House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) lambasted Hillary Clinton for believing she is above the law during a CNN town hall on Tuesday night.
Ryan laid into the former secretary of state for her use of a private email server after host Jake Tapper questioned the speaker about Republicans trying to undermine Clinton before the general election.
Clinton has faced scrutiny over her email practices since FBI Director Comey’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee last week undercut many of her claims defending her private server. House Republicans have since asked the Justice Department to open an investigation into whether Clinton lied to Congress during her testimony on the matter this past fall.
"People in the audience and at home who think wow, that’s a lot, this seems more like trying to undermine the democratic presidential candidate and less like a hunt for the truth. What do you say?" Tapper asked.
"The reason we know about any of this, I would argue, is because of congressional oversight," Ryan said. "Second of all, we want to make sure everyone is treated equally."
Ryan emphasized the importance of equal treatment under the law.
"I believe that she has gotten preferential treatment throughout much of her career in that she believes she is above the law. She holds herself above the law. I think everybody should be held accountable," Ryan said.
Clinton has struggled to overcome low poll numbers on her honesty and trustworthiness throughout her campaign and into the general election.