Snowden: Clinton's Private Email Server Is a 'Problem'

An anonymous reader points out comments from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden in a new interview with Al Jazeera about Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was the U.S. Secretary of State. Snowden said, "Anyone who has the clearances that the Secretary of State has or the director of any top level agency has knows how classified information should be handled. When the unclassified systems of the United States government — which has a full time information security staff — regularly get hacked, the idea that someone keeping a private server ... is completely ridiculous." While Snowden didn't feel he had enough information to say Clinton's actions were a threat to national security, he did say that less prominent government employees would have probably been prosecuted for doing the same thing. For her part, Clinton said she used the private server out of convenience: "I was not thinking a lot when I got in. There was so much work to be done. We had so many problems around the world. I didn't really stop and think what kind of email system will there be."

Comments

total bullshit?

[mveloso]

Clinton: "I was so busy dealing with the world's problems that instead of using my work email that I get for free I got some guy I knew to build a server for me, my associates, and my husband's foundation."

Does anyone actually believe this line of bullshit?

Re:total bullshit?

[ganjadude]

no but this gem, i believe

I was not thinking a lot

Re:total bullshit?

[shrikel]

Apparently 46.1% of Democrats do. Though that's down from as high as 75% in July

Re:total bullshit?

[fustakrakich]

Does anyone actually believe this line of bullshit?

Unfortunately, yes... It should be obvious. Lots of people are going to vote for her regardless... There's not a lot that be done. Maybe, if we can wake up the non-voting block, it might be possible to defeat democrats and republicans. Even together they are a minority block of less than 40%.

Re:total bullshit?

[rmdingler]

no but this gem, i believe

I was not thinking a lot

We hold some truths to be self-evident.

I mean, FFS, the Clintons have been in positions of power for what? 36 years... (since the 1st term began as Governor of Arkansas.)

It's clear she should have an inkling how to act in office, and yet, like so many of the political ilk, she uses her skills for evil instead of good.

Re:total bullshit?

[TWX]

Does anyone actually believe this line of bullshit?

Honestly, if she was using the e-mail address associated with that SMTP server before she become Secretary of State, yes.

Most people don't like to use several e-mail accounts. It's a pain in the butt. If she was used to using that one and used it as she communicated with the officials that became her superiors and subordinates before becoming Secretary of State while planning the transition, then they were used to contacting here there and she was used to contacting them from there.

Should she have switched to a government-provided e-mail account? Probably. I don't say, "absolutely," specifically because of the high profile leaks that we've seen over the last decade, such that the mail might actually have been safer on that server that no one thought to compromise than on a government one.

As an aside, Governor Palin used private e-mail for government functions too, actually registering addresses with public mail servers (yahoo if I remember right) after becoming Governor of Alaska, and specifically citing her newly-found position as the account name. There was no prosecution over that either.

Re:total bullshit?

[Anonymous Coward]

Exactly. She thought she wasn't leaving a paper trail which could lalter be used against her if she said or did something she might later regret.

Re:total bullshit?

[davester666]

I'm sure it was more like "The rules only apply the schlubs, they don't apply to me."

Re:total bullshit?

[roccomaglio]

Way to muddy the waters. Palin used her official state email. She also used a yahoo email. It is illegal to use official email for campaigning tasks. So you have to have both. Someone hacked her yahoo account and release all her emails. She did not get to decide what was released. All of her emails were released she did not get to pick which ones were released. Hillary not only picked the emails that were released she carefully wiped the server with multiple writes to prevent anyone from being able to recover emails. If she had used yahoo the FBI which is investigating her emails activity (classified TS/SCI information) could have received a copy of all her emails.

Re:total bullshit?

[LetterRip]

Leaks or not, the law says she was supposed to use her secure government-provided email for work. She ignored that law.

No it didn't say that till two years after she left office. Also the government email isn't secure and can only be used for non secure communication. Secure communications require usage of an internal distribution server that is secure and is not actually email.

Re:total bullshit?

[ganjadude]

bush isnt in power and isnt seeking power. i hated bush (my post history shows as much) but move on

hillary can do damage still, bush cant

Re:total bullshit?

[Dutch Gun]

but since there was no rule against what she was doing

No, that's the problem. There were not only rules, but there were laws against what she was doing. Had you or I broken those laws, then ignored a federal order to turn over those e-mails and wiped our e-mail server instead, we'd be sitting in an iron cage right now.

Re:total bullshit?

[Known Nutter]

Isn't this why they have a staff to make these decisions and procedures in place as to how the "email system" should be?

Yes, there are IT staff responsible for this. So, what role did those folks have in allowing classified e-mail to leave (and re-enter) the network? Or are we supposed to believe that she just appended her signature block to hillary@mysever.com and nobody noticed when Bashar al-Assad asked Clinton for her biscuit recipe? Did Clinton just use an auto-forwarder configured in an Outlook client?

Can someone clue me in on the technical background of this? FFS, I can't send a single e-mail from my corporate network without the legal bullshit automatically appended.

Re:total bullshit?

[Dutch Gun]

According to the State Department, the former head of the State Department violated neither policies nor laws.

Well, case closed then!

Re:total bullshit?

[Anonymous Coward]

Leaks or not, the law says she was supposed to use her secure government-provided email for work. She ignored that law.

No it didn't say that till two years after she left office. Also the government email isn't secure and can only be used for non secure communication.

Nice cherry-pick, but her home email server is not considered secure communications either. I'll address the "two years after she left office" below.

Secure communications require usage of an internal distribution server that is secure and is not actually email.

What in the fuck are you talking about? Secure communications are carried out using the same fucking tools as unclassified communications on networks that appear *nearly* the fucking the same to end-users. In this context, ZOMFG, Hillary is an end-user. One that is a headache for admins, but an end-fucking-user nonetheless.

There is literally nothing Hillary could do better on her home server than she could do on the state department's servers, except violate the Federal Records Act; unless of course your argument is that the functional portion of 44 U.S. Code 3101 (June 30, 1949, ch. 288, title V, 506(a), as added Sept. 5, 1950, ch. 849, 6(d),64 Stat. 58) was not in effect when Hillary left office in Feb 2013 (hint: she was just shy of 3 when the law went into effect). For fuck's sake, the law was modified halfway through her term, by Obama's executive order and she still fucked that up (regardless of your feelings about EOrders and their impact on Federal agencies, agency heads are expected to salute the flagpole or GTFO).

I find it really hard to believe neither of the lawyers in that family could see that was a bad idea. I picture the dumber of the two saying something to the effect of "Um, hon, running an email server out of the house for SECSTATE business is dumber than me sticking a cigar up Monica's hoo-hoo and then cumming on her dress."

Look! I'd really, really like to embrace Hillary as a candidate, but I find her history of sneaky, slimy, dishonesty fairly well established.

I also hate every Republican candidate, for varying reasons. I hope I'm not put into a position of choosing between one of them and her in the ballot booth.

Quit trying to defend her. Stop siding with THEM. I gives a fuck - one side or the other PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING, FLOAT A CANDIDATE THAT IS SOMETHING OTHER THAN A FUNCTIONAL RETARD SLURPING ON THE GENITALS OF MULTIPLE 501(c)(3) PACs.

Let us all stop being sheep, please.

Re:total bullshit?

[Anonymous Coward]

Torture.

Stupid fuck.

Re:total bullshit?

[cold fjord]

Yes, let's move on for a war criminal wanted for crimes against humanity and focus on a mail server that was receiving non-classified email as much as a state state.gov address would ....

Neither President Obama nor Bush is "wanted" for any "crimes against humanity" by the ICC, INTERPOL, or any government. The emails that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton turned over from her server have been found to include at least two emails with Top Secret information, and that information was always Top Secret, as well as hundreds more with classified information. The FBI is investigating this matter, has seized the server, and the emails held by her attorney. It seems pretty clear that one or more people were reckless with handling classified information, and may have passed it on to people without security clearances and an official need to know. There is a genuine possibility someone will be prosecuted for this.

Clinton emails contained spy satellite data on North Korean nukes
New Clinton Violations In Use Of Thumb Drives For Emails

And she wants to be President!

[Anonymous Coward]

She doesn't understand why this is a big deal, and says "I was not thinking a lot when I got in. There was so much work to be done. We had so many problems around the world. I didn't really stop and think what kind of email system will there be." - really? She's the Secretary of State and doesn't think of security? Why would anyone want to see her as President?

Re:And she wants to be President!

[Anonymous Coward]

We had so many problems around the world. I didn't really stop and think what kind of email system will there be.

And she wants to have her finger on The Button (tm). Doesn't anyone else find this disturbing?

Lies upon lies

[Tailhook]

"I didn't really stop and think what kind of email system will there be"

Clinton thought hard about the kind of email system there would be. It was the kind under her exclusive control; to be wiped at will. As usual, the Clinton's statements are 100% out of phase with the truth.

Someone should have been perp walked by now.

Gowdy is starting to subpoena people; Pagliano — one of Clinton's henchmen from the State Department — may have to publically take the 5th as soon as next Thursday. Democrats need to get use to the idea of months and years of ugly, damning headlines, just like the 90's. But don't worry; eventually Clinton will get back on the "rich+corporations pay their fair share" message and our hate filled sheeple will put her in office, because that's who we are.

Trying to be dismissive

[93 Escort Wagon]

We had so many problems around the world. I didn't really stop and think what kind of email system will there be.

It's obvious she's trying to imply that there were lots of important issues to deal with, and she didn't want to waste time on trivialities. But she's wrong.

The role of Secretary of State often deals with sensitive information from both our own government, governments of other nations, and opposition groups living under repressive regimes. Safeguarding that information is paramount. Being dismissive regarding the security aspects of an important communications tool that was routinely used for classified comminications is troubling because, no matter which way you try to spin it, she comes off either as ignorant or supremely arrogant (or perhaps both). Yes, there was unrest all over, Hillary - and you don't see how mishandling sensitive information about that unrest was problematic?

I'm not looking forward to this next election. Whether you look to the left or to the right, it's clowns all the way down.

Oh, Democrats know she's lying too

[Anonymous Coward]

But they have to pretend she wan't because they know they'll end up holding their nose and voting for her anyway.

Because it's their graft, dishonesty and corruption, and Republicans can never be allowed to win, ever, for any reason.

Re:Oh, Democrats know she's lying too

[jmac_the_man]

here is food for thought: perhaps more conservative organizations were questioned by IRS because proportionally THEY do more bad things?

I think most conservatives would want to fire a police chief who told his deputies to go out and find some N-------- who weren't doing anything and harass them. From what we've seen leak out of Lerner's emails, that's what the IRS was doing.

Re:Total Innocence

[Snotnose]

Doesn't matter. First, she should have known that as SoS classified information would be flowing through that server. Second, she was ordered by a court to turn over all her emails. She stonewalled as long as she could, then printed out some of the email (the ones she deemed 'important'), then wiped the server and claimed there were no backups.

You or I would be sitting in a jail cell awaiting trial for either of these. She's not only running for president, she's got a large majority of idiots willing to vote for her. I don't give a squat about her positions on any issues. She is corrupt, slippery, slimey, and elitist.

I sincerely hope Biden runs. Not because I think he'll win, but hopefully that will be the final straw that brings other, better democrats out of the woodwork to run for president. As things go now it's looking the the repubs are going to win the White House next year.

I'm not buying the "confused grandma" defense

[steveha]

Hillary Clinton is not stupid, and she's a lawyer. Before anyone is given access to classified information, my understanding is that they have to take a class in how to manage classified information and they have to sign an agreement saying they will abide by the rules governing classified information.

Now Hillary Clinton is saying that she doesn't really understand all this confusing stuff. "Wipe the server.. you mean with a cloth?" Oh sure, Mrs. Clinton.

About a week before the news broke about her private server, Hillary Clinton was on a talk show and she said: "So I have an iPad, a mini iPad, an iPhone and a Blackberry." Then she said that the reason she set up a private server was so she could carry a single device. Now she's saying she was so busy saving the world that she didn't have time to think about what kind of server to use... which is why she didn't just use the server provided for her to use, but took steps to set up her own server and get everyone to use it?

I'm not buying it. The obvious reason why someone in her position would set up her own server, under her control, is to make sure that she would have control over which of her emails could be unearthed (e.g. by a Freedom of Information Act request). Notice that when she was finally forced to turn over emails, she picked and chose which emails to turn over, and then wiped the server to make sure nobody could ever get anything else.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3209380/Former-attorney-general-says-classified-email-scandal-disqualifies-Hillary-Clinton-serving-president-s-prosecuted-breaking-federal-law.html

Also, we can't be sure that her private server wasn't compromised. If her admins didn't get every security patch applied fast enough, someone could have 0wned it over the Internet; and if it wasn't guarded 24/7 someone could have gained physical access to the server in the middle of the night. Secretary of State is a high-profile job with access to a whole bunch of secrets; I think China and Russia probably both have copies of all her emails from her time as Secretary of State. (Whereas the USA only has the ones she turned over, printed on paper.)

And we just found out about a really bad smoking gun. Hillary Clinton has claimed that no classified emails were on her server, but we have evidence that she had one or more people systematically copying messages from a secured system and sending them to Hillary's server. Details here. The key quote:

The subject line of the February 10, 2010, e-mail exchange is "Insulza." The exchange is about a speech, apparently by a foreign official. Perhaps the subject line refers to Jose Miguel Insulza, a Chilean politician who has been secretary general of the Organization of American States since 2005. In any event, the U.S. government's internal reporting on the speech has clearly been classified (not surprising in light of what Shannen Coffin and yours truly explained earlier: foreign government information is presumptively classified). This is clearly very irritating to Secretary Clinton, who is anxious to read the speech. In the first e-mail, Clinton curtly instructs Sullivan, "It's a public statement. Just email it." Minutes later, Sullivan responds, "Trust me, I share your exasperation. But until ops converts it to the unclassified email system, there is no physical way for me to email it. I can't even access it."

So some group known as "ops" is going to "convert" a message from the classified message system to "the unclassified email system"? That's go-to-prison stuff right there.

If you are a fan of Hillary Clinton... are you okay with a

Re:I'm not buying the "confused grandma" defense

[Obfuscant]

So some group known as "ops" is going to "convert" a message from the classified message system to "the unclassified email system"? That's go-to-prison stuff right there.

No, sanitizing classified material and releasing unclassified versions is their job. No "go to prison" there.

'Go-to-prison' comes in when someone orders a subordinate to send them a copy classified material over an insecure communications system. It also disproves any "I didn't know" defense.

China

[ebonum]

We constantly blast China for hacking. I tend to think: If the data is worth stealing, US companies/gov/individuals have a duty to lock it up and protect it. I know it is very American to blame all of one's problems on someone else. If you get hacked, it is your own damn fault.
People such as Hillary have a duty to protect sensitive information. If her email was hacked, don't blame the Chinese (Or North Koreans or Russians...). Blame her.

Re:And she wants to be President!Bullshit..

[subk]

I think she knew *exactly* what she wanted in an email server. This is classic "double speak"

Re:Not to overplay the "ironic" label, but...

[towermac]

What is this history of public service? She had a Senate seat that was given to her, simply as preparation to be President. As if she's from New York, or anywhere near it...

Well, she did make a 10,000% profit in commodities in six months, and giant profits on Arkansas land deals while her husband was Governor. I'll grant those feats are pretty impressive. Not as impressive as a 'charity' foundation that rakes in many millions from overseas billionaires while she is simultaneously Secretary of State. What public service, exactly, has that charity funded by the way?

That's what I see in the 'public record' AC. What do you see?

Re:What other choice is there?

[FlyHelicopters]

I don't even like her, but I will vote for her just to keep a Republican out of the white house.

The irony is that you're part of the problem. The same people who will vote for any R just to keep a D out of the white house.

Further, your vote might not even count, if you're in one of the majority of states that aren't a contest, which is even more of a crime.

Frankly, our elections are a joke, anyone with any brains can see that. You think we really have a choice?

Re:Total Innocence

[Sarius64]

Because destroying government evidence compelled by Congress is clearly the right of ex-official gleaning millions of dollars in slush money into her charity which took in more than $140 million in grants and pledges in 2013 but spent just $9 million on direct aid. Pretty good gig, huh? http://nypost.com/2015/04/26/c...