Despite claims to the contrary, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has discussed classified briefings in the past, though, like her GOP rival Donald Trump, she did not disclose classified information.
Clinton was critical of Trump's comments at Wednesday's Commander in Chief Forum on NBC where he said during his first intelligence briefing after capturing the GOP nomination, he could read the body language of the intel experts and could tell they were not pleased President Barack Obama is not taking their advice on defeating the Islamic State (ISIS.)
Clinton told reporters before boarding her campaign plane Thursday that Trump's words were "totally inappropriate and undisciplined."
"I would never comment on any aspect of an intelligence briefing I received," Clinton said.
But, in fact, Clinton has talked about an intelligence briefing in the past,
NBC News has uncovered.
During her run for president in 2008, then New York Sen. Clinton said in a speech she had pushed the George W. Bush administration about its plans to withdraw from Iraq.
"They didn't want to talk to us about it, as is their usual response," she said in the speech. "We finally were able to secure a briefing which although classified, I can tell you was cursory. It did not inspire confidence in our readiness to do this important task of withdrawing our troops and equipment."
She made a similar statement weeks earlier on "Meet the Press."
"Last spring, I asked for a briefing on what the planning was," she said. "Secretary of Defense and the Department of Defense basically said 'We're not going to tell you.' And I said, 'Well, yes you are.' We had such a briefing. It was classified. I can't talk about it, but the bottom line is it was cursory. I don't think that the Bush White House wants there to be much planning."
Clinton campaign press secretary Brian Fallon took to Twitter to call the comparison unfair.
"There's a difference between a security briefing done by intel community, and an Iraq policy briefing by Bush's DoD," Fallon said. "Members of Congress routinely exit policy briefings held by admin officials & express general dissatisfaction w/policy choices being made."
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