WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton urged the State Department to release the emails she wrote from a private email account as secretary of state, weighing in on a controversy that has generated negative attention this week for the likely Democratic presidential candidate.

In a tweet late Wednesday, Clinton said, “I want the public to see my email. I asked State to release them. They said they will review them for release as soon as possible.”

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in response to Clinton’s tweet that the department will review for release the emails Clinton provided. Harf said it could take some time to review.

Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday, “… we will undertake this task as rapidly as possible in order to make sure that we are dealing with the sheer volume in a responsible way.

Speaking in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kerry was asked if the department should look at emails outside those already provided by Clinton. He said he thought the department had all the emails related to the State Department but said he would check.