State Dep’t defends handling of classified, sensitive info
WASHINGTON — The State Department is defending its handling of classified and sensitive information against statements by the FBI director that the department doesn’t handle such information as well as other government agencies.
“What I can tell you is, we don’t share the broad assessment that there’s a lax culture here at the State Department when it comes to dealing with classified information,” department spokesman John Kirby said. “Quite the contrary. We take it very seriously.”
FBI Director James Comey said Tuesday the State Department is “generally lacking in the kind of care for classified information that is found elsewhere in the U.S. government,” echoing findings of multiple previous reviews of cybersecurity at the State Department under former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Comey condemned the State Department’s security culture as he announced that the FBI was recommending against criminal charges for Clinton’s use of a homebrew email system.