The State Department on Wednesday refused to wade into Donald Trump’s remarks that maybe Russia can help the U.S. find Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails from when she led the department.
“I don’t know that it’s our place here at the State Department to make a judgment about the appropriateness of comments made by candidates for elected office,” spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
“I think we would let those candidates speak for themselves, and their views,” he said. “So I think I will just leave it there.”
At a press conference in Florida, Trump said he hoped Russia might be able to find the 33,000 missing Clinton emails. Trump said he believed Russia probably already had the emails through one or more hacks.
“They probably have her 33,000 emails,” he said. “I hope they do because you’d see some beauties in there.”
Some in the press have said Trump’s comments border on treason, as they could be heard as an invitation for Russia to hack U.S. computer systems. Kirby also refused to comment on whether he agrees.
“I’m not going to respond to campaign rhetoric or to the comments that either candidate for president of the United States are making in their campaigns,” he said. “It’s just not appropriate from this podium.”
