FBI Director James Comey’s decision to revisit the Hillary Clinton email-private server case was purportedly trigged by New York agents working on the unrelated case of former New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner allegedly “sexting” an underage female.

A law enforcement source told Fox News on Sunday that the New York team told agents involved in the investigation into Clinton using a private server system while secretary of state: “We think we've come across some documents pertinent to your investigation."

Weiner is married to top Clinton aide Huma Abedin, and a laptop connected to the sexting case was purportedly shared by the couple.

Comey was further compelled to review the documents based on two factors: the volume of documents and his commitment under oath to Congress to review “any new and substantial information,” the source also said.

Comey restarted the case Thursday after being briefed by agents. He subsequently told Congress, and Capitol Hill Republicans the next day boasted that the FBI had reopened its investigation into Clinton using a private Internet server system while secretary of state.

In July, Comey wrapped up the one-year investigation into Clinton using the private server, saying she was “extremely careless” and that some of the emails off the server included classified information.

However, he said investigators had not found enough evidence that Clinton had mishandled classified information to recommend criminal charges.

The new probe comes 10 days before Election Day in a closely contested White House race between Clinton, the Democratic nominee, and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Clinton has been the frontrunner for the entire campaign. But the FBI investigation and others, including several in the GOP-controlled Congress, have contributed to Americans’ eroding trust in her.

Several sources told Fox News this weekend that “thousands” to “tens-of-thousands” of new documents emerged in the sexting case.

However, it remains unclear whether any of them belong to either Clinton or Abedin, as the Clinton campaign has argued over the past few days.  

“Everyone wants to have answers,” Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told “Fox News Sunday.” “Comey should put out answers. … This letter is innuendo.” 

Anonymous sources report that there is no evidence that the newly discovered emails on the computer involve Clinton.

However, if the sexting case involves a laptop used by Abedin and the new-found documents include Abedin emails related to her time at the State Department with Clinton, she faces serious consequences.

In June, Abedin said under oath in a Judicial Watch deposition that she searched through all her devices for government emails so they could be turned over to the State Department.

Abedin could be charged with perjury if she lied under oath and as a result would face up to five years in prison.
She also signed a State Department document stating that she no longer maintained classified information, as part of her official exit from the agency.


Catherine Herridge is an award-winning Chief Intelligence correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC) based in Washington, D.C. She covers intelligence, the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Herridge joined FNC in 1996 as a London-based correspondent.