Washington, July 9 (RHC)-- The U.S. State Department has decided to reopen a probe into Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on the grounds that she may have mishandled classified information.

The probe by the State Department was suspended in April following the FBI opening a case into Hillary Clinton, but spokesperson John Kirby announced Thursday the department will reopen the case.

Former Clinton officials may face administrative sanctions, he said earlier this week.  If they receive security clearance -- the harshest punishment -- they may not be able to be promoted in a Clinton administration.

The attorney general decided not to prosecute Clinton for her mishandling of her email use after the FBI suggested not to, a move which Republicans insisted would have had any other politician sacked or at least face punishment.

In a congressional investigative committee held Thursday, FBI Director James Comey said that pursuing charges would be "celebrity hunting"—deemed hypocritical by critics, who pointed out that Comey prosecuted mafia boss John Gambino and Martha Stewart.