FBI confirms: Officials discussed deal to cover up Clinton emails

Newly released documents from the FBI's year-long investigation ofHillary Clinton's server indicate a State Department official proposed a "quid pro quo" aimed at getting the FBI to cover up classified emails discovered on Clinton's server. In return, an unnamed FBI official said it might be open to a deal if the State Department could agree to boosting the FBI's presence in Iraq.

The FBI notes released Monday show that Patrick Kennedy, State's undersecretary for management, pressured the FBI to change the classified markings on an email that had been upgraded to "secret."

An unnamed witness told investigators that Kennedy attempted "to influence the FBI to change its markings" and asked FBI agents if they could "see their way to marking the email unclassified." Under a proposed deal between the unnamed FBI official and the State Department, Kennedy would "reciprocate by allowing the FBI to place more Agents in countries where they are presently forbidden." That deal never happened, the FBI said.

The email in question remained classified at the "secret" level, the FBI said. The bureau also said the unnamed official who requested Kennedy's help securing additional personnel in Iraq has since retired.

According to the latest batch of investigative notes, the retired official said he would "look into the e-mail matter if KENNEDY would provide authority concerning the FBI's request to increase its personnel in Iraq."