Text messages between two FBI officials reveal that former FBI Director Andrew McCabe waited at least a month before informing Congress or then-FBI Director James Comey about newly found emails in the Hillary Clinton email investigation during the fall of 2016.
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that it had obtained text messages between FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page that showed McCabe knew of thousands of new emails pertaining to the private email server Clinton used at the State Department on or before Sept. 28, 2016 — a month before Comey informed Congress about the emails on Oct. 28. {mosads}
McCabe’s apparent inaction on the emails, which were found on the laptop of disgraced New York Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) during his sex crimes investigation, is the subject of an FBI inspector general investigation, which seeks to discover whether McCabe withheld the information from the public for political reasons.
The text message in question was sent by controversial FBI agent Peter Strzok, who was removed from the investigation into Russia’s election meddling after it was revealed he had sent texts allegedly revealing political bias against the president.
“Got called up to Andy’s earlier,” Strzok wrote in a Sept. 28 text, which continued: “hundreds of thousands of emails turned over by Weiner’s atty to sdny, includes a ton of material from spouse. Sending team up tomorrow to review … this will never end ….”
In September of 2016, investigators searching a laptop belonging to Weiner discovered thousands of emails related to Clinton’s private email server used during her time at the State Department. The emails were a result of the device being used for work by Huma Abedin, Weiner’s wife and a close aide to Clinton.
Clinton supporters have long argued that the FBI’s late decision to reopen the former secretary of State’s email investigation swung the election to now-President Trump, while the president’s supporters have argued that FBI officials let Clinton off without charges due to political bias.
McCabe resigned on Monday after weeks of pressure from Republicans over his handling of the Russia investigation. The White House denied ordering McCabe to resign at a press briefing the same day.
“I can say that the president wasn’t a part of this decisionmaking process,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.