* After all we’ve seen over the last year when it comes to the topic of Hillary Clinton and emails, we should have learned to avoid the media freak-out when something new pops up. It almost always turns into a big nothingburger. Today’s edition started with the release of a letter FBI Director James Comey sent to Republican committee members about some new emails that have been discovered. Since the freak-out began, we’ve learned the following about the emails in question:
1. They were not from Hillary
2. They were not from her private server
3. They were not from her investigation
4. They were not withheld from the FBI by Clinton
5. They were found on a computer seized during an investigation of former Rep. Anthony Weiner
This one may or may not eventually turn into another nothingburger. But for the news media that rushed breathlessly into lighting their hair on fire about it, I can only wish that Gilda Radner was still around to bless us with one of these from Emily Litella:
* Here is Clinton campaign manager John Podesta’s statement in response to Comey’s letter:
Upon completing this investigation more than three months ago, FBI Director Comey declared no reasonable prosecutor would move forward with a case like this and added that it was not even a close call. In the months since, Donald Trump and his Republican allies have been baselessly second-guessing the FBI and, in both public and private, browbeating the career officials there to revisit their conclusion in a desperate attempt to harm Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
FBI Director Comey should immediately provide the American public more information than is contained in the letter he sent to eight Republican committee chairmen. Already, we have seen characterizations that the FBI is “reopening” an investigation but Comey’s words do not match that characterization. Director Comey’s letter refers to emails that came to light in an unrelated case, but we have no idea what those emails are and the Director himself notes they may not even be significant.
It is extraordinary that we would see something like this just 11 days out from a presidential election.
The Director owes it to the American people to immediately provide the full details of what he is now examining. We are confident this will not produce any conclusions different from the one the FBI reached in July.
That doesn’t quite strike me as a campaign that is worried about needing to hide something. They are basically saying…”bring it on!”
* You might want to read what former DOJ public affairs director Matthew Miller tweeted about how Comey has bypassed Justice Department protocols in how he has handled this whole affair. Here is what he said that is pertinent to today’s events.
Not just public discussion either. Often won’t send subpoenas or take other steps that might leak until after an election is over…6/
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) October 28, 2016
This might be totally benign & not even involve Clinton. But no way for press or voters to know that. Easy for opponent to make hay over. 8/
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) October 28, 2016
* In other news, one of the most important questions in this election was finally answered yesterday.
* Chances are that, if you are a celebrity, you’ve done a “get out and vote” video. Just today I’ve seen one from Helen Mirren (serious), Ben Affleck (funny) and Alicia Keys (heartfelt). But this no-nonsense one from Aziz Ansari has actually become my favorite.
