In a dramatic development late in the presidential campaign, the FBI is re-opening its investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private email server, multiple outlets reported on Friday.
NBC News: FBI re-opening investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private e-mail server
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) October 28, 2016
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight committee, announced on Twitter that FBI director James Comey informed him the case had been reopened after agents “learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation.”
FBI Dir just informed me, "The FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation." Case reopened
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 28, 2016
The FBI initially concluded its investigation in July 2016, after determining that Hillary Clinton and her top aides had been “extremely careless” in their handling of classified information over an unsecured email system, but did not demonstrate an “intent” to violate the law.
The new development is a genuine “October surprise” that promises to shake up the presidential race. With Election Day just days away, Hillary Clinton is widely expected to win a comfortable victory over Republican Donald Trump, but it remains to be seen how damaging these new emails could be for Hillary’s campaign.
Here is Comey’s letter to Congress. The new emails were apparently uncovered “in connection with an unrelated case.”
FBI Dir Comey letter to congressional committee chairs re discovery of "new emails…pertinent to the investigation" pic.twitter.com/y4gvHiILLn
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 28, 2016
Financial markets did not react well to the news that Hillary Clinton’s path to the White House just became a little less certain.
Markets panic! https://t.co/9qR3Z2pIMi pic.twitter.com/HDujddLGfW
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) October 28, 2016
UPDATE:
Donald Trump has released a statement on the FBI’s announcement.
Statement from Donald Trump on the #FBI email investigation being re-opened. pic.twitter.com/gCXGQVG5t6
— Deplorable AJ (@asamjulian) October 28, 2016
Hillary Clinton has yet to comment. She was reportedly doing a photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz on her campaign plane when the news broke.
The American Empire in its twilight glow:https://t.co/jl0HSu38uG
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) October 28, 2016
News outlets continue to update the story via anonymous officials.
BREAKING: US official: Newly discovered emails related to Clinton investigation did not come from her private server.
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) October 28, 2016
Apparently, the “unrelated case” was the FBI’s investigation into Anthony Weiner’s pervy sexting addiction. The news emails were found on devices belonging to Anthony Weiner, and his estranged wife, Huma Abedin, one of Hillary Clinton’s top aide at the State Department.
New emails tied to the FBI's Clinton inquiry were discovered during the investigation into Anthony Weiner's sexting https://t.co/FMHEkn03B0
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 28, 2016
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