A former aide to Hillary Clinton has refused to answer questions from FBI investigators and the State Department inspector general about the private server he maintained for the former secretary.
Bryan Pagliano, Clinton’s former IT manager, invoked his Fifth Amendment right in response to inquiries from the federal agencies, as well as from three congressional committees, according to a report by Yahoo News.
Pagliano’s attorney declined a subpoena to interview with the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Sept. 10, although several other top Clinton aides have agreed to answer questions about the 2012 attack.
Pagliano also refused to answer questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
An attorney for Pagliano told the Homeland Security Committee that he “had advised Mr. Pagliano not to answer questions from congressional committees and executive branch agencies,” a committee spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
Brian Fallon, a spokesperson for Clinton’s campaign, told CNN Thursday Clinton’s staff had encouraged all former aides to answer the government’s questions about the private server, expressing disappointment that Pagliano had chosen not to do so.
Cheryl Mills, Clinton’s former chief of staff, appeared before the Benghazi committee Thursday for a closed-door interview that reportedly included questions about Clinton’s private email use.
Pagliano first evaded inquiries about the server in June, when he was approached by the State Department inspector general, according to the report.
The FBI also sought to interview him after a pair of agency watchdogs referred the matter to the Justice Department for investigation, but Pagliano again declined to answer questions.
