Ryan Sends Intel Director Letter Asking Him To Keep Classified Info From Clinton

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) wrote a letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on Wednesday asking him not to brief Hillary Clinton with classified information during the presidential campaign.

In the letter provided to Politico, Ryan noted that the FBI Director James Comey said that the investigation into Clinton’s email use found that the former secretary of state was “careless” with classified information.

“Given the FBI’s findings, denying Secretary Clinton access to classified information certainly constitutes appropriate sanctions,” Ryan wrote. “There is no legal requirement for you to provide Secretary Clinton with classified information, and it would send the wrong signal to all those charged with safeguarding our nation’s secrets if you choose to provide her access to this information despite the FBI’s findings.”

Ryan raised the issue earlier on Wednesday, telling reporters at a press conference that Clinton should not have access to classified briefings.

The Speaker also wrote a letter to Comey on Wednesday, asking that the FBI release all of the investigation’s findings to Congress.

“I have great respect for the professionals at the FBI. However, many people—myself included—struggle to reconcile the case that you made against Secretary Clinton with the decision against recommending prosecution,” Ryan wrote to Comey. “Right now, there are simply too many unanswered questions.”

“No one should be above the law, especially candidates for the presidency,” Ryan continued. “The stakes are high—the next president of the United States holds the keys to the safety of the American people.”