WASHINGTON — The political conventions were laced with tales of foreign espionage and intrigue. Now, it’s time for the official spy work of the presidential campaign to begin.

As early as this week, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will start getting top-secret intelligence briefings from the national intelligence director’s office.

This year, though, the tradition of providing presidential candidates classified briefings has prompted vicious backbiting between Democrats and Republicans about whether each other’s candidate can keep a secret.

In a letter to National Intelligence Director James Clapper, House Speaker Paul Ryan said many questions remain about how Clinton handled her e-mail and requested that she not get classified briefings for the rest of the campaign. Clapper rejected the request, saying, ‘‘I do not intend to withhold briefings from any officially nominated, eligible candidate.’’

Clapper insists the intelligence community feels no hesitation about briefing either candidate. He says a briefing team is ready to begin and that both candidates will be provided the same information.

Associated Press