AP reporter offers Clinton campaign chance to 'steer us away' from negative story

An Associated Press reporter contacted Hillary Clinton's lawyer in August 2015 and offered her campaign the chance to "steer us away" from a story that was unfavorable to the Democratic candidate for president, newly released emails from WikiLeaks show.

On Aug. 11, 2015, shortly after a federal judge was asked to seize the thumb drive containing copies of Clinton's private emails, Eric Tucker, who covers the Justice Department for the international news wire, sent an email to Clinton lawyer David Kendall, which read:

Hi David,

We have been told, and we are preparing to report, that the FBI has taken possession of the thumb drive that was once in your possession. This is what we have been informed, and we wanted to see whether there was any sort of comment that could be provided. If you wanted to steer us away and say that we are misinformed, then I would gladly accept that as well. But we have solid reason to believe this. We’d welcome any comment you can offer. Thanks very much.

Eric

Kendall forwarded the message to top Clinton aide Cheryl Mills with a three-word note: "It's getting out." From there, the message was went to Clinton campaign staffers Jennifer Palmieri, Nick Merrill and Brian Fallon. Clinton campaign manager John Podesta also received the heads up.

The thumbdrive, which reportedly contained classified information, was being kept by Kendall at his Washington, D.C., law office prior to Aug. 11, 2015. The FBI later seized the device as part of its query into the former secretary of state's unusual email arrangement.

An AP spokeswoman responded to the latest WikiLeaks dump on Friday. In an emailed statement to TheBlaze, she said:

Eric sought to confirm information he had reported elsewhere to ensure it was correct and asked whether the lawyer wanted to dispute it. The lawyer confirmed the information, and AP published a story shortly afterward.

(H/T: Red State)

Editor's note: This post has been updated with a statement by the Associated Press.