State Dept. shuts down questions on Clinton Foundation emails

A State Department spokeswoman said Wednesday that the agency does not believe Hillary Clinton violated any ethics requirements by interacting with Clinton Foundation donors.

"We feel confident that all the rules were followed," Elizabeth Trudeau, State Department spokeswoman, said amid a backlash over previously undisclosed emails that showed the special access foundation donors enjoyed in the early months of Clinton's tenure at the agency.

Trudeau shut down questions during the agency's daily briefing about emails that suggested a Clinton Foundation official had informed one of Clinton's top aides that it was "important to take care of" an individual whose name was redacted. Clinton's aide responded that the agency was working to find him a position.

"I can't speak to specific cases," Trudeau said in response to multiple questions about whether the individual was hired and whether his consideration for a political appointment constituted nepotism.

The State Department spokeswoman refused to reveal the identity of the individual, whom the Clinton campaign has characterized as a low-level campaign advance staffer.