The 800-page report by the GOP-led Benghazi Committee found no wrongdoing by the former secretary of state, but the two-year inquiry had revealed that she used a private email server for government business, triggering a yearlong FBI investigation that continues to shadow the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
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“You’ll have one”, Chaffetz said.
Comey on Thursday defended his decision to not pursue criminal charges against Hillary Clinton saying the investigation was handled “by people who didn’t give a hoot about politics”.
During the tense hearing, Comey acknowledged that those 30,000 e-mails contained three messages that had classified information in them.
Top Republicans in the US Congress have pressed for sanctions against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified information, with House Speaker Paul Ryan formally asking she be denied such information during the campaign.
FBI Director James Comey testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 7, 2016, before the House Oversight Committee to explain his agency’s recommendation to not prosecute Hillary Clinton.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to reveal the content of the conversation its agents had with Clinton and on Thursday Republican lawmakers insisted on that point. He said that she had a server in her basement with some of the most sensitive information this country possesses.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee called an emergency hearing Thursday where members questioned Comey for nearly five hours about his recommendation to the Justice Department not to prosecute Clinton. The Department of Justice confirmed on Wednesday they would not be pressing charges against Clinton, per the FBI’s recommendations.
Comey said it would depend on the circumstances.
“There was classified email”, Comey replied.
[Hillary Clinton] has so much contempt for law, for any kind of process of law that seeks to hold her responsible as if she were a normal citizen.
Trump invoked a almost identical line Tuesday, after Comey announced his recommendation to bring no charges against Clinton.
Mr Comey was asked at the hearing if Mrs Clinton should face administrative punishment for the way she handled her email and responded: “I don’t think that’s for me to recommend”.
Republican Rep. John Mica of Florida said the timing of Comey’s announcement was suspicious and compared the decisions “choreography” to the Broadway musical, “Hamilton”.
Much of the hearing was focused on comparisons to other cases including former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who also used a private email account during his time at the State Department, as well as former CIA Director David Petraeus, who shared classified information with his mistress, and Pfc.
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Clinton on Friday maintained she was unaware at the time that she had sent classified information. You must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they knew they were engaged in something that was unlawful.
