So, technically, the Clinton case had never been closed, and Comey didn't say it was being "reopened," but that didn't stop news organizations from reporting that the case was being reopened based on a tweet from Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
News Outlets Dial Back Reports Of FBI ‘Reopening’ Hillary Clinton Email Case
Major news organizations blasted out reports Friday afternoon that the FBI was “reopening” its investigation involving Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state, an issue that has dogged her candidacy and could further threaten it with just 11 days left in the 2016 presidential race.
But after the news rapidly spread online and GOP nominee Donald Trump proclaimed the story “bigger than Watergate” at a New Hampshire rally several organizations dialed back their original reports to better reflect the language used by FBI Director James Comey in a letter sent to Congress on Friday.
Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, seems to have started the media frenzy by tweeting a line from Comey’s letter just before 1 p.m. along with the words, “Case reopened.”
Ground Zero Tweet:
FBI Dir just informed me, "The FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation." Case reopened
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) October 28, 2016
Hillary Holds 4 Minute Press Conference: Demands "Full And Complete Facts" From FBI
Courtesy of Zero Hedge
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Blink and you missed it: in a brief, 3 minute 47 second address to the press, a defiant Hillary slammed the FBI, said that she hopes that whatever information the Bureau has will be shared with the American people and added that she is confident that no charges will be brought against her by the FBI, while taking the opportunity to ask people to go out and vote for her.
She took three questions which some have mockingly said were drafted and/or preapproved by Clinton campaign direction of communications Jennifer Palmier.
"We are 11 days out from perhaps the most important national election of our lifetimes," Clinton said during the brief press conference in Des Moines, Iowa. "Voting is already underway in our country, so the American people deserve to get the full and complete facts immediately."
Hillary revealed that the FBI had not contacted her before or since Comey sent a letter to lawmakers Friday afternoon.
"So we don't know the facts, which is why we are calling on the FBI to release all the information that it has," she said. "Even Director Comey noted that this new information may not be significant, so let's get it out."
Comey's letter said that the FBI was reviewing pertinent emails that it found in an unrelated investigation, but did not reveal much more than that. Republicans and the GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump quickly pounced on the news.
Clinton was asked about a New York Times report that said the FBI had found the new emails in its separate investigation into Anthony Weiner’s sexting scandal.
“We’ve heard these rumors,” she said “We don’t know what to believe. And I'm sure there will be even more rumors. That’s why it’s incumbent on the FBI to tell us what they're talking about, Jeff. Your guess is as good as mine and I don't think that’s not good enough.”
Watch the brief recording below:
BREAKING: Hillary Clinton addresses FBI director's revelation of new review related to private email server case. https://t.co/vSxftfXcIZ
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) October 28, 2016
Hillary's statement was similar to what Tim Kaine said earlier: it's "very, very troubling" that the FBI is releasing information about a new probe into emails that may relate to Hillary Clinton just 11 days before the election. The Democratic vice presidential nominee is commenting on the development in an interview with Vice News. Kaine says the FBI director needs to provide more details on the situation. He suggests it's troubling that members of the press are finding out information before campaign officials. Kaine's comments in turn echo the a statement made by Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, and thus by Hillary.
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Finally, President Obama is staying silent – for now – on the FBI director's announcement of an investigation into new emails related to Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. Obama is in Orlando, Florida, where according to AP he is encouraging voters – young voters in particular – to take advantage of their opportunity to cast their ballots before Election Day on Nov. 8.
