White House launches probe of private email accounts

Of particular interest is Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump's private email domain, because they still work in the White House, two officials said. | Win McNamee/Getty Images

The White House has launched an internal probe of private email use, pulling batches of emails on the White House server to and from private accounts of senior aides, according to four officials familiar with the matter.

The effort began this week after POLITICO reported that both Jared Kushner and a number of other senior White House officials used private email accounts throughout the year to conduct government business.

Of particular interest is Kushner and Ivanka Trump s private email domain, because they still work in the White House, two officials said. Accounts of other White House officials are also being reviewed.

The probe could take several weeks or even months to complete, according to one of these people, as officials are searching for all emails sent or received about government business. The White House counsel s office is reviewing the accounts to determine if the messages are germane to any investigations such as the ongoing Russia probes by Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller, one of these people said.

News about the private email accounts caught many White House lawyers by surprise, one of these people said, and infuriated a number of White House officials.

Josh Raffel, who often speaks for Kushner and Ivanka Trump, referred inquiries to the White House press office.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment on the review, but said "the White House instructs staff to fully comply with the Presidential Records Act and briefs staff on the need to preserve records."

This article was reported in coordination with the Project On Government Oversight, a nonprofit investigative watchdog organization.