WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, co-sponsored a bill introduced Thursday that would revoke former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s security clearance.
The bill, which is co-sponsored by Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, is titled the “Taking Responsibility Using Secured Technologies Act of 2016,” would revoke the security clearance for Clinton and her colleagues at the State Department.
The legislation comes on the heels of the FBI’s announcement on Tuesday that it would not recommend criminal charges against Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, for her use of a private email server and address to send State Department emails.
“The FBI’s investigation into Secretary Clinton’s personal email server confirmed what Americans across the country already know: Secretary Clinton recklessly accessed classified information on an insecure system – establishing a vulnerable and highly desirable target for foreign hackers,” Gardner said. “If the FBI won’t recommend action based on its findings, Congress will. At the very least, Secretary Clinton should not have access to classified information, and our bill makes sure of it.”
Colorado Democrats, including state Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio, called it a politically motivated bill.
“As FBI Director (James) Comey told legislators today (Thursday), Secretary Clinton did not lie to the FBI and did not break the law. This legislation is just a further ploy by Republicans to attempt to score cheap political points and distract from Donald Trump’s offensive rhetoric and policy agenda.”
Ana Moran, a field organizer in La Plata County for the Colorado Democratic Party, condemned the bill. She said that while she believes Clinton should be held responsible for her actions and explain herself further to the public, stripping her of her security clearance is “shortsighted.” Moran said a different bill should be written that could limit, rather than strip, Clinton’s access to classified information during the presidential campaign.
“Republicans have been ruthless in ruining her reputation, a lot of this is political gain to further destroy her reputation or to diminish her trustworthiness in the eyes of the public,” Moran said.
Kate Magill is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for The Journal. Reach her at kmagill@durangoherald.com.