FBI documents suggest 'quid pro quo' offer from State Department to FBI over classification of Clinton emails
The undersecretary of state, Patrick Kennedy, asked for assistance in changing the classification of an email that the FBI had marked classified, according to an FBI official whose name was redacted in the released documents.
That FBI official then contacted another person in the bureau and "pressured" the individual to change the classification of the email, the FBI documents said.
In exchange for marking the email unclassified, the State Department was willing to "reciprocate by allowing the FBI to place more agents in countries where they are presently forbidden," according to the documents.
Republicans were quick to condemn the new revelations.
House Speaker Paul Ryan issued a statement saying the documents "further demonstrate Secretary Clinton's complete disregard for properly handling classified information."
"This is exactly why I called on [Director of National Intelligence James] Clapper to deny her access to classified information," Ryan said in the statement. "Moreover, a senior State Department official's attempt to pressure the FBI to hide the extent of the mishandling bears all the signs of a cover-up."
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump also commented on the documents, tweeting "unbelievable" in response to the "quid pro quo" revelation.
The FBI also released a statement about the supposed quid pro quo.
"The classification of the email was not changed, and it remains classified today," the statement said. "Although there was never a quid pro quo, these allegations were nonetheless referred to the appropriate officials for review."
This is a developing story. This post will be updated.