Clinton emails contained top secret data, say US officials

THE controversy over Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email account to conduct government business deepened last night, after the US government said that 22 emails found on the unsecured “homebrew” server in her home contained “top secret” information.

Mrs Clinton’s use of a private email account as secretary of state was a departure from government protocol, and prompted an FBI investigation into whether information she sent and received could have been compromised.

The Democratic presidential frontrunner has consistently downplayed the significance of the email issue, insisting she made an error in judgment but did not put US secrets at risk.

She will now face fresh questions just three days before the crucial Iowa caucuses, after the state department confirmed that seven email exchanges totalling 37 pages were “top secret”, a designation reserved for material that would pose an “exceptionally grave” risk to national security if it fell into the wrong hands.

Mrs Clinton’s support has dwindled in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, and the resurfacing of the email controversy could make it more difficult for her to regain a foothold on the race.

An intelligence official told the Associated Press the emails concerned “special access programs”, which could be used to identify undercover agents, or contain information about operations such as drone strikes. A state department spokesman said the “top secret” classification was applied retroactively.

Republican candidates have repeatedly criticised Mrs Clinton over her emails. Some have raised the possibility she could face criminal charges.