2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Hillary Clinton's Private Server... Laugh it off. Nothing to see here... move along please! [View all]Sancho
(9,070 posts)No one sent classified information over email. There was a different system for anything classified. That was true no matter what server or account sent it.
The only way any "information" was classified and sent over email was a mistake or inadvertent - like a classification after it was sent or some file accidentally attached. Lots of government offices use contracted or "private" email services, and a few people who want MORE security and can afford it have their own servers. If a mistake was made, it didn't matter what email account it was sent on...the .gov servers are no more secure than any other system. That's obvious since they have been hacked repeatedly.
Jeb Bush, Dick Cheney, and lots of others set up private servers...and really, there are likely a bunch of private servers out there that people simply don't know exist...in fact, Hillary was using a Blackberry at the time, so everything went though the BB phone system to even get to her server and then to and from the .gov system. Communications could be hacked at any point, so that's why classified stuff doesn't go by email or smartphone. All smartphones go through a commercial system. Unless you have your own private satellite and sat phone - that's the way it goes. Your text and email are not .GOV anyway if you use a phone.
The staff is supposed to review items to prevent classification mistakes, but maybe a few things slipped by, like a name was used or a travel plan disclosed.
The only obligation of employees is to keep a record of communications and certain activities (email, letters, phone logs, travel schedules, etc.). That is done as self-reporting. If Hillary gets an email from another world leader that they are coming to the Christmas party - then Hillary has to decide if that is "work" or "personal". That's the way most jobs work.