'Deal sought to bury' email sent to Hillary Clinton's private address

The FBI was offered more agents in foreign countries – if it cut the classification of an email on Hillary Clinton’s private server, files newly made public appear to show.

The email in question was related to attacks on the US diplomatic compound in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

It detailed reports from November 2012 that Libyan police had been arresting suspects in the attack. 

It was forwarded to Mrs Clinton's private email address by one of her top aides, Jake Sullivan, from his government email account. 

The "deal" would have allowed the State Department to archive the email, so that it was "never to be seen again", according to the files. 

The source of the mooted arrangement is not clear.  

FBI records suggest the State Department's Undersecretary for Management, Patrick F. Kennedy, sought an understanding.  

But a statement issued by the FBI on Monday said it was a now-retired FBI official who had asked about deploying more agents. 

Mr Kennedy was a close aide to Mrs Clinton - who is now the Democrats' candidate for President - while she was Secretary of State between 2009 and early 2013. 

The State Department said he had been trying to understand how the FBI made its classification decisions.

"This allegation is inaccurate and does not align with the facts," said department spokesman Mark Toner. 

Ultimately, the FBI rejected the idea.

It said in a statement: "Although there was never a quid pro quo, these allegations were nonetheless referred to the appropriate officials for review."  

Donald Trump's team has sought to capitalise on the development, tweeting: "CORRUPTION CONFIRMED: FBI confirms State Dept. offered 'quid pro quo' to cover up classified emails." 

Mr Trump - Mrs Clinton's Republican rival for the Presidency - retweeted the message.  

Republicans in the House of Representatives have also commented.

In a joint statement, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said: "Those who receive classified intelligence should not barter in it - that is reckless behaviour with our nation's secrets."

In July, the FBI referred a probe into Mrs Clinton's use of her private email to prosecutors, but did not recommend charges. 

That decision lifted a major legal threat to her presidential campaign.