Two top senators asked the Justice Department on Monday to reveal whether it has opened an investigation involving Bryan Pagliano, the tech worker who assisted former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in setting up her email server, as Congress continues to try to find ways of learning what he knows.
Mr. Pagliano has said he will assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to answer questions should he be called to testify to Congress about Mrs. Clinton’s emails, and through his lawyer he even declined a “proffer” session to talk privately about what he knows, fearing that could be deemed a waiver of his rights.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson believe Mr. Pagliano has important information, and said they’re intent on trying to find a way to let him talk without fearing prosecution.
In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, they asked her to confirm what kind of investigation, if any, is underway, so that they can decide what could be done to offer immunity to Mr. Pagliano in exchange for his testimony.
The two senators also asked specifically if Mr. Pagliano could speak to Congress in a proffer session without losing his ability to waive his Fifth Amendment rights.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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