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Documents confirm Pentagon chief used personal email for official business Documents confirm Pentagon chief used personal email for official business
(about 2 hours later)
Defense Secretary Ash Carter used his personal email account for government business for nearly a year until December 2015, when news reports revealed the practice, newly released documents reveal.Defense Secretary Ash Carter used his personal email account for government business for nearly a year until December 2015, when news reports revealed the practice, newly released documents reveal.
Related: Pentagon chief Ash Carter used personal email for official businessRelated: Pentagon chief Ash Carter used personal email for official business
The issue has been to the fore in Washington due to Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server while secretary of state during Barack Obama’s first term.The issue has been to the fore in Washington due to Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server while secretary of state during Barack Obama’s first term.
Stoked by Republicans in Congress and on the campaign trail, the issue of the propriety or otherwise of such practices has dogged Clinton’s run for the Democratic presidential nomination.Stoked by Republicans in Congress and on the campaign trail, the issue of the propriety or otherwise of such practices has dogged Clinton’s run for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Late on Friday, in response to Freedom of Information Act requests by the Associated Press and other news organizations, the Pentagon released 1,336 pages of Carter’s emails.Late on Friday, in response to Freedom of Information Act requests by the Associated Press and other news organizations, the Pentagon released 1,336 pages of Carter’s emails.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement the release showed none of the emails contained classified information. Cook said all of Carter’s work-related emails were preserved within the federal records system. None contained classified information, and most pertained to routine business such as scheduling and logistics.
On 18 December, one day after the first news stories appeared, Carter sent an email on his personal account stating the he would no longer use personal email for the remainder of his tenure at the Pentagon. In a 21 November email using his personal account, for example, Carter wrote: “My work email isn’t working on my iPhone. If you need me this weekend please email me here and cc my work address too.”
In December the New York Times obtained 72 work-related emails that Carter, who took office in February 2015, sent or received from his personal email account. The emails concerned work-related topics including speeches, meetings and media appearances. The Pentagon has long banned the use of personal email for official business. Carter’s use of his personal email account, starting when he took office in February 2015, was especially remarkable given the burst of public criticism that followed disclosures in March about Clinton.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement all of Carter’s work-related emails were preserved within the federal records system.
The emails released on Friday show that while he used the personal account much less frequently starting in about September, Carter did not halt the practice entirely until December.
That month, the New York Times obtained 72 work-related emails that Carter, who took office in February 2015, sent or received from his personal email account. The emails concerned work-related topics including speeches, meetings and media appearances.
The Times said the emails it received under the Freedom of Information Act were exchanges between Carter and Eric Fanning, his chief of staff at the time and later acting secretary of the army.The Times said the emails it received under the Freedom of Information Act were exchanges between Carter and Eric Fanning, his chief of staff at the time and later acting secretary of the army.
On 18 December, one day after the first news stories appeared, Carter sent an email from his personal account.
Carter wrote: “I am no longer utilizing personal e-mail for the remainder of my time as the secretary of defense. If you need to get in touch with me regarding a personal matter please contact me on my cell phone. If you are contacting me pertaining to business please contact my assistant, [redacted by Defense Department].”
He ended the note by writing, “You will not receive ANY additional response to this e-mail.”