Republicans renewed calls Friday for Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to suspend classified briefings for Hillary Clinton in the wake of the FBI reopening its investigation into her use of a private email server when she served as secretary of state.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., blasted Clinton, saying she betrayed the public’s trust “by carelessly mishandling highly classified information.”
Ryan then called on Clapper to suspend briefings “until this matter is fully resolved.”
California Rep. Devin Nunes, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Select Committee, added that “it is impossible to see how Director of National Intelligence James Clapper can believe Clinton or any of her implicated staffers should ever again be provided access to classified information."
Other lawmakers including Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kansas., also put pressure on Clapper.
“We can’t run the risk of more intelligence that puts Americans at risk of being exposed,” Pompeo said.
Ryan wrote to Clapper on July 6 calling for the director to deny briefings to Clinton after FBI Director James Comey said Clinton had been “extremely careless” in her handling of sensitive information.
Clapper later said he would not withhold briefings from any nominated presidential candidate.
“Nominees for president and vice president receive these classified briefings by virtue of their status as candidates, and do not require separate security clearances before the briefings,” Clapper wrote.