Paul Ryan, GOP officials blast Clinton over FBI email findings
House Speaker Paul Ryan blasted FBI Director James Comey's decision Tuesday not to recommend charges against Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server at the State Department, saying the "announcement defies explanation."
"While I respect the law enforcement professionals at the FBI, this announcement defies explanation. No one should be above the law. But based upon the director's own statement, it appears damage is being done to the rule of law," Ryan said in a statement. "Declining to prosecute Secretary Clinton for recklessly mishandling and transmitting national security information will set a terrible precedent."
Trump: FBI decision on Clinton emails was 'rigged'
A spokesman for the Republican National Committee said that even though the FBI did not recommend charges, the facts laid out were a “clear indictment” nonetheless.
Sean Spicer, speaking with CNN shortly after Comey's announcement, said that he felt the FBI had done a fair and thorough investigation and downplayed the importance of actual charges. He added that the director's characterization of Clinton's email use clearly showed “somebody who doesn’t understand the importance of our national security.”
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“This is a major, major problem," Spicer said, referring to Clinton's "judgment" and "fitness" to be president.
Ryan and Spicer were among many GOP officials who blasted Clinton following the FBI announcement.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Comey's statements made it clear that Clinton's actions were "extremely irresponsible."
“What Director Comey’s statements made clear was that Hillary Clinton’s decision to use a personal unsecured server to send work-related emails while service as Secretary of State—including classified information—was extremely irresponsible," McCarthy said in a statement.
“Every investigation thus far makes one conclusion abundantly clear: Secretary Clinton’s fundamental lack of judgment and wanton disregard for protecting and keeping information confidential raises continued questions about the exposure of our nation’s diplomatic and national security secrets," he added.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio went after Clinton's decision calling her actions "grossly negligent."
"The FBI concluded what many Americans have known for quite some time, which is that Hillary Clinton’s conduct as Secretary of State and her mishandling of classified information was disgraceful and unbecoming of someone who aspires to the presidency," Rubio said in a statement. "Her actions were grossly negligent, damaged national security and put lives at risk.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham criticized Clinton's lack of judgement in handling the email server.
“Secretary Clinton has shown a serious lack of judgement in this entire episode. She made sensitive, classified information vulnerable to America’s enemies," Graham said in a statement. "While the FBI has made their decision, it won’t change the fact that Secretary Clinton flouted oversight and transparency norms by using a private email server. The FBI was rightfully harsh in their assessment of her actions. Now the American people will have the final say in this matter.”
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul took to Twitter to share a series of grievances about the findings. He said that Comey and the Department of Justice made it so there was "no accountability no justice."
Former Arkansas governor and GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee weighed in with a metaphor.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted an old video from his time in the race featuring Clinton and her server.
Ari Fleischer, George W. Bush's first White House press secretary, knocked President Obama for campaigning with Clinton later Tuesday.
California Rep. Darrell Issa, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee's panel on courts, intellectual property and the Internet, argued the recommendation illustrated that Clinton was above the law.
A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee predicted the findings would hurt Democrats downballot.
“The FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email server shows that during her time at the Department of State, Clinton was more concerned with hiding information from the public than she was with protecting our national security," NRCC spokesman Bob Salera said. "The American people do not trust Hillary Clinton, and down ballot candidates who embrace her broadly unpopular, scandal-plagued campaign will pay the price in November.”
While it was clear that Republicans were unhappy with the decision, some in the #NeverTrump group chose to try and use Comey’s announcement to bash the presumptive Republican nominee.
Erick Erickson, a prominent conservative blogger and radio host, said that Trump was the only one "who could possibly lose" to Clinton.
Ana Navarro, who is a Republican strategist and ally to the Bush family, said that any other option (literally, "an amoeba or even an inanimate object") in the party could beat Clinton.
But the anger wasn't just stemming from Republicans. Supporters of Clinton's Democratic competitor Bernie Sanders (who still has not exited the race, but has stopped campaigning) expressed frustration too.
Actress Rosario Dawson said she was "disgusted" by the system.
Actor Mark Ruffalo had just a few words.
Civil rights activist Shaun King said Clinton got special privileges.
But Sanders wasn't weighing in.
"He has been pretty famously uninterested in that issue for quite some time," spokesman Michael Briggs told USA TODAY about the FBI's decision.
More coverage of the Clinton email investigation:
The damning things the FBI said about Clinton's email
First Take: FBI decision doesn't mean smooth sailing for Clinton campaign
Clinton campaign 'pleased' with FBI decision on emails
What Clinton investigation means for her security clearance