Huma Abedin reportedly was baffled to learn about her emails on Anthony Weiner's computer
Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin says she does not know how her emails got on her husband Anthony Weiner's laptop and was baffled by the FBI's recent declaration of that being the case, a person familiar with Abedin's reaction told Politico.
The confusion comes alongside FBI officials' off-the-record assertions that thousands of emails on Weiner's laptop appeared tied to Clinton's private server; agents will now look at the messages and compare them to emails they already looked at during an investigation into Clinton's use of the server to see if any contained classified information.
While the FBI has maintained that they "cannot yet assess whether or not this material may be significant," in order to get a warrant to review the emails they would have likely needed to argue that the contents contained evidence of a crime.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
"The big issue to my mind is: In order to seize evidence on the computer, it needs to be just immediately apparent that it's evidence of a crime. It's hard to know how that would be the case here," former federal computer crimes prosecutor Orin Kerr told Politico. "It sounds like the government thinks this information might be relevant and they'd like to take a look at it, but it's not immediately apparent to me that it would be evidence of a crime."
Weiner's laptop was originally seized in a separate investigation into reports that Weiner sent sexual messages to an underage girl. If Abedin has since given the FBI permission to search the new emails, a second warrant may have been unnecessary; Abedin is believed to be cooperating with the investigation "completely," Politico reports.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published