Clinton says family paid for email work

Associated Press

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.

Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday that her family paid a State Department employee to maintain the private email server she used while secretary of state and compensated him “for a period of time” for his technical skills.

After picking up the endorsement of New Hampshire’s senior senator, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, Clinton was again pressed to answer questions about an issue from her time in the Obama Cabinet that has dogged her presidential candidacy.

“We obviously paid for those services and did so because during a period of time we continued to need his technical assistance,” the Democratic front-runner told reporters after a campaign event.

Last week, that employee, Bryan Pagliano, told a House committee that he would invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination if called to testify.

Clinton told reporters Saturday that she did not think the revelation about Pagliano’s payment would hurt her campaign, and she encouraged “anyone who is asked to cooperate” with the committee to do so.