WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton’s longtime aide said her boss is “often confused” and needs plenty of guidance to understand the schedule, according to fresh emails out Monday.
Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, released new emails from Huma Abedin that show her concern among her State Department staff on making sure Clinton knew whom to call.
In one email exchange on Jan. 26, 2013, Abedin asks fellow staffer Monica Hanley whether Clinton knows to call Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Hanley replies: “She was in bed for a nap by the time I heard that she had an 8am call. Will go over with her.”
Abedin stresses the importance of reviewing the schedule with Clinton: “Very imp to do that. She’s often confused.”
It’s not the first time the word “confused” has been used to describe the Democratic presidential front-runner and former top diplomat. Clinton herself admits she gets confused and even apologizes to her staff for mix-ups while she was secretary of state.
The emails Clinton kept on her private email server and turned over to the State Department reveal a Clinton who is often stumped by technology — needing help with mobile devices, faxes and calls. A Post review of the disclosed emails shows she’s also confused by her schedule.
On May 31, 2010, Clinton emailed Abedin on the timing of her meetings and travel schedule. After a back-and-forth over the time, she writes: “Ok but I’m confused since I remember talking w Lona about changing to 8 tonight.”
On Sept. 23, 2009, Clinton is emailing with chief of staff Cheryl Mills about an upcoming State Department senior leadership retreat. After reviewing the draft agenda, Clinton was thrown by whether Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg would be there for an earlier presentation. “I’m confused–will he be there in am? Can he be urged to reschedule whatever else he has and come?”
Judicial Watch had filed several federal lawsuits for access to emails from Clinton’s private email server, including those of Abedin.
“Huma Abedin’s description of Hillary Clinton as ‘easily confused’ tells you all you need to know why it took a federal lawsuit to get these government emails from Clinton’s illegal email server,” Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton said in a statement.
In emails Clinton turned over herself to the State Department, she apologizes several times for confusing her staff.
In an email to Daniel Baer on Dec. 13, 2009, Clinton said sorry for not making her edits clear on an upcoming speech. “I just looked at the first page and noticed I hadn’t crossed out the last typed line–did that confuse you?”
The emails show how Clinton, who is often perceived as polished and rehearsed, makes mistakes when emailing about foreign affairs.
A day earlier, Dec. 12, 2009, Clinton apologized for confusing Guinea and Morocco in an email. She sends a note to three staffers, including Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman. “Good catch, Jeff! Yes–two issues. there will be a contact group about Guinea that the French want us to be strong on too. Sorry for the confusion.”