Republicans Hammer Home “Gross Negligence” at Comey Hearing

Why is careless handling of classified information not enough reason to prosecute Hillary Clinton? That question is being asked over and over again as the FBI chief faces a House hearing.

FOX’s Jared Halpern has more from Washington:

Republicans point again and again to a “gross negligence” clause in a federal statute on handling sensitive information, but FBI director James Comey cautions against applying that to Hillary Clinton’s use of private email servers:

(Comey) “I know from 30 years with the Department of Justice, they have grave concerns about whether it’s appropriate to prosecute somebody for gross negligence, which is why they’ve done it once, that I know of, in a case involving espionage.”

Comey says instead, prosecutors would have had to prove Clinton knowingly and intentionally mishandled classified information.

Republicans say there is evidence Clinton may have lied to Congress, a felony charge they now plan to refer to the Justice Department.

In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

Follow FOX’s Jared Halpern on Twitter: @JaredHalpern