WASHINGTON_Four leading Senate Democrats want additional details about the FBI's interest in a new batch of emails that may be related to the investigation of Hillary Clinton's private email server by Monday.
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ranking member Thomas R. Carper of Delaware, Intelligence ranking member Dianne Feinstein of California, Judiciary ranking member Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont and Foreign Relations ranking member Benjamin L. Cardin urged the release of more information in a letter they sent Saturday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and FBI Director James Comey.
Comey issued a letter to congressional committees that was released Friday indicating that in the course of an unrelated investigation, there were additional emails discovered that may be pertinent to the probe about the email server, which Clinton used during her time as secretary of State. The letter didn't provide details.
"In light of the timing of Director Comey's letter and the confusion and speculation that has resulted, the American people deserve to know that the FBI and the Department of Justice are working around the clock to determine the basic facts about the emails in question," the senators wrote in the Saturday letter. "Indeed, based on Director Comey's internal memo to FBI staff, it is not clear whether FBI agents have even obtained or reviewed the emails in question."
The unrelated investigation Comey referenced has been widely reported to focus on inappropriate messages former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., sent to an underage girl. Weiner is the estranged husband of longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin.
The four ranking Democratic senators say that regardless of Comey's desire not to be misunderstood, the Justice Department needs to release more information because his brief message and the subsequently leaked internal FBI communication is being used for political purposes ahead of the presidential election.
"Just 10 days before the presidential election, the American people deserve more disclosure without delay regarding the FBI's most recent announcement. Anything less would be irresponsible and a disservice to the American people," the senators wrote.
