FBI head: No pressure to finish Clinton probe by convention

FBI Director James Comey told reporters on Monday that he feels no pressure to finalize the ongoing investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server before the Democratic National Convention in July.  

The bureau wants to do the investigation “well” and “promptly,” Comey maintained during a press conference in Buffalo, N.Y.

{mosads}But there’s no special pressure to finish by the time Democrats meet in Philadelphia on July 25.

“No, and the only reason I hesitate is in any investigation of intense public interest, whether it involves a public figure, involves some horrific crime — San Bernardino is a great example — we feel a great sense of urgency to do it well and to do it promptly,” the FBI director said, according to WIVB-TV.

“I wouldn’t say the concerns are any different in any of the high profile cases. And the reason is good people want to know,” he added.

“There’s intense interest in investigations like that. Like a San Bernardino.”

Comey has repeatedly refused to discuss the details of the investigation into Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner, which has been ongoing since last summer.

His comments this week come as speculation is mounting that the FBI is nearing the final stages of its probe, with an eye on the political calendar.

Reports have indicated that the bureau is already working on setting up interviews, potentially with Clinton herself.   

Yet it remains unclear whether any charges will be filed for mishandling classified information, and if so whom they will target.

Comey has a fiercely independent streak, which has made him a favorite of Republicans and other critics of Clinton’s “homebrew” setup who hope to see a criminal indictment.