White House email probe

WASHINGTON: The White House has launched an internal investigation into the use of private email by senior aides, Politico reported yesterday.

Citing four unnamed officials, Politico said the effort began this week after it reported President Donald Trump’s soninlaw and adviser, Jared Kushner, and other senior White House officials had used private email accounts to exchange messages for Government business.

A US House of Representatives committee asked the White House on Tuesday for information about the Politico report.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, asked if Trump was concerned about the reported use of private emails, told reporters earlier yesterday: ‘‘The White House has been clear and instructs all staff to fully comply with the Presidential Records Act. All staff has been briefed on the need to preserve those records, and will continue to do so.’’

During Trump’s 2016 election campaign, he attacked Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server for official correspondence when she was Secretary of State under President Barack Obama.

The White House probe could take months to complete as officials are searching for all emails sent or received about Government business, Politico reported.

Politico earlier reported other senior Trump aides had also used private email accounts, including former chief of staff Reince Priebus, former chief strategist Steve Bannon and economic adviser Gary Cohn.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday private accounts were also used by the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser. — Reuters