Politics

‘Abdication Of Responsibility’: Lynch Refuses To Answer To House Judiciary

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Rebecca Rainey Contributor
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WASHINGTON — Tuesday was not an easy day for members of the House Judiciary Committee.

After being asked several times about matters regarding the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s email server, Attorney General Loretta Lynch remained steadfast to the fact that she would not be answering the members questions.

Members of the committee, mostly Republicans, pressed Lynch on questions surrounding FBI Director James Comey’s recommendation to not charge Clinton, to which Lynch referred to Comey’s previous statements.

“So far today you have rarely said ‘absolutely yes’ or ‘absolutely no.’ You mostly talked in terms of ‘I can’t answer that’ or ‘it’s not appropriate’ or ‘see the FBI director,” said Rep. Darrell Issa of California. “In light of that it’s really a question of what do I tell the Marines, the sailors, Army personnel in my district. The veterans, the contractors, all those who work for the government with classified information?”

“You aren’t going to acknowledge the fact that she lied,” questioned Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio. “I don’t think Hillary Clinton has been treated like any other American.”

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio also asked the attorney general why she had accepted the recommendation even before it was announced.

“I had indicated that I would be accepting their recommendation because I wanted to make it clear that any conversation that I might have had with the former president would have no impact on the team or their review or the investigation,” said Lynch.

Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte addressed Lynch directly part way through the first half of the hearing, stating that the lack of response on the issue was an “abdication of your responsibility.”

The hearing was held to address issues within the Department of Justice, “ranging from recent terrorist attacks in Orlando and San Bernardino to technological advances and their impact on law enforcement activities,” according to the House judiciary Committee website.