Johnson: Clinton could be impeached if elected president

BELOIT, Wis. -- Hillary Clinton could face impeachment if she is elected president because her use of a private email server as secretary of state broke the law, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said.

Johnson told the Beloit Daily News on Monday that Clinton "purposefully circumvented" the law. The Republican said "this was willful concealment and destruction" involving information related to national defense.

Federal law provides anyone found to have concealed or removed such records is disqualified from holding office, Johnson said.

"I'm not a lawyer, but this is clearly written," said Johnson, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. "I would say yes, high crime or misdemeanor, I believe she is in violation of both laws."

Johnson is locked in a re-election bid with Democrat Russ Feingold, whom he defeated in 2010.

Johnson said he believes the initial FBI investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server was not in pursuit of truth but instead was intended to cover up her actions. In July, FBI director James Comey said Clinton had been careless with classified information, but he declined to prosecute her.

"That was a corrupt conclusion," Johnson said of the investigation results.

On Friday, FBI Director James Comey told Congress the bureau had discovered additional emails that might be relevant to the Clinton email case.