Lynch, Clinton Controversy Gains Steam: What Both Parties Are Saying

Was it just an awkward moment, or a conflict of interest? 

Growing controversy continues to surround the meeting between U.S. Attorney General Loretta and former President Bill Clinton.

The private meeting took place Monday at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport on Lynch's private plane after the two realized they were on the same tarmac.

It also took place just hours before the release of the Benghazi report. That's raising questions about whether the Justice Department, which is conducting an investigation of Hillary Clinton's private email server, might have been compromised.

Lynch acknowledged the meeting with the former president but said there was no discussion of the investigation involving his wife, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, or the congressional report that examined her response to the deadly 2012 Benghazi attacks.

"I did see President Clinton at the Phoenix airport as I was leaving, and he spoke to myself and my husband on the plane,'' Lynch told reporters. "Our conversation was a great deal about his grandchildren. It was primarily social and about our travels.''

Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has been critical of the meeting.

"I am just, I'm flabbergasted by it. I think it's amazing. I've never seen anything like that before," the billionaire businessman told Fox News host Sean Hannity Thursday night.

Some Democrats are also weighing in on the issue.

David Axelrod, former chief strategist to President Barack Obama tweeted, "I take @LorettaLynch & @billclinton at their word that their convo in Phoenix didnt' touch on probe.  But foolish to create such optics."

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., agreed, saying he would have advised Lynch against meeting with the former president.

"I think she should have said, 'Look, I recognize you have a long record of leadership on fighting crime but this is not the time for us to have that conversation. After the election is over, I'd welcome your advice,'" Coons told CNN's Alisyn Camerota Thursday on "New Day."

Others defended Lynch.

"All I can say is Loretta Lynch is one of the most outstanding human beings I've ever known," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters. "Her ethics is above reproach."

Meanwhile, Department of Justice officials are seeking a 27-month delay on the release of the emails, which were originally due out on July 21.

If granted, the public won't be able to read the documents until October 2018.

Hillary Clinton's campaign has not commented on the meeting.