Warrant Related to Clinton Emails to Be Unsealed Tuesday

The warrant authorized the FBI search of a laptop in final days before election.

ByABC News
December 19, 2016, 7:33 PM

— -- A federal judge in New York has ordered that a search warrant and supporting documents that authorized the FBI in the final days before the election to examine a laptop computer in connection with Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server be unsealed Tuesday at noon.

The laptop's hard drive, which sources say was discovered in an unrelated investigation into alleged sexting by former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, had been used by Weiner and his estranged wife, top Clinton adviser Huma Abedin.

The FBI had effectively closed its investigation of Clinton's use of a private server as secretary of state in July, at which time the agency's director, James Comey, stated flatly in a press conference that, “no charges are appropriate in this case."

But the possibility that emails discovered on the laptop could be related to the investigation led Comey to issue a stunning letter to Congress on Oct. 28, informing them of the rekindled probe.

"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 in the letter to Congress.

Nine days later, on Nov. 6, just two days before the election, Comey said in another letter to Congress, "Based on our review, we have not changed our conclusions that we expressed in July with respect to Secretary Clinton."

Clinton has said Comey's actions were a turning point in the presidential race, telling donors soon after the election that the FBI director's announcement killed momentum in her campaign and boosted motivation for Trump.

A top donor told ABC News that the Comey letter was "a perfect setup for failure."

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