How did a Clinton Foundation donor get on a top-secret national security board without any experience?

A new batch of emails released by the State Department reveal that an inexperienced Clinton Foundation donor was put on a sensitive government intelligence advisory board in a move that bewildered the department's staff, according to ABC News.

The Clinton Foundation lists Rajiv K. Fernando as having given between $1 and $5 million to the organization; he was also an early supporter of Clinton's 2008 presidential bid, maxing out the number of contributions he could give to her campaign and to HillPAC in 2007 and 2008. He additionally worked as a fundraising bundler, raising more than $100,000 for her run as well as giving between $100,000 and $250,000 to the William J. Clinton Foundation and $30,000 to advocacy group WomenCount, indirectly helping Clinton with her 2008 campaign debts.

Fernando was given a seat on the International Security Advisory Board, although he lacked the experience shared by his colleagues, which included nuclear scientists, former cabinet secretaries, and members of Congress. In fact, ABC News notes that his "only known qualification … was his technical know-how." The board advised Clinton on the use of tactical nuclear weapons and on other arms control issues, and the members of the board as a result had clearance to the highest levels of top-secret information.

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"We had no idea who he was," a board member told ABC News.

ABC News contacted the State Department in August 2011, seeking a copy of Fernando's resume. The released emails show officials trying to stall on getting information back to reporters. "We must protect the Secretary's and Under Secretary's name, as well as the integrity of the Board. I think it's important to get down to the bottom of this before there's any response…As you can see from the attached, it's natural to ask how he got onto the board when compared to the rest of the esteemed list of members," press aide Jamie Mannina wrote.

Mannina was twice instructed to stall getting back to ABC News. When he finally did, it was with information about Fernando's resignation. "Mr. Fernando chose to resign from the Board earlier this month citing additional time needed to devote to his business," the note said.

Read more about the investigation and see the emails at ABC News.