[shhrubbery!]

"sheer stupidity ... or political brilliance?"

Neither. It was simply an intimidation tactic, SOP for Bill Clinton ... only this time he got caught.

If he hadn't been caught, I suppose Clinton's move could have been "brilliant," as long as your definition of brilliance comes from a mobster's dictionary.

[poconopundit]

If it was an intimidation tactic on Bill's part, then perhaps Lynch leaked the press exposure to bring the possibility of intimidation into full view.

In that way she protects herself somewhat from retribution when the axe falls.

The post meeting press conference makes sense in that light because it further highlights that the meeting was held. She admits that it was the wrong move, but it's her way of keeping the goons away.

Does this make sense?