WikiLeaks releases emails from Hillary Clinton campaign chairman

World Today

Clinton campaign chair John PodestaJohn Podesta, campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Internet watchdog group WikiLeaks released thousands of emails from Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta.

The release was “part 1” of a series by WikiLeaks that they have entitled the #PodestaEmails.

The first release “comprises 2,060 emails and 170 attachments and focuses on Mr. Podesta’s communications relating to nuclear energy, and media handling over donations to the Clinton Foundation from mining and nuclear interests; 1,244 of the emails reference nuclear energy. The full collection includes emails to and from Hillary Clinton,” WikiLeaks said on their website.

The leak also revealed the transcripts of closed-door speeches Clinton gave to Wall Street executives two years ago.

The excerpts include Clinton suggesting that Wall Street insiders are best equipped to help reform the financial sector. She also conceded that presidential candidates for either party must have tens of millions in contributions from New York to mount a competitive national campaign.

WikiLeaks said in their Friday release that there were thousands of emails from Podesta, though its unclear whether Podesta’s personal email accounts had been hacked or whether the emails had been included in successful hacking attacks, blamed on Russia, against prominent Democratic organizations.

Clinton’s campaign says it will not confirm the authenticity of emails from Podesta. The campaign is blaming the intrusion on Russian state actors seeking to help rival Donald Trump. Spokesman Glen Caplin says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange “has made no secret of his desire to damage Hillary Clinton.”
Podesta says he doesn’t “have time” to sort out which emails are real but is “not happy” about being hacked.

This story uses information from The Associated Press.