Watch: Lynch Won’t Say That It’s Illegal To Give Classified Information To Someone Without Required Security Clearance

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch refused to state that it was illegal to share classified information with someone who doesn’t have the required clearance, or store it in a non-secure setting.

Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) asked, “Does an individual need a security clearance to review or have access to classified material?”

Lynch responded that this would depend on what agency an individual worked for and the nature of their work, but they would need some sort of clearance.

Chaffetz then asked, “Is it legal or illegal to share classified information with somebody who doesn’t have a security clearance?”

Lynch answered, “You’d have to determine the — how that sharing occurred. You’d have to determine the means. You’d have to determine the reason, the intent. Certainly depending upon how you view the statute. It could go any number of ways.” She added, after being asked a follow-up that she couldn’t say that it’s legal to give classified information with someone who doesn’t have the required clearance.

Chaffetz then asked, “Is it legal or illegal to provide access to somebody who doesn’t have the requisite security clearance to view classified material?

Lynch responded that she would need for facts in this hypothetical, and a review could go “any number of ways.” I would refer you to the statute. one could in fact have liability. again depending upon the nature, facts and circumstances.

Chaffetz then inquired about the legality of storing classified information in a non-secure place, Lynch pointed to the statute, and said it would depend on the circumstances.

(h/t Bizpac Review)

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett