Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he believes Hillary Clinton could be impeached as president for her illegal actions involving a private email server as secretary of state.

In an interview published by the Beloit Daily News on Tuesday, Johnson alleged the Democratic nominee "purposefully circumvented [the law]."

"I'm not a lawyer, but this is clearly written," Johnson said. "I would say yes, high crime or misdemeanor, I believe she is in violation of both laws."

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs chairman cited 18 U.S. Code 793 (f) and 18 U.S. Code 2071 in regard to Clinton's "willful destruction or removal from proper custody of information relating to national defense." The latter of the two codes state anyone found to have concealed or removed records "shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States."

Johnson said his Democratic challenger, former senator Russ Feingold, would have a difficult time defending the actions of the Democratic presidential nominee.