Federal judge orders FBI's controversial final Hillary Clinton email warrant released Tuesday

On Monday, U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel ordered the FBI's Oct. 30 search warrant in the Hillary Clinton email investigation unsealed and posted to the court's docket by noon on Tuesday, along with supporting documents. Unless the order is blocked by an appellate court, the documents could provide more information into what caused an FBI agent to search the laptop owned by former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) for evidence in the closed Clinton case, an accounting of what the agents discovered, and other clues that might explain why FBI Director James Comey decided to breach Justice Department policy and disregard advice from his higher-ups by publicly announcing the new inquiry on Oct. 28, right before the election.
The unsealing of the FBI documents was requested by E. Randol Schoenberg, a lawyer more famous for recovering works of art stolen by the Nazis. Schoenberg has argued that Comey's actions cost Clinton the election, an argument Clinton herself has made as well. The government had originally disagreed with Schoenberg's request, but essentially dropped its objection if some parts of the document were redacted, Castel said. Clinton herself has taken no position on the unsealing of the documents, and her lawyer, David Kendall, declined to comment on their imminent release.
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.
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 22, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - bricking it, I can buy myself flowers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 exclusive cartoons about Trump and Putin negotiating peace
Cartoons Artists take on alternative timelines, missing participants, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The AI arms race
Talking Point The fixation on AI-powered economic growth risks drowning out concerns around the technology which have yet to be resolved
By The Week UK Published
-
Mitch McConnell won't seek reelection
Speed Read The longest-serving Senate party leader is retiring
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump reportedly wants to take over US Postal Service
Speed Read President Trump is making plans to disband the leadership of USPS and absorb the agency into his administration
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump seeks to end New York's congestion pricing
Speed Read The MTA quickly filed a lawsuit to stop the move
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published