Personal Email Used by Ashton Carter for Government Business

Carter used a personal email account during the first several months of his tenure at the Pentagon despite the fact that he was issued a government email address as soon as he became secretary in February, the New York Times first reported last night. Both Clinton and Carter have said they have not put sensitive information in jeopardy.

During GOP debates in August, Republican candidate Scott Walker noted sarcastically that “it’s sad to think right now, but probably the Russian and Chinese government[s] know more about Hillary Clinton’s email server than do the members of the United States Congress”.

He also acknowledged that the defense secretary “had determined that he had been wrong to use the personal account”, but stressed that he does not believe he used the personal account for classified material.

According to a senior USA official, Carter was told about the White House warning, but it was more about following the rules, particularly regarding the preservation of emails he sent using his personal account.

“Any email related to work received on this personal account, such as an invitation to speak at an event or an administrative issue, is copied or forwarded to his official account so it can be preserved as a federal record as appropriate”, the spokesman said. The Times received copies of 72 work-related emails with the request, and according to the report, the emails were sent from Carter’s iPhone and iPad and discussed things such as television appearances, hotels bills and legislation. The New York Times, which first reported his use of a private, unsecured email, submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for his private emails in September.

Mr Carter said he did not use his phone for classified information. “The secretary does not directly email anyone within the Department or the US government except a very small group of senior advisers, usually his chief of staff”.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s use of a personal email account for government matters was inconsistent with administration email policy, the White House said on Thursday.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) noted that “with all the public attention surrounding the improper use of personal email by other administration officials, it is hard to believe that Secretary Carter would exercise the same error in judgment”.

Clinton’s email practices were revealed in March.

None of the Carter email correspondence released by the Pentagon included classified material, although they covered only the period from April 1-30.

Carter’s press secretary, Peter Cook, declined to say whether Carter’s practice had been a violation of Pentagon email policies. “The secretary has a secure communications team that handles his classified information and provides it to him as necessary”.