Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., floated the idea Friday that FBI Director James Comey was pressured by Republicans into notifying Congress that his bureau had found additional emails likely related to Hillary Clinton’s private server.
“I think the biggest thing is my disappointment with the director. I think he’s shown he’s very easily intimidated by the Republicans in D.C. who are constantly trying to create controversies and so on,” the senator said in an interview on MSNBC.
Comey, who recommended in July that no charges be brought against Clinton for her use of a private an unauthorized homebrew server when she worked at the State Department, informed Democratic and Republican lawmakers last week that an investigation of disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner turned up additional emails possibly related to the Democratic nominee.
The additional emails were found on a laptop shared by Weiner and his wife and longtime Clinton aide, Huma Abedin.
On Friday, Stabenow suggested that at the heart of the latest development with the FBI is a director who is easily “intimidated” by Republican lawmakers.
The senator’s remarks also come on the heels of recent reports alleging civil war within the FBI over Comey’s announcement earlier this year that he’d recommend no charges be brought against Clinton.
Stabenow is a Clinton supporter, and she frequently campaigns on behalf of the Democratic nominee.
