Gardner, Cornyn Introduce Bill to Revoke Secretary Clinton's Security Clearance

Press Release

Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced S.3135, the Taking Responsibility Using Secured Technologies (TRUST) Act of 2016, legislation that would revoke Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's security clearance as well as the security clearances of Secretary Clinton's colleagues at the State Department who exhibited extreme carelessness in their handling of classified information. Additionally, the TRUST Act expresses the sense of Congress that Secretary Clinton should not have access to classified information again until she earns the legal right to such access.

The legislation follows the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) investigation into Secretary Clinton's use of a personal e-mail system in her capacity as Secretary of State. In an announcement earlier this week, FBI Director James Comey said that "there is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information" and "none of these e-mails should have been on any kind of unclassified system, but their presence is especially concerning because all of these e-mails were housed on unclassified personal servers not even supported by full-time security staff." The FBI uncovered several thousand additional emails related to her position, some of which contained classified material, that were not included in the 30,000 emails Clinton handed over to the State Department. Comey concluded the FBI's findings with "we assess it is possible that hostile actors gained access to Secretary Clinton's personal e-mail account."

Comey stated the investigation initially focused on whether classified information was transmitted on Secretary Clinton's personal e-mail system and evolved to determine if there is evidence that classified information was not properly transmitted or stored on that personal e-mail system and whether there is evidence that the system was hacked by foreign or hostile hackers. While Comey confirmed that classified information was transmitted and stored improperly and the personal e-mail system may have been hacked, he formally recommended that no charges be filed against Secretary Clinton.

"The FBI's investigation into Secretary Clinton's personal e-mail server confirmed what Americans across the country already know: Secretary Clinton recklessly accessed classified information on an insecure system -- establishing a vulnerable and highly desirable target for foreign hackers," said Gardner. "If the FBI won't recommend action based on its findings, Congress will. At the very least, Secretary Clinton should not have access to classified information and our bill makes sure of it."

"Access to classified information is a tremendous responsibility, and should only be entrusted to those who will treat that information with the care it deserves," said Senator Cornyn. "When individuals mishandle our country's most sensitive information they jeopardize national security and shouldn't be trusted with such an important responsibility."

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