Rep. Wenstrup introduces bill to prevent mishandling of classified information
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In light of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision not to indict former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified information, Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-2) has introduced legislation (H.R. 5706) to clarify the federal law that governs gathering, transmitting or losing defense information.
After a year-long investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey announced on July 5, 2016, that he would recommend the DOJ not file charges against Hillary Clinton for transmitting classified information over her personal email server as Secretary of State. During his press conference, however, Comey admitted: “Although we did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information, there is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.”
Wenstrup’s bill would revise federal law and make it a crime for anyone to mishandle classified information, regardless of intent.
“Like many of my constituents, I’m appalled at the double standard applied in this case” said Wenstrup. “I’m also concerned what kind of precedent this will create for similar cases in the future. The seriousness of mishandling sensitive information cannot be overstated. The point of H.R. 5706 is to ensure that all government officials, from Secretaries of State, to Members of Congress, to rank-and-file federal employees will be equally held accountable for compromising classified information, and that the standard is clear.”
Upon release from the Government Publishing Office (GPO), the full text of H.R. 5706 will be available on www.congress.gov.
After a year-long investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey announced on July 5, 2016, that he would recommend the DOJ not file charges against Hillary Clinton for transmitting classified information over her personal email server as Secretary of State. During his press conference, however, Comey admitted: “Although we did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or her colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information, there is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.”
Wenstrup’s bill would revise federal law and make it a crime for anyone to mishandle classified information, regardless of intent.
“Like many of my constituents, I’m appalled at the double standard applied in this case” said Wenstrup. “I’m also concerned what kind of precedent this will create for similar cases in the future. The seriousness of mishandling sensitive information cannot be overstated. The point of H.R. 5706 is to ensure that all government officials, from Secretaries of State, to Members of Congress, to rank-and-file federal employees will be equally held accountable for compromising classified information, and that the standard is clear.”
Upon release from the Government Publishing Office (GPO), the full text of H.R. 5706 will be available on www.congress.gov.