Clinton hits back at FBI as she fights for survival
HILLARY CLINTON fought back furiously to keep her presidential campaign alive last night, after the FBI’s announcement that it had reopened its investigation into her emails.
James Comey, the FBI director, announced on Friday afternoon that fresh evidence had emerged for his investigation into whether Mrs Clinton was criminally negligent in her handling of classified material.
But Democrats questioned the timing of the agency’s decision, which comes as polls showed Mrs Clinton’s lead dropping sharply just 10 days before the presidential election.
Mrs Clinton last night called the decision “unprecedented” and “deeply troubling”. Addressing supporters at a rally in the must-win state of Florida, she said: “It’s pretty strange to put something like that out with such little information right before an election.”
Donald Trump said yesterday it was everybody’s “deepest hope” that justice would be “properly delivered”.
“Hillary has nobody to blame but herself for her mounting legal troubles,” he said, adding that the debacle “was the lowest point for our country”.
It was claimed that Loretta Lynch, the attorney general, advised Mr Comey not to send the letter – but Mr Comey replied that he felt it was his “obligation” to do so.
It was also reported that officials from the justice department had warned Mr Comey he would be operating against standard procedure in sending the letter. They said Mr Comey was “operating independently of the justice
department” and their policy was “that we don’t comment on an ongoing investigation. And we don’t take steps that will be viewed as influencing an election.”
The decision is a boost to Donald Trump, who has shaped his campaign around attacks on “Crooked Hillary” and what he says is her dishonesty.
Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and a supporter of Mr Trump, said the first inquiry, which closed in July, was a “sham” and accused Mrs Clinton of not knowing how to handle classified material.
The Clinton campaign yesterday responded with what amounts to a declaration of open warfare against Mr Comey, alleging that his actions are backed by a political motive.
John Podesta, Mrs Clinton’s campaign chief, accused him of sabotage. A
Washington Post/ABC poll released yesterday showed Mrs Clinton’s lead over Mr Trump narrowing to three points – before Friday’s bombshell.
Mr Podesta called Mr Comey’s letter to Congress “long on innuendo and short on facts” and called for more information about why he had decided to send the letter and what he based it on. He said Mr Comey was “providing selective information” that allowed Mrs Clinton’s opponent to “distort and exaggerate” the facts.
Mr Comey’s letter stated only that “pertinent emails” had been found, without specifying where they were from, what they related to and whether they contained classified material.
They are believed to have emerged from an investigation into Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Mrs Clinton’s top aide, Huma Abedin, over messages sent to a teenage girl.