Dem senator says FBI ‘scathed’ over Clinton probe

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Sunday that the FBI’s reputation has been “scathed” by the latest developments regarding it’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server.

Blumenthal, a former federal prosecutor, said during a radio interview with John Catsimatidis that FBI Director James Comey’s letter to Congress about the bureau’s investigation was “unprecedented.”

{mosads}“The FBI certainly emerges from this incident somewhat scathed, but by no means permanently impugned in terms of its integrity or its reputation,” he said, adding that he believes that the bureau can recover from any damage it has suffered.

Comey’s cryptic letter informed lawmakers that the bureau had discovered new emails he considered “pertinent” to its investigation and resulted in an uproar as Democrats accused him of trying to influence the election.

Blumenthal stressed that he doesn’t think Comey meant to influence the election, but that the bureau needs to be more “forthcoming.”

“I know Director Comey personally,” he said. “He used to live in Connecticut. Quite honestly, I know him to be a man of integrity and intellect, I respect him. What he did here was highly unusual and I think calls for more facts and a better explanation, which hopefully will be more forthcoming as soon as possible.”