Whether it was deliberate or not, we now know the FBI agents investigating Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server waited nearly a month before briefing director James Comey, planting them firmly in the middle of the closing days of a heated and tight presidential campaign.
Agents knew thousands of emails from the Anthony Weiner probe might be germane to their case, but no one is saying why they waited until 12 days before the election to notify Comey, according to the Washington Post.
In a brief letter to Congress Friday, Comey wrote, “We don’t know the significance of this newly discovered collection of emails,” but that hasn’t stopped Donald Trump and Republicans from speculating on what they may contain.
If the information had been brought to light in early October, the candidates could have discussed it during the presidential debates. Instead, waiting until the end of the month served as an “October Surprise” for the Clinton campaign.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that there are over 650,000 emails contained on Weiner’s laptop, and it could take “weeks at a minimum” to determine whether those messages are work-related emails between Huma Abedin, a close Clinton aide and the estranged wife of Weiner, and State Department officials.
Many – if not all – of the emails may be duplicates, already reviewed by the FBI earlier this year.
Comey had recommended in July that the case be “concluded” without any charges against Clinton.
The latest news comes on the same day that a new ABC/WAPO poll finds Trump and Clinton tied nationally, and Clinton clinging to only a one point lead in the critical battleground state of Florida.