that Secretary Colin Powell had used a personal email account, though not a private server.
Why it matters
Whether the practice was a minor lapse or a serious breach is a matter of judgment. Whether it was approved is a factual question, and the inspector general answered it.
Sources
- US Department of State, Office of Inspector General, Office of the Secretary: Evaluation of Email Records Management and Cybersecurity Requirements, ESP-16-03, May 2016.
- The New York Times, "Hillary Clinton Used Personal Email Account at State Dept., Possibly Breaking Rules," March 2, 2015.
- The Washington Post Fact Checker, "Clinton's claim that her email use was 'allowed,'" 2016.