WASHINGTON _ The FBI said Friday it is reviewing newly discovered emails related to Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server to determine whether classified materials were properly handled.
FBI Director James Comey wrote in a letter to congressional leaders that agents working on an unrelated probe had recently "learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the Clinton investigation."
The investigation, which comes after the Justice Department in July closed its previous probe into Clinton's handling of classified materials without filing criminal charges, is certain to become an issue in the final two weeks of the presidential campaign.
"In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation," Comey wrote. "I am writing to inform you that the investigative team briefed me on this yesterday, and I agreed that the FBI should take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow investigators to review these emails to determine whether they contain classified information, as well as to assess their importance to our investigation."
He added, the "FBI cannot yet assess whether or not this material may be significant, and I cannot predict how long it will take us to complete this additional work."
Clinton's use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state has continued to dog her campaign. Comey said her actions did not merit criminal prosecution, but were "extremely careless."
Republicans pounced on the news Friday.
In New Hampshire, GOP nominee Donald Trump said the new probe offered the FBI the chance to correct a "grave miscarriage of justice."
Trump, who has been trailing Clinton in several battleground states, told a cheering crowd: "We must not let her take her criminal scheme into the Oval Office." Supporters responded with chants of "Lock her up!"
Though Comey did not say the FBI was formally reopening the case, that's how Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, took the letter. "Case reopened," the Utah Republican wrote.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., renewed his call to suspend classified briefings to Hillary Clinton. Such briefings are customary for presidential candidates.
Clinton's campaign did not immediately comment.
Some FBI officials took umbrage at the idea that the investigation had been "reopened." Though Comey recommended no charges and the Justice Department closed the case, the FBI investigation was not yet "officially" closed due to administrative issues that needed to be completed, according to one law enforcement official, who was not authorized to speak on the matter.
The official said that the new emails under review were not related to the Clinton Foundation or to the recent leaks of Clinton campaign emails by WikiLeaks.
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