FBI agents knew about new Clinton emails for weeks before Comey was informed

The FBI agents involved with the suspended investigation into the private email server Hillary Clinton used while secretary of state reportedly knew for several weeks before FBI Director James Comey was informed that new emails pertinent to that case had been discovered on a computer belonging to Clinton aide Huma Abedin and her husband, Anthony Weiner.

Officials tell The Washington Post that FBI agents in New York were trying to assess what evidence they had before alerting Comey, but an earlier revelation with more distance from Election Day might have been less likely to draw allegations of political manipulation.

Comey was first briefed on the discovery Thursday, and he sent a letter Friday to relevant committee members in Congress informing them that the investigation would be reactivated.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up