Defense Secretary Ash Carter used a personal email address for official business for almost his first full year as Pentagon chief, emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by numerous news organizations revealed.
The Associated Press said that none of the 1,336 pages of emails released contained classified information. A Pentagon spokesman told the news organization that all of Carter’s business emails are preserved.
Despite an official ban on Defense Department employees from using personal email accounts for work, and the ongoing investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private account while secretary of state, Carter didn’t stop using the personal account until December.
Clinton supporters will likely cite the finding to argue that her use of a private email account was consistent with practices of her predescessors as Secretary of State and other cabinet officials.
“I am no longer utilizing personal email for the remainder of my time as the Secretary of Defense,” Carter wrote, according to the AP. “If you need to get in touch with me regarding a personal matter, please contact me on my cell phone. If you are contacting me pertaining to business, please contact my assistant,” on Dec. 17.
The auto-response ended: “You will not receive ANY additional response to this email.”
The emails were released on Friday.
