FBI Director Says Hillary Clinton Shouldn’t Be Charged Over New Emails

James Comey tells Congress that previous conclusion remains unchanged

james comey hillary clinton
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FBI director James Comey has told the U.S. Congress that a review of additional Hillary Clinton emails does not change their previous conclusion that she should not face charges, according to the Associated Press.

Comey said in a letter sent on Sunday that the FBI has “not changed our conclusions” that the Democratic presidential candidate should not face charges. (Read it in full below.)

He also confirmed the FBI “reviewed all of the communications that were to or from Hillary Clinton,” referencing the newly surfaced emails.

This development comes only two days before the Nov. 8 election and more than a week after Comey sent a previous letter to Congress about reopening the investigation of the former Secretary of State’s handling of a private email server in light of new emails that may be connected to the case.

Clinton’s campaign applauded Comey’s letter on Sunday. “He has confirmed the conclusions that he reached in July and we’re glad this matter is resolved,” said communications director Jen Palmieiri (via the AP).

Over the summer Comey criticized Clinton over her use of a private email server but did not recommend she be charged.

Although Donald Trump didn’t mention Comey by name or speak specifically about the Clinton emails while addressing supporters at a Minneapolis rally, he did say that Clinton is “protected by a rigged system,” adding, “She shouldn’t even be allowed to run for president.”

The new crop of Clinton emails were discovered on former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s computer. He is the estranged husband of Clinton’s aide Huma Abedin who is being investigated by the FBI for sexting with a minor.

Read Comey’s Sunday letter in full:

Nothing New Here Has Changed Our Conclusion

Dear Messrs. Chairmen:

I write to supplement my Oct. 28, 2016 letter that notified you the FBI would be taking additional investigative steps with respect to former Secretary of State Clinton’s use of a personal email server. Since my letter, the FBI investigative team has been working around the clock to process and review a large volume of emails from a device obtained in connection with an unrelated criminal investigation. During that process, we reviewed all of the communications that were to or from Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State.

Based on our review, we have not changed our conclusions that we expressed in July with respect to Secretary Clinton.

I am very grateful to the professionals at the FBI for doing an extraordinary amount of high-quality work in a short period of time. 

Sincerely yours,

James B. Comey

Director

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