House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., suggested on Sunday that FBI Director James Comey would not have announced the agency’s reopening of its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server had he not discovered something “quite serious.”
“I just don’t see Director Comey opening this case back up 11 days before the election unless it is quite serious,” Nunes said on “Fox News Sunday.” He added that Comey’s letter to congressional committee chairs last Friday marked a “substantial development” in the bureau’s case involving Clinton and her handling of classified material.
“I think, after the several meetings that the Congress had with Director Comey, he was quite clear that the investigation was done and that he would only open it if there was significant information, and my guess is there must be something significant,” he added.
Nunes joined other Republican lawmakers in questioning whether Clinton and her senior aides should continue to receive classified intelligence briefings while the former secretary of state is being investigated by agency officials. House Speaker Paul Ryan renewed his calls on Friday for the Democratic presidential nominee not to receive briefings so long as the FBI investigation is ongoing.
“Should Hillary Clinton’s staff be given classified briefings at this point? I think it is a question that needs to be answered,” he said.
The California congressman also blasted Democrats who have criticized Comey for taking the step he did 11 days before the Nov. 8 election, a move they have described as “unprecedented” and motivated by Comey’s own political persuasions.
“This is Hillary Clinton’s fault. This is Hillary Clinton who set up a private email server. This is not House Republicans,” he said. “She knows better.”
