"The Iranian scientist executed by his own government after being convicted of spying for the U.S. seemingly was discussed in emails that crossed Hillary Clinton’s private server, fueling Republican accusations about how “reckless” the former secretary of state’s server set-up truly was.
Iran confirmed Sunday that Shahram Amiri was hanged last week – years after he defected to the
U.S.; later returned home, where he was heralded as a hero; and then was tried and convicted of spying for the U.S.
While there are conflicting accounts of Amiri’s odyssey from Iran to the U.S. and back, he did appear in a video in 2010 while living in the U.S. claiming to have been kidnapped by American and Saudi agents. He walked into the Iranian-interests section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington later that year and demanded to be sent home.
But there are reports going back years that Amiri, despite his claims to the contrary, was being paid to provide the CIA with information about Iran’s nuclear program.
Another email, sent by Sullivan on July 12, 2010, appears to obliquely refer to the scientist just hours before his appearance at the Pakistani Embassy became widely known.
"The gentleman ... has apparently gone to his country's interests section because he is unhappy with how much time it has taken to facilitate his departure," Sullivan wrote. "This could lead to problematic news stories in the next 24 hours.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., speaking Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” cited those mentions in renewing concerns about Clinton’s server set-up.
“In the emails that were on Hillary Clinton's private server, there were conversations among her senior advisers about this gentleman,” he said. “That goes to show just how reckless and careless her decision was to put that kind of highly classified information a private server. I think her judgment is not suited to keep this country safe.”
And, un-redacted Clinton server emails released last year appear to refer to Amiri as “our friend” – though it’s unclear whether those references put him at any additional risk.
An email forwarded to Clinton by senior adviser Jake Sullivan on July 5, 2010 — just 10 days before Amiri returned to Tehran — says: "We have a diplomatic, 'psychological' issue, not a legal one. Our friend has to be given a way out." FOX
Iran confirmed Sunday that Shahram Amiri was hanged last week – years after he defected to the
While there are conflicting accounts of Amiri’s odyssey from Iran to the U.S. and back, he did appear in a video in 2010 while living in the U.S. claiming to have been kidnapped by American and Saudi agents. He walked into the Iranian-interests section at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington later that year and demanded to be sent home.
But there are reports going back years that Amiri, despite his claims to the contrary, was being paid to provide the CIA with information about Iran’s nuclear program.
Another email, sent by Sullivan on July 12, 2010, appears to obliquely refer to the scientist just hours before his appearance at the Pakistani Embassy became widely known.
"The gentleman ... has apparently gone to his country's interests section because he is unhappy with how much time it has taken to facilitate his departure," Sullivan wrote. "This could lead to problematic news stories in the next 24 hours.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., speaking Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” cited those mentions in renewing concerns about Clinton’s server set-up.
“In the emails that were on Hillary Clinton's private server, there were conversations among her senior advisers about this gentleman,” he said. “That goes to show just how reckless and careless her decision was to put that kind of highly classified information a private server. I think her judgment is not suited to keep this country safe.”
And, un-redacted Clinton server emails released last year appear to refer to Amiri as “our friend” – though it’s unclear whether those references put him at any additional risk.
An email forwarded to Clinton by senior adviser Jake Sullivan on July 5, 2010 — just 10 days before Amiri returned to Tehran — says: "We have a diplomatic, 'psychological' issue, not a legal one. Our friend has to be given a way out." FOX
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