The FBI's Clinton email investigation reportedly centers around drone strikes


One of the biggest question marks hanging over Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign is the Justice Department's ongoing investigation of the private server Clinton used for email while secretary of state, specifically whether the arrangement compromised government secrets. The inquiry is focused on email exchanges between the U.S. ambassador in Pakistan and State Department officials over whether to oppose specific CIA drone strikes, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing "congressional and law-enforcement officials briefed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe."
During Clinton's tenure, the CIA was at loggerheads with officials at the State and Defense Departments over the high number of drone strikes in Pakistan, and under a compromise brokered in 2011, State Department officials were permitted to endorse or oppose specific strikes. The messages were usually sent via a secure government network, but on about six occasions, given tight time constraints, they were sent on the "low side," or on less-secure networks, The Journal reports. The vaguely worded emails — they didn't mention "drones," "CIA," or any details about targets — were sometimes forwarded to Clinton. The Journal elaborates:
The CIA drone campaign, though widely reported in Pakistan, is treated as secret by the U.S. government. Under strict U.S. classification rules, U.S. officials have been barred from discussing strikes publicly and even privately outside of secure communications systems. The State Department said in January that 22 emails on Mrs. Clinton's personal server at her home have been judged to contain top-secret information and aren't being publicly released. Many of them dealt with whether diplomats concurred or not with the CIA drone strikes, congressional and law-enforcement officials said. [The Wall Street Journal]
No criminal charges are likely, The Journal says, citing "several law enforcement officials," in part because officials at many departments (including Justice and Defense) "have occasionally resorted to the low-side system to give each other notice about sensitive but fast-moving events." But the FBI won't make any decision until it interviews Clinton this summer and reviews all the evidence. You can read more about the bureaucratic drone battle and how it relates to Clinton's emails at The Wall Street Journal.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
El Palace Barcelona: old-world luxury in the heart of the city
The Week Recommends This historic hotel is set within a former Ritz outpost moments from the Passeig de Gràcia
-
The best history books to read in 2025
The Week Recommends These fascinating deep-dives are perfect for history buffs
-
July 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include the danger of talking politics at a family picnic, and disappearing Medicaid entitlements
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami