A little over a week after meeting in secret with former President Bill Clinton, Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced on Wednesday that she is closing the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email system with no charges.
The announcement was no surprise. On Tuesday, FBI director James Comey said that he would not be recommending that charges be filed in the case. He did issue a stern rebuke of Clinton’s email practices.
“I received and accepted their unanimous recommendation that the thorough, year-long investigation be closed and that no charges be brought against any individuals within the scope of the investigation,” Lynch said in her statement.
She said she met with Comey and Justice Department attorneys late Wednesday afternoon.
The Obama appointee entered the spotlight last week after it emerged that she met on her airplane with Bill Clinton. She claimed that she and the former president did not discuss the email investigation. But many observers questioned that claim, and Lynch herself acknowledged that it was a mistake to meet Clinton given the ongoing investigation. Days later, on Saturday, FBI investigators interrogated Clinton at FBI headquarters.