Clinton campaign calls on FBI to clarify emails claim

Bureau director James Comey told congress in a letter on Friday that the FBI was investigating whether or not there is classified information in emails uncovered during the “sexting” investigation of disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of one of Mrs Clinton’s closest aides.

Hillary Clinton speaks with senior aide Huma Abedin aboard her campaign plane. The longtime Clinton aide is at the centre of a renewed FBI email investigation. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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NEW YORK // Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign on Saturday tried to turn the pressure on the FBI to provide more details of the renewed investigation into the former secretary of state’s use of private email for government business.

Bureau director James Comey told congress in a letter on Friday that the FBI was investigating whether or not there is classified information in emails uncovered during the “sexting” investigation of disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of one of Mrs Clinton’s closest aides.

The emails prompted investigators to take another look at whether classified information had been mishandled, which had been the focus of its recently closed criminal investigation into Mrs Clinton’s use of a private email server.

“Twenty four hours after that letter was sent, we have no explanation why,” said John Podesta, Democrat Mrs Clinton’s campaign chairman.

“No one can separate what is true or is not because Comey has not been forthcoming with the facts.”

The development came less than two weeks before the election on November 8, providing a boost to Republican candidate Donald Trump as most national polls showed him lagging behind.

Mr Comey said he could not say how long the review would take – raising the possibility that Mrs Clinton could go into election day with the matter unresolved and hanging over her campaign.

She demanded late on Friday that the FBI explain its decision and said she was confident that the renewed inquiry will show no wrongdoing on her part.

“The American people deserve to get full and complete facts,” Mrs Clinton said.

Mr Trump pounced on the FBI’s disclosure, accusing Mrs Clinton of corruption.

* Bloomberg and Associated Press