Should Loretta Lynch recuse herself from the Clinton case?

[SillyAmerican]

After a statement in which Loretta Lynch admits having a private 30 minute meeting with President Bill Clinton in Phoenix, should she have to recuse herself from any matters related to Hillary Clinton?

During a discussion with Greta Van Susteren on the June 29th edition of On The Record, a couple of legal folks weigh in:

Ted Williams, Criminal Defense Attorney

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Katie Phang, former prosecutor

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Doesn't the most basic code of conduct require that the AG recuse herself here?

[Ebsy]

No?

[IceSpear]

Maybe James Comey should recuse himself, since it's pretty clear Republicans can't help themselves with manufacturing Clinton scandals.

[SillyAmerican]

I suppose it was foolish of me to expect an apolitical response. At the very least, this is yet another in a growing list of examples in which the Clintons put themselves in a situation in which accusations of impropriety can be made.

Perhaps someone can cite legal precedence on such matters?

[Landslide Lyndon]

I suppose it was foolish of me to expect an apolitical response.

Well, you're SillyAmerican after all.

[SillyAmerican]

I suppose it was foolish of me to expect an apolitical response.

Well, you're SillyAmerican after all.

True enough.

But in case anybody here is interested in a justice system that actually delivers blind justice across the board, a recent article in The Federalist makes the argument for appointing a special prosecutor, and that was written before the whole Bill Clinton / Loretta Lynch airport chat. (The emboldening is mine...)

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[The Dowager Mod]

So talking about your grandkids can totally destroy any ability to be impartial about someone who wasn't even there, Good to know.

[This account no longer in use.]

[SillyAmerican]

So talking about your grandkids can totally destroy any ability to be impartial about someone who wasn't even there, Good to know.

No. Having a private conversation with the husband of someone being investigated by the FBI, someone who Lynch will eventually have to decide what to do about, that leads to an impression that the AG's ability to act impartially has been compromised. It really doesn't matter what Lynch says they discussed, both Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch are smart enough to know that at the level at which they operate, impressions matter.

[Blair]

Surely Loretta Lynch shouldn't meet with Obama because he's Clintons former boss

[The Dowager Mod]

Well I guess Lynch should check into a monastery somewhere, so she doesn't come into contact with anyone who ever met Hillary, Ya know so she doesn't become tainted. LOL

[Ebsy]

So talking about your grandkids can totally destroy any ability to be impartial about someone who wasn't even there, Good to know.

No. Having a private conversation with the husband of someone being investigated by the FBI, someone who Lynch will eventually have to decide what to do about, that leads to an impression that the AG's ability to act impartially has been compromised. It really doesn't matter what Lynch says they discussed, both Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch are smart enough to know that at the level at which they operate, impressions matter.

The only people that care are idiotic conspiracy theorists that hated them already.

[Chief Justice Keef]

People here are acting like this was just a casual conversation in a public place between Lynch and Clinton.

This was literally a 30-minute unplanned meeting on a private plane while there's an ongoing FBI investigation that Lynch herself will be prosecuting.

But sure, whatever keeps the echo chamber going.

[RaphaelDLG]

This was literally a 30-minute unplanned meeting on a private plane while there's an ongoing FBI investigation that Lynch herself will be prosecuting.

I agree, this story is really, really inappropriate.  Someone needs to get some balls and take Bill out back and put him down before he does any more damage.

[Comrade Funk]

People here are acting like this was just a casual conversation in a public place between Lynch and Clinton.

This was literally a 30-minute unplanned meeting on a private plane while there's an ongoing FBI investigation that Lynch herself will be prosecuting.

But sure, whatever keeps the echo chamber going.

This is why people hate political parties. Hacks will defend their side over corrupt bullsh**t, but scream when the other side does it.

[Ljube]

Loretta Lynch should resign.

[Adam Griffin]

So talking about your grandkids can totally destroy any ability to be impartial about someone who wasn't even there, Good to know.

No. Having a private conversation with the husband of someone being investigated by the FBI, someone who Lynch will eventually have to decide what to do about, that leads to an impression that the AG's ability to act impartially has been compromised. It really doesn't matter what Lynch says they discussed, both Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch are smart enough to know that at the level at which they operate, impressions matter.

You do realize that this is 2016 and that those two could have conversed in any number of ways in private without fear of people finding out if they really were angling to have a one-on-one, right?

[SillyAmerican]

So talking about your grandkids can totally destroy any ability to be impartial about someone who wasn't even there, Good to know.

No. Having a private conversation with the husband of someone being investigated by the FBI, someone who Lynch will eventually have to decide what to do about, that leads to an impression that the AG's ability to act impartially has been compromised. It really doesn't matter what Lynch says they discussed, both Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch are smart enough to know that at the level at which they operate, impressions matter.

You do realize that this is 2016 and that those two could have conversed in any number of ways in private without fear of people finding out if they really were angling to have a one-on-one, right?

Sure thing. And if asked about such contacts, Lynch could have lied and nobody would have been the wiser. As it is, it took her a couple of days before she acknowledged that this happened, and I get the feeling that the only reason she did so was that other people were aware that it had happened.

People here are acting like this was just a casual conversation in a public place between Lynch and Clinton.

This was literally a 30-minute unplanned meeting on a private plane while there's an ongoing FBI investigation that Lynch herself will be prosecuting.

But sure, whatever keeps the echo chamber going.

Yeah. It's kind of sad that people can't get beyond their party mindset and think in terms of what the proper thing to do is. Frankly, John Aschroft acted appropriately, and Loretta Lynch should follow his lead. That's the kind of America I'd like to live in anyway, fwiw.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Ideally, yes. A special prosecutor should be appointed.

[TDAS04]

No.

[cinyc]

Yes.  But a special prosecutor should have been appointed from day one.  You can't trust a partisan Justice Department investigate and potentially prosecute the party's Presidential nominee.

[SillyAmerican]

No, no, no. Build a bridge and get over it. These manufactured scandals are ridiculous.

This is neither manufactured, nor is it a scandal. Did Loretta Lynch and Bill Clinton have a private half hour meeting? Yes. Is Lynch the chief lawyer for the country? Yes. Will Lynch be deciding what to do about legal actions which involve Hillary Clinton? Yes. So please explain what "scandal" is "manufactured" here.

You realize that if someone is on trial, and while on trial their spouse goes over and talks to the prosecuting attorney, that that is grounds for a mistrial, yes? Why is that? And it wouldn't matter if the spouse merely said "Howdy", such contact is simply not allowed. Period. Go ask a lawyer or a judge if you don't believe me.

[Ebsy]

There isn't going to be a recommendation from the FBI to indict, so this is all moot and idiotic prattle from the usual suspects trying to churn up controversy where there really is none.

[7,052,770]

No, no, no. Build a bridge and get over it. These manufactured scandals are ridiculous.

This is neither manufactured, nor is it a scandal. Did Loretta Lynch and Bill Clinton have a private half hour meeting? Yes. Is Lynch the chief lawyer for the country? Yes. Will Lynch be deciding what to do about legal actions which involve Hillary Clinton? Yes. So please explain what "scandal" is "manufactured" here.

You realize that if someone is on trial, and while on trial their spouse goes over and talks to the prosecuting attorney, that that is grounds for a mistrial, yes? Why is that? And it wouldn't matter if the spouse merely said "Howdy", such contact is simply not allowed. Period. Go ask a lawyer or a judge if you don't believe me.

You realize Hillary isn't on trial?

[SillyAmerican]

No, no, no. Build a bridge and get over it. These manufactured scandals are ridiculous.

This is neither manufactured, nor is it a scandal. Did Loretta Lynch and Bill Clinton have a private half hour meeting? Yes. Is Lynch the chief lawyer for the country? Yes. Will Lynch be deciding what to do about legal actions which involve Hillary Clinton? Yes. So please explain what "scandal" is "manufactured" here.

You realize that if someone is on trial, and while on trial their spouse goes over and talks to the prosecuting attorney, that that is grounds for a mistrial, yes? Why is that? And it wouldn't matter if the spouse merely said "Howdy", such contact is simply not allowed. Period. Go ask a lawyer or a judge if you don't believe me.

You realize Hillary isn't on trial?

You realize that the person responsible for determining whether Hillary is put on trial just had a half hour private conversation with her husband?

But I do realize that I'm wasting my time here...