US State Dept. reopens probe into Clinton's private emails

By Esra Kaymak Avci

WASHINGTON (AA) – The State Department will reopen an investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she served as Secretary of State, an official told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

"Given the Department of Justice has now made its announcement, the State Department intends to conduct its internal review," agency spokesman John Kirby told Anadolu Agency in a statement.

Kirby declined to provide specifics about what information would be analyzed nor a timeframe for completing the probe. “Our goal will be to be as transparent as possible about our results, while complying with our various legal obligations. I'm not able to make commitments today one way or the other about what we will be able to disclose."

In January, the State Department began an internal investigation into Clinton’s potential mishandling of classified information by using the server at her home to conduct government business. That probe was suspended in April as to not interfere with the FBI’s investigation.

The Justice Department decided not to indict Clinton regarding her use of the server, following a recommendation by FBI Director James Comey who said the agency would not seek charges against the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Comey defended the FBI’s decision not to prosecute Clinton during testimony before a congressional committee on Thursday.

He told lawmakers that criminally charging Clinton would have been unwarranted and mere "celebrity hunting."

The FBI’s investigating began last August into whether Clinton's email arrangement broke any laws or placed important information at risk.

Last Saturday, the agency interviewed Clinton for the first time in the case.