Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this morning U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) questioned Attorney General Loretta Lynch about the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons use of a private email server and the need for legislation addressing mental health reform. Excerpts of the exchange are below and video can be found here. Photos from the hearing are below and attached.
On the Ongoing Investigation into Former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons Use of a Private Email Server:
Sen. Cornyn: Recently the Department offered immunity to Brian Pagliano the gentleman who if reports are true was the one who helped set up Clintons private email account. … In this case did the Department of Justice approve of the grant of immunity to Mr. Pagliano?"
A.G. Lynch: Well Senator with respect to that specific case as Im sure you know we dont discuss the specifics of any ongoing investigation."
Cornyn: And Im not asking you to comment on the specifics of the matter … my simple question is doesnt the buck stop with you in terms of whether to proceed to seek an indictment to convene a grand jury and to prosecute a case thats referred to the FBI?"
Lynch: Theres many levels of review at various stages of the case. And so I would not necessarily be involved in every decision as to every prosecutorial step."
Cornyn: Correct so it would be you or somebody who works for you correct?"
Lynch: Everybody in the Department of Justice works for me including the FBI sir."
On the Need to Reform Our Mental Health and Criminal Justice System:
Sen. Cornyn: Do you believe that mental illness plays a role in some of the incidents of mass gun violence that weve experienced in America in the last years?"
A.G. Lynch: Well certainly I think with respect to specific cases where its been adjudicated or a finding has been made we could say that. Otherwise it would be speculation. But I will say that I think Senator mental illness is the issue that I find is cutting across so many law enforcement issues today. Both from how we police to how we look at violent crime to how we manage our prisons and certainly as it relates to how we manage firearms in this country."
