WASHINGTON — State Department security personnel so disliked Hillary Clinton that many left the agency or asked to be reassigned, according to FBI documents released Monday.
The revelations come from an interview summary of one unnamed Department of Homeland Security official that was conducted as part of the FBI’s investigation into Clinton’s handling of classified information while secretary of state.
“[Redacted] explained that CLINTON’s treatment of DS agents on her protective detail was so contemptuous that many of them sought reassignment or employment elsewhere,” the FBI documents state.
“Prior to CLINTON’s tenure, being an agent on the Secretary of State’s protective detail was seen as an honor and privilege reserved for senior agents. However, by the end of CLINTON’s tenure, it was staffed largely with new agents because it was difficult to find senior agents willing to work for her,” the interview summary states.
The official who was interviewed worked for the Department of Homeland Security and was a previous State employee.
He said Secret Service agents also complained about Clinton.
The documents are being released after the more than year-long FBI investigation into Clinton’s handling of classified information on her private email server while she served as the US’ top diplomat.
The interview summary from the DHS official states that Clinton took an unnecessary risk by demanding a window be open in her armored vehicle on a trip in “occupied territory” in “Palestine,” despite the driver declining to do so due to the security situation.
“CLINTON disregarded security and diplomatic protocols, occasionally without regard for the safety of her staff and protection detail, in order to gain favorable press,” the document states.
The document details a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, for a photo opportunity with a “‘clean cooking stoves’ initiative” at an area that security believed was too dangerous.
But Clinton, traveling “with hand-picked media who would present her in favorable light,” demanded they go.