In sworn testimony made public on Thursday, Hillary Clinton repeatedly stated that she “does not recall” ordering work-related emails to be deleted from her private server after she left the State Department in 2013.
The testimony, obtained by the conservative group Judicial Watch, marked the first time Clinton was forced to answer questions under oath about her private email system. A federal judge had ordered the former secretary of state's legal team to turn over written responses to questions about the so-called "homebrew" server, which was kept in her New York home during her tenure as America's top diplomat.
Clinton and her legal team objected to all or part of 18 of the 25 questions put to her by Judicial Watch. She also filed eight separate general objections to the process under which the questions were being asked.
Even when she did answer, however, many of her responses weren’t all that helpful. Of the 25 questions posed to her, she said she “does not recall” at least 21 times.
Clinton also said she did not recall receiving a February 2011 memo warning her of increased attempts to hack into private email accounts belonging to senior State Department officials.
Clinton was also asked when she decided to use her private email account to conduct government business and whom she consulted in making that decision.
Clinton said she recalled making the decision in early 2009, but she "does not recall any specific consultations regarding the decision."
Asked whether she was warned that using a private email account conflicted with federal record-keeping rules, Clinton responded that "she does not recall being advised, cautioned, or warned, she does not recall that it was ever suggested to her, and she does not recall participating in any communication, conversation, or meeting in which it was discussed."
She also said it was her “expectation” that her lawyers turned over all of her work emails to State when she had “no reason to keep her personal e-mails.” But in July, FBI Director James Comey said “thousands” of work emails were not turned over.
Judicial Watch will review the responses carefully, but on the surface, the conservative group does not seem satisfied with her answers.
"Mrs. Clinton's refusal to answer many of the questions in a clear and straightforward manner further reflects disdain for the rule of law," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.