1. We learned nothing new
Attorney General Loretta Lynch refused to answer numerous questions about the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton. She continuously deferred to FBI Director James Comey’s statements on the matter. When Judicial Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte asked Lynch why she didn’t recuse herself from the investigation since she had previous ties to the Clintons, she claimed there was no conflict.
“The matter was handled like any other matter,” Lynch said. “In considering the matter there was no connection, there was no need” to recuse herself or name a special prosecutor.
A couple weeks ago, Lynch just happened to run into Hillary’s husband Bill on a tarmac in Phoenix. Lynch claimed to Goodlatte that the conversation was “social” and that there was no discussion of the investigation into Hillary or her emails. We’ll have to let the readers decide whether to believe that one.
2. We still don’t know the difference between “extremely careless” and “gross negligence
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. asked Lynch directly what the difference was between the term Comey used to describe Clinton’s conduct — “extremely careless” — and the “gross negligence” standard under which the relevant statute says she could be prosecuted. Lynch, like Comey, was unable to give a coherent answer. Lynch didn’t even try, she just repeated how she accepted the recommendations of Comey to not indict Clinton.
Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio and others raised similar questions. Time and time again, Lynch referred to the statute and refused to give an explanation.
3. Republicans don’t know how to ask questions
I lost count of how many times Republicans (in this hearing and the Comey hearing) asked the same question over and over and over again, or how many times they went on a long diatribe without even posing a question to the person giving testimony.
Chabot, for instance, spoke at length about former President Bill Clinton’s perjury and the impeachment proceedings against him. At no time did Chabot ask Lynch about Hillary Clinton’s own perjury when she gave numerous false statements to a congressional committee in regards to her emails. Sure would have been nice to hear Lynch address that question.
Ashe Schow is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
