VIDEO – STATE DEPARTMENT AUDIT FINDS CLINTON GUILTY OF BREAKING RECORDS RULES ON EMAILS

The State Department watchdog, in an extensive and detailed report, accused Hillary Clinton of flouting federal records rules and cybersecurity guidelines with her exclusive use of personal email for government business while secretary of state.

The forthcoming inspector general audit, a copy of which was obtained Wednesday by FoxNews.com, faults Clinton and her predecessors for poorly managing email and other computer information.

The report says the department was “slow to recognize and to manage effectively the legal requirements and cybersecurity risks associated with electronic data communications.” It cites “longstanding, systemic weaknesses” related to communications that started before Clinton’s tenure.

But the report singles out Clinton’s failures as more serious. The report includes numerous revelations, including that her server was at one point “attacked,” that Clinton declined to be interviewed for the audit and that Clinton never sought approval to use her personal account for government work.

The audit comes as Clinton, now the Democratic presidential front-runner, tries to wrap up a grueling primary battle and pivot to a general election fight — the audit could provide her Republican foes with fresh ammunition.