Hillary Clinton's Aides Mock 'WSJ' Reporter

In one of the several hundred emails from Hillary Clinton's private server released by the State Department Friday morning — 850 pages' worth, but only a fraction of the 30,000 emails Clinton has handed over — several people who worked with Clinton both mocked and praised Wall Street Journal reporter Monica Langley for behavior that was deemed "unacceptable in any culture." Starting the email thread in 2012 was Philippe Reines, a Hillary Clinton aide and later Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, who wrote to Thomas Nides (then-Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources) and Caroline Adler (then-State Department communications director) that Langley's behavior "amazed" him.

Tom, she moved that yellow chair as close as it went. Knee to knee. Amazed she didn't try knee in between knee. And if that wasn't enough, she leaned forward. More like a pivot, as far as her torso could fold forward to minimize the space between their heads. Was like the dental hygienist rolling around the floor to get the best access to your mouth depending on what tooth she was trying to get access to I've never seen a Westerner invade her space like that And even the non Westerners I've seen do it based on cultural differences have been only briefly to greet, This went on like that for 51 minutes - unacceptable in any culture. I don't even think you see that behavior among any type of mammal. The touching the leg and repeatedly calling her 'Hillary' was just gravy. But it was wonderful. One of the best interviews I've ever witnessed. Wish it were on live tv.

The interview Reines is referring to was for a Oct 25, 2012 Wall Street Journal article entitled, "For Clinton as Top Diplomat, Tumultuous Closing Chapter," in which Langley examines the role Benghazi played in the last chapter of Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State. According to Langley's WSJ bio, she's reported for the publication for almost a quarter century.

Although the emails take a mocking tone towards Langley, the group simultaneously and universally agrees that Langley's interview style is effective, with Reines calling her "one of the best [interviewers] I've ever seen." (Langley, an ex-corporate lawyer, won a Matrix Award in 2009 for her work in newspapers.)

To Reines' original email, Nides replied, "I may go and throw up since I am laughing so hard."

Adler replied with a mock "transcript" of the interview, preceding it by saying, "This will be exciting when it's FOIA'd." (Well. Yeah.)

HRC. Monica, have a seat

::HRC motions toward a chair situated an appropriate distance from her preferred spot on the couch::

Monica: ll!!Sure!!!

::Monica proceeds to drag her chair within inches of the Secretary --leaning in even further: :

Interview proceeds, and about midway...

Monica: Oh Hillary...2016 '16 '16

:: Monica grabs HRO's knee::

HRC laughs awkwardly — glances at Philippe

Monica: ::leaning in further. Oh Hillary...what do you eat? drink? dream about when you sleep?

:: Monica again touches HRC's leg:: ::Everybody laughs awkwardly — Philippe hardly able to contain himself::

Monica: They think I'm so funny (looking at Philippe and me.) HILL, can I ride on your lap to the White House?

Responded Reines:

Tom, was an awesome interview. Hrc was great, but I was really impressed by how good of an interviewer Monica is. One of the best I've ever seen. But she was her usual wacky self and pulled one move that I can't even describe so I'll let Caroline do - since you'll appreciate it given your familiarity with Monica Langley, Hillary Clinton, and the Secretary's chair arrangement in her outer office.

The email thread ends with an 18-page transcript of the interview between Clinton and Langley, in which Langley asks about a possible Clinton run in 2016 — "A lot of people think you've got to run in 2016 and that service is so important to you that, ultimately, if it's there, they can't imagine you would say no," says Langley — and Clinton dodges the question, ultimately adding, "No, I haven't made any decisions. I just know that I will always want to be of service. I believe in service."