Norton Questions OGR Role in FBI Director Comey Hearing and Asks Him for Guidance on Personal Email Use for Federal Officials

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that the accusatory nature of today’s House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) hearing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of personal email raised constitutional separation of powers issues, and she instead asked FBI Director James Comey how federal officials, including Members of Congress, handle personal email when classified matters are involved. She noted that Members of Congress are exempt from any rules regarding the use of their personal emails for matters that may contain sensitive material. Norton, for example, pointed out that OGR Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) lists his personal email on his official business card. Norton cited other examples, such as the House Intelligence, Defense, or OGR committees, where there are no rules for Members of Congress about separating official email use from personal email use. She asked Director Comey how Members of Congress, as well as federal employees, should handle the use of their personal emails. Director Comey responded that a classified email system must always be used whenever sending a classified document as an attachment or having a conversation about classified matters. Norton’s line of questioning showed that the issues Clinton encountered were present throughout the federal government. She said that the committee, instead of sliding into a prosecutorial role on the Clinton matter, should heed the advice of Director Comey and consider appropriate guidance for federal officials.