Clinton Campaign Assails FBI's 'Unprecedented' Move

Podesta wants answers from Comey, as Pence underscores that Clinton a 'risky choice'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 30, 2016 10:07 AM CDT
Clinton Campaign Assails FBI's 'Unprecedented' Move
Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks during a campaign stop in Bensalem, Pa., Friday, Oct. 28, 2016.    (Matt Rourke)

Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman says FBI Director James Comey should explain the "unprecedented" step of announcing an agency review of new Clinton-related emails just days before a national election, reports the AP. John Podesta told CNN's State of the Union that Comey should have reviewed the information more thoroughly before making the decision public. Now, Podesta says, Comey should explain why "he took this unprecedented step, particularly when he said himself in the letter to the Hill that these (emails) may not even be significant." The candidate herself kept up the attack on Comey, notes CNN, telling a crowd on Saturday that "it's pretty strange to put something like that out with such little information right before an election. In fact, it's not just strange, it's unprecedented and it's deeply troubling because voters deserve to get full and complete facts." Elsewhere:

  • Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway says Comey was between a rock and a hard place, and could have been accused of meddling with the election if he hadn't made the disclosure. Meanwhile, Team Trump is walking back its previous criticism of the FBI's handling of the investigation into Clinton's email.

  • Tim Kaine says Comey needs to tell the public if he hasn't yet reviewed any of the emails considered "pertinent" to the investigation, and says that as far as the campaign knows, Comey "knows nothing about the content of these emails." He calls it a "distraction" but says the Clinton campaign will "power forward" during the last 10 days.
  • Mike Pence says the scandal shows that Clinton is "just a risky choice in this election." He adds that Trump has "made it clear we'll have the resources we need," and praises his "incredible generosity."
  • Clinton's close relationship with top aide Huma Abedin is being put to the test, reports the New York Times. The AP notes that Team Clinton is thus far standing by Abedin, with campaign manager Robby Mook saying he's "absolutely" confident that Abedin fully complied with the FBI.
(More James Comey stories.)

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