(CNSNews.com) - There are renewed calls on Thursday for an independent prosecutor to take over the Hillary Clinton email investigation, which now falls under President Obama's Justice Department.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is among those making such a call, after Attorney General Loretta Lynch confirmed she met privately with former President Bill Clinton at an Arizona airport on Tuesday.
Clinton's wife Hillary is running for president and has been endorsed by Lynch's boss, President Obama. The FBI, part of the Justice Department, is investigating Mrs. Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state, amid concerns that she mishandled classified information, and it's up to Lynch to sign off on that investigation.
A Phoenix television station, ABC-15, reported that Bill Clinton was told that Lynch would be arriving at Sky Harbor International Airport soon, and he waited for her to arrive.
Lynch was in town for a community policing event, and their meeting took place on her government plane.
"I did see President Clinton at the Phoenix airport as he was leaving and spoke to myself and my husband on the plane," Lynch told the TV station.
"Our conversation was a great deal about grandchildren, it was primarily social, about our travels, and he mentioned golf he played in Phoenix," said Lynch Tuesday afternoon during a news conference at the Phoenix Police Department.
"There was no discussion on any matter pending before the Department or any matter pending with any other body, there was no discussion of Benghazi, no discussion of State Department emails. By way of example, I would say it was current news of the day, the Brexit decision and what it would mean," Lynch said.
Sources told ABC-15 their private meeting lasted around 30 minutes.
Democrat leaders weighed in on the Lynch-Clinton meeting at a press briefing Thursday morning:
"Loretta Lynch is one of the most outstanding human beings I've ever known," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said. "Her ethics is (sic) above reproach. No one can ever question her strong feelings about the rule of law, and her ethics, I repeat, are the best."
"She's an honorable person, we know that," Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) chimed in. "She has said nothing was discussed related to the investigation. So you have two choices -- to say this didn't matter or she's lying. I think it didn't matter. I don't think she's lying."
Also See:
WH: No Conflict of Interest in Obama Endorsing a Woman Who's Under Investigation by Obama's DOJ
Clinton email use broke federal rules: inspector's report