Clinton campaign accuses FBI director of "double standard"
Hillary Clinton says FBI investigation into the emails on the laptop of Anthony Weiner, estranged husband of Clinton’s longtime aide Huma Abedin, will show “there is no case here.”
The latest RealClearPolitics average of national polls shows her leading Donald Trump by just over three points. That is the closest margin in a month. Clinton’s average lead was nearly six points before the new FBI probe was reported.
Set aside for a moment the fact that we have two major candidates accusing each other of being in more trouble with the FBI than they are. The Clinton campaign says what’s unfair is that the FBI director would publicly resurrect her investigation so close to the election, but stay silent about reported investigations into Trump, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.
“If they want to look at some more emails of one of my staffers, by all means go ahead! Look at them,” Clinton said in Cincinnati.
The Clinton campaign took its fight with the FBI to the next level Monday, accusing FBI director James Comey of playing favorites.
“I’m not confirming that we’re investigating people associated with Mr. Trump,” Comey testified in September during an FBI hearing.
Comey has refused to confirm rumors that agents are investigating Russian ties to some Trump associates. But he did alert lawmakers Friday about new emails in the Clinton case that may or may not be significant.
“That is extremely troubling. And he ought to answer for it,” said Clinton’s running mate, Tim Kaine.
Kaine said Comey isn’t following protocol when it comes to Clinton.
“I’m not raising question about his motives. I’m just saying there’s a double standard and they ought to explain it,” Kaine said.
The goal is to get the focus back on Trump and off Clinton’s lingering legal troubles, not to mention more fallout from her campaign’s hacked emails.
Interim Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile resigned from her contributor role at CNN after WikiLeaks posted another exchange in which she appeared to pass the Clinton camp a debate question in advance. The question was about lead in drinking water. It came up at a debate in Flint, Michigan.
“You see Donna Brazile was fired from the network,” Trump said in Michigan to cheers.
The GOP nominee said the campaign should have come clean about the question.
“Why did Hillary Clinton not turn it in? You know, I have a son named Barron. And I want to tell you, she is a terrible example for my son and for the children in this country. That I can tell you,” Trump said.
In a statement, Brazile said she shared her thoughts with all the Democratic campaigns. The Clinton camp has had no comment.