No charges in Clinton email probe: US attorney general

Lynch made the widely-expected announcement following a meeting with FBI Director James Comey as well as prosecutors and agents who led the high-profile investigation, which has weighed heavily on Democrat Clinton's White House campaign.

"I received and accepted their unanimous recommendation that the thorough, year-long investigation be closed and that no charges be brought against any individuals within the scope of the investigation," Lynch said in a statement.

The attorney general had previously pledged to respect FBI and prosecutors' decisions on whether to bring charges after it emerged she met briefly with Clinton's husband, Bill, last week -- prompting Republicans to cry foul over possible government interference.

The FBI recommended on Tuesday that no charges be brought over Clinton's email use, saying its investigation does not support a criminal prosecution.

But its assessment found that Clinton was "extremely careless" in sending classified information via her personal email account.

Comey said 110 emails contained classified information -- Clinton said there were none whose content was classified at the time they were written -- and said her emails could have been hacked.

While the former first lady can breathe a sigh of relief at avoiding criminal charges that could have ended her campaign, the damning FBI assessment could still complicate an increasingly tight race against Donald Trump.