Newly released transcripts from a controversial former FBI lawyer's testimony before Congress show that the FBI was considering charging Hillary Clinton in 2016 when the Department of Justice shut down the possibility.

Lisa Page was identified as the other side of a text message conversation with FBI agent Peter Strzok that derided then-candidate Donald Trump ahead of the election.

Her private testimony before a joint task force of the House Judiciary and Oversight committees shed light on the controversial decision by former FBI Director James Comey to publicly criticize Clinton but not charge her with any crime.

Some cite the decision as part of the reason Clinton was defeated in the 2016 presidential race. Others see the reticence of the FBI to charge Clinton as evidence of a "deep state" bias towards the Democratic party and against President Donald Trump.

Page responded in her testimony to Republican concerns that the FBI did not seriously consider pressing charges against Clinton out of a bias against Trump, according to the Washington Examiner.

"We, in fact," Page explained, "and, in fact, the Director — because, on its face, it did seem like, well, maybe there's a potential here for this to be the charge.

"And we had multiple conversations, multiple conversations with the Justice Department about charging gross negligence," she added.

Page says that the Department of Justice ended the consideration of charges being brought up against Clinton.

"The Justice Department's assessment was that it was both constitutionally vague, so that they did not actually feel that they could permissibly bring that charge," she testified.

When asked to clarify if it appeared to be a command from the DOJ, Page responded, "That's correct."

Here's another previous report on Page's testimony: