Speaker Ryan formally asks that Clinton be denied classified data

The Republican head of the U.S. House of Representatives formally asked the U.S. intelligence chief not to give Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton any classified information during the election campaign, according to a letter released on Thursday.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said in the letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper that denying Clinton classified briefings during her run for the presidency would be an appropriate sanction for her improper handling of classified emails while secretary of state.

(Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Eric Walsh)