Cooper Allen

USA TODAY

Attorney General Loretta Lynch made official late Wednesday what was widely expected: The Justice Department will not press charges against Hillary Clinton or anyone else as part of its investigation into Clinton's use of private email servers while secretary of State.

The announcement comes the day after FBI Director James Comey said that, while Clinton and State Department employees had been "extremely careless" in handling classified materials, there was no basis for a criminal case.

Lynch had previously said she would accept the recommendation of the FBI and prosecutors in the case and she reiterated that in a brief Wednesday statement.

“Late this afternoon, I met with FBI Director James Comey and career prosecutors and agents who conducted the investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email system during her time as Secretary of State," she said. "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.”

Clinton campaign press secretary Brian Fallon later tweeted that Lynch's accepance of Comey's recommendation meant that "this case is resolved, no matter Republicans' attempts to continue playing politics."

During a rally near Cincinnati Wednesday evening, Clinton's anticipated Republican rival, Donald Trump, criticized the outcome of the investigation, saying Clinton was "a dirty rotten liar."

The attorney general sparked controversy last week after it was revealed that she'd met briefly with Clinton's husband, former president Bill Clinton, when the two crossed paths while traveling at the Phoenix airport. Although she maintained they hadn't discussed the case and had mainly talked about personal matters, she said on Friday that she "certainly wouldn't do this again" and made clear she would accept whatever decision Comey and the team conducting the investigation arrived at.

While Lynch's announcement brings to a close the legal battle over Clinton's use of a private email system during her tenure as secretary of State, the political battle will undoubtedly continue throughout the presidential campaign.

House Republicans promise Clinton email probe is not over

Comey is set to testify on Thursday before the House Oversight Committee on what Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, called the "surprising and confusing" recommendation by the FBI not to press charges.

Clinton's campaign said House Republicans are pursuing a "taxpayer-funded sham" by convening the hearing. Clinton spokesman Fallon said GOP leaders are now second-guessing Comey's judgment "because his findings do not align with their conspiracy theories."

Lynch is also scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.