WASHINGTON—The Justice Department will have to decide whether Hillary Clinton or any of her subordinates could face legal consequences for her use of a private email server, a decision whose timing is fraught with serious political repercussions.
Even though Attorney General Loretta Lynch has said there is no “artificial deadline” for concluding the investigation, the Obama administration is in the unenviable position of conducting an election-year probe that, no matter the outcome or reassurances to the contrary, will result in grievances about its impact on the presidential election.
One year ago, The Associated Press reported its discovery of Clinton’s private email server, which she ran in the basement of her home in Chappaqua, New York, to use exclusively for her work-related emails while she was secretary of state. Clinton has emerged from the Super Tuesday primaries earlier this week as the presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency.
Republican candidate Donald Trump has indicated he plans to target Clinton over the email investigations. Trump said Thursday he looked forward to running against Clinton, “assuming she’s allowed to run, assuming she’s not arrested for the email situation.” He added, “Let’s assume the Democrats will protect her.”
