Fear of Leaks Pushed FBI Decision on Emails Connected to Clinton

Law enforcement sources said on Thursday FBI Director James Comey was compelled in part by a fear of leaks from within his agency when he decided to inform Congress the FBI was investigating newly found emails related to Hillary Clinton,.

The analysis of the email traffic is now being done under the tightest secrecy by a team at the FBI headquarters in Washington, the sources said, requesting anonymity due to the inquiry’s sensitivity.

Several sources said it was not clear whether the FBI would make any further public releases about its latest evaluation prior to Tuesday’s presidential and congressional elections. A couple of sources said such releases were unlikely.

Another source said that it would depend on how the investigation goes and what the FBI finds. The source added that, as of Thursday, nobody really knows whether the FBI will have anything more to say before the election.

Last Friday, Comey sent a letter to senior lawmakers regarding the newly discovered emails. His disclosure just days before the elections elicited questions about his intentions and drew criticism from some over his timing.

Comey revealed that the FBI was looking at emails as part of an investigation into Clinton’s use of an unauthorized server while secretary of state. The FBI director did not describe the emails’ content or how long the probe might take. The FBI normally does not comment on ongoing investigations.

The new emails came to light as FBI investigators were inspecting electronic devices used by former congressman Anthony Weiner in connection with an apparent “sexting” scandal. Weiner’s estranged wife, Huma Abedin, is a Clinton confidante.

According to law enforcement sources, the FBI has made initial inquiries into Clinton Foundation activities and supposed contacts between Trump and accomplices with factions in Russia. However, these inquests were swung into low gear weeks ago because the FBI wanted to avoid any effect on the election.

Clinton had used unauthorized server at her residence in Chappaqua, New York, instead of the secure State Department system. The FBI beforehand had spent close to a year probing Clinton’s use of the private server after classified government secrets were discovered in some of her emails.

Comey had stated in July that while there was “evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.”

 

 

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