Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on Thursday wrote to Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch to ask if she would investigate Hillary Clinton for her decision to use personal email while serving as secretary of State, and then later deleting emails on her own accord that she deemed to be personal.
"If you are confirmed as Attorney General Eric Holder's replacement, will you commit to a vigorous and transparent investigation of the allegations that Clinton used her personal email account and server to shield politically-sensitive material from FOIA requests?" Vitter asked her in a letter.
A Republican senator has challenged Attorney General Loretta Lynch to say whether she would investigate the Hillary Clinton email scandal. AP Photo/John Minchillo, File
Vitter also asked Lynch to appoint a special counsel to prosecute Clinton if an investigation found that Clinton violated the law.
Vitter's letter didn't say he would support Lynch to be the next attorney general if she promised to investigate Clinton. But Lynch's answer has the potential to free up what has become a lengthy fight in the Senate to confirm her.
Republicans took several weeks to ask questions about Lynch, and many ended up saying they could not support her to replace Holder. Then, GOP leaders decided not to hold a vote on Lynch until Democrats agree to allow an anti-human trafficking bill move forward in the Senate, something Democrats have yet to do.
As of now, there is no firm plan in the Senate to hold a vote. But an answer from Lynch saying she would investigate Clinton has some potential to help create some momentum on her behalf. Vitter asked Lynch to reply by April 13.
