AKIPRESS.COM - The U.S. State Department is reopening an internal investigation of possible mishandling of classified information by Hillary Clinton and top aides.

“Given the Department of Justice has now made its announcement, the State Department intends to conduct its internal review," department spokesman John Kirby told USA TODAY.

Kirby said he couldn't provide specific information about the Department’s review, "including what information we are evaluating. We will aim to be as expeditious as possible, but we will not put artificial deadlines on the process," he said. "Our goal will be to be as transparent as possible about our results, while complying with our various legal obligations."

The probe, begun in January, was suspended in April so as not to interfere with the FBI's inquiry.

Kirby told the Associated Press that former officials can still face “administrative sanctions.” The most serious is loss of security clearances, which could complicate Clinton’s naming of a national security team if she becomes president.

Beyond Clinton, the probe is most likely examining confidants Cheryl Mills, Jake Sullivan and Huma Abedin, AP reported. Abedin wrote many of the emails that the various investigations have focused on, AP noted. Mills, Clinton's chief of staff at the State Department, has been viewed as a possibility for the same job in the White House. There is speculation that Sullivan, Clinton's former policy chief, could be national security adviser.

Clinton was secretary of State until early 2013. Most of her top advisers left shortly thereafter.