It’s called an ex parte contact and it is at least unethical so that a lawyer might face discipline and sanctions.
Lynch is (purportedly) representing the people in a criminal matter alleged against Slickster’s wife.
http://thelawdictionary.org/ex-parte/
But as Schumer says, what difference does it make? She’s honorable.
Let me revise my #52 above. An ex parte contact is a contact by one side with the presiding officer of a matter in dispute, without notice to the adverse party.
Roughly stated, notions of due process require that both parties, as a general rule & with certain exceptions, be allowed to make their case to the judge.
So this is more in the category of “OK, your story is that wraith-like Bill Clinton was golfing in 100+ temperatures, and just happened to run into the US AG on her govt. jet?” from both the most transparent and the most ethical administrations ever.