The FBI is declining to turn over files associated with its investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’by claiming a lack of interest in the 34, s emails.
Ty Clevenger, a lawyer in New York City, filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in March of 2016 requesting a Number of documents from the FBI and the Justice Department, including correspondence exchanged with Congress concerning the Clinton email investigation.
But in a letter sent this week and obtained by Fox News, the head of the FBI’s Records Management Division told Clevenger that the bureau has “determined you have not sufficiently demonstrated that the public’s interest in disclosure outweighs personal privacy interests of the topic. ”
“You must show that the public interest sought is a significant one”
“Therefore, records regarding your topic are withheld pursuant to FOIA exemptions,” David M. Hardy of the FBI’s Records Management Division told Clevenger.
Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016, was investigated by the FBI for using host and a personal email address to handle classified information.
In July 2016, then-FBI Director James Comey famously called Clinton’s email arrangement “exceptionally careless” though he decided against recommending criminal charges.
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Though Clinton lost the election, Clevenger is trying to obtain documents. He’s seeking to prove she committed perjury, the Washington Times reported.
He specifically asked for all documents resulting from a September 6, 2016 referral to the Justice Department from Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican.
At the time, Chaffetz requested the department to “research and determine whether Secretary Clinton or her employees and contractors violated statues that prohibit destruction of documents, obstruction of inquiries, and concealment or cover up to a congressional investigation. ”
On Aug. 8, the FBI requested Clevenger to detail why the people would be interested.
“If you find disclosure of any existing records on this foundation, you must demonstrate that the public interest in disclosure outweighs privacy interests,” the letter said. “In this respect, you must show that the public interest sought is a significant one, and that the requested information is very likely to advance that interest. ”
Clevenger expressed disbelief.
“Frankly, I am stunned I need to have to explain why my request pertains to a matter of public interest,” Clevenger wrote in an Aug. 11 letter to the FBI.
He explained how Clinton was the Democratic nominee for president of the United States, a former secretary of state and a former senator.
Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report.
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