House Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Thursday said he’s comfortable with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump having access to classified information, as Mr. Ryan calls for Hillary Clinton to be denied such access in light of FBI Director James B. Comey’s comments earlier this week about her email set-up.
“I am,” Mr. Ryan said Thursday when asked if he feels comfortable with Mr. Trump handling classified information.
Mr. Ryan has written to Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper requesting that Mrs. Clinton be denied classified information, which is typically provided to major party presidential nominees, because of the way she handled her private email set-up.
“I really believe that if we have someone who has so recklessly mishandled sensitive, classified information … I think that we should think this through,” Mr. Ryan said Thursday at his weekly press briefing.
The House speaker said he didn’t know if Congress would be able to take any action if the request is denied, but he suspected that it would not.
Mr. Ryan spoke soon after Mr. Trump addressed Republican House members on Capitol Hill.
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“I think we had a great meeting with out presumptive nominee,” Mr. Ryan said. “I think our members really enjoyed it.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, said both candidates should have the security access.
“I think that both of the candidates for president of the United States should have access to the security that is appropriate. It is necessary,” Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, told reporters. “And I have no problem with Hillary Clinton and those she relies on having that information.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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