A group of lawmakers on Thursday raised concerns with the State Department Inspector General's office about allegations of an internal bias against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE.

In a letter to Inspector General Steve Linick, the lawmakers asked for clarity on the investigations being conducted around Clinton's use of a private email account during her time at State. The claims of internal bias were first reported in The Hill.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Day after day, we hear more allegations that harm the ability of federal Inspectors General to do their jobs," Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, wrote in the letter. "Questions about bias and over classification are fanning the flames of an already politicized situation.

"My colleagues and I are raising questions that will help shine a light on the process and make sure these reviews and investigations can go forward in a transparent, thorough, and unbiased manner. We must make sure that Inspectors General remain apolitical and are not used as partisan bludgeons to attack one individual."

The letter was also signed by Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinSenators offer disaster tax relief bill Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts Congress must save the Postal Service from collapse — our economy depends on it MORE (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyBattle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-Vt.), Tom Carper Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperDemocrat asks for probe of EPA's use of politically appointed lawyers Overnight Energy: Study links coronavirus mortality to air pollution exposure | Low-income, minority households pay more for utilities: report OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium MORE (D-Del.), Ben Cardin Benjamin (Ben) Louis CardinPPP application window closes after coronavirus talks deadlock Congress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help Senate passes extension of application deadline for PPP small-business loans MORE (D-Md.) and Reps. Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffOvernight Defense: Top admiral says 'no condition' where US should conduct nuclear test 'at this time' | Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Overnight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (D-Calif.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).

The letter comes on the heels of a source who contacted The Hill claiming the OIG office has grown increasingly partisan and that the deputy inspector general, Emilia DiSanto, is working with an "active partisan mandate to undermine both the State Department as a federal agency and Secretary Clinton as a presidential candidate."

DiSanto, a former aide to Sen. Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Senators offer disaster tax relief bill Trump spikes political football with return of Big Ten season MORE (R-Iowa) and Linick, a two-time appointee of President Obama, have adamantly denied such claims.

Last week, Engel called on DiSanto to recuse herself from the reviews and investigations dealing with Clinton.