"The documents are being upgraded at the request of the intelligence community because they contain a category of top secret information," said State Department spokesman John Kirby. Some of the messages won't be published online at all, even with black boxes cover up the sensitive info. It's not clear whether Clinton sent the emails herself or exactly what they contained. Back in December, reports of top secret emails being stored on the server first surfaced. The State Department will further investigate if the details were classified as the time they were discussed in these most recent emails.

Timing couldn't be worse for the Democratic front-runner for the 2016 presidential nomination. With the big showdown with opponent Bernie Sanders in Iowa looming, today's news won't help ease critics' concerns. Clinton has maintained that she never sent or received info on her personal email account that was classified at the time. However, the State Department's next release of emails, which is said to come today, will be the first that includes talk of top secret contents. In addition to the presidential race, there could be legal ramifications if the on-going probe uncovers any evidence that Clinton was in any way responsible for the transmission of sensitive material.