Congress requested the FBI for Clinton's interview notes. Then, right after the FBI sends the notes, we get sources leaking the material. It ain't the Democrats releasing this. Do the math.
Last I checked, there were Democrats in Congress, too, who are perfectly capable of leaking things, too.
What motive would the Democrats have for leaking this? Do you think this leak is a good news story for Clinton?
Yes. It highlights her "every Secretary of State has done it" and "Powell told me to do it" defense. It's getting ahead of the other leaks that will inevitably come.
What do Republicans have to gain in leaking Clinton's defense?
All you have to do is look at the source to figure out who leaked this. The New York Times is not the paper Republicans go to to get a story out. Its politics section is practically a plagiarized version of the DNC talking points of the day.
I'm not quite sure how "classified" a discussion at a dinner table between the current and former Secretaries of State is, to be quite honest.