On Friday, FBI Director James Comey notified Congress that new emails potentially related to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton‘s private server scandal had been unearthed. Investigators will be reviewing the correspondences, which reportedly were discovered while investigating former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner. The disgraced politician has been embroiled in yet another sexting scandal. Weiner, who is still legally married to top Clinton aide Huma Abedin, though the two separated in August.
As of this writing, an investigation has not been reopened regarding Clinton’s email scandal nor has Comey gone back on his recommendation that the former Secretary of State not be prosecuted. What has occurred since Comey’s revelation has been an outpouring of disapproval from politicians and officials.
According to the New Yorker, Comey’s plea for transparency breaks from tradition due to its potential affects on the outcome of the election, which is a mere week and a half away. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is reportedly displeased with Comey’s decision to act alone, as is an unnamed former Justice Department official, who told the New Yorker “you don’t do this.”
The source continues:
It’s aberrational. It violates decades of practice… because it impugns the integrity and reputation of the candidate, even though there’s no finding by a court, or in this instance even an indictment.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memo in 2012 recommending that Justice Department employees consult with the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division in instances like this. And yet it’s unclear if Comey sought their input.
DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile called Comey’s decision “irresponsible,” while Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein similarly condemned his behavior. The Clinton campaign is none too happen with the revelation, either, and has called for the full release of the emails and any pertinent information.
Republican nominee Donald Trump has seized this opportunity to slam Clinton once again, calling her private server scandal “bigger than Watergate” after Comey’s latest revelation.
Update 9:43am CT, Oct. 30: Democratic senators have sent a joint letter to the FBI and Department of Justice calling on additional information to be released by Monday:
Just in: Dem Sens Feinstein, Carper, Leahy and Cardin send ltr to DOJ/FBI requesting more info on Clinton server investigation by MONDAY: pic.twitter.com/dVPHT3mr4T
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 29, 2016
Hillary for America campaign chair John Podesta followed that up with a brief explanation on Medium.
“By being vague and obfuscating, Comey opened the door to conspiracy theories, Republican attacks against Hillary, and a surge of fundraising for Trump and his team,” the post reads in part. “So this bears repeating: There is no evidence of wrongdoing, no charge of wrongdoing, and no indication that any of this even involves Hillary.”