DOJ pledges to review new Clinton emails ‘expeditiously’

The Justice Department on Monday told lawmakers that it is dedicating “all necessary resources” and taking “appropriate steps as expeditiously as possible” in the review into newly uncovered emails potentially relevant to Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of State.

In a three-paragraph letter to Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs Peter J. Kadzik said the department is working “closely” with the FBI.

{mosads}The letter provided no further details about the contents of the emails, who sent them or whether they are significant to the FBI’s original investigation into whether Clinton, now the Democratic presidential nominee, mishandled classified information.

Kadzik was responding to a letter sent Saturday by the four Democrats, demanding more transparency into the discovery of the emails.

“Just ten days before a presidential election, the American people deserve more disclosure without delay regarding the FBI’s most recent announcement,” the senators wrote on Saturday. “Anything less would be irresponsible and a disservice to the American people.”

FBI Director James Comey set off a firestorm on Friday when he informed lawmakers that investigators were assessing new emails that could be “pertinent” to the Clinton case, which had been considered completed in July.

Comey has faced criticism from both the left and the right for the decision to make public the bureau’s findings without providing further context.

“Your letter failed to give Congress and the American people enough context to evaluate the significance or full meaning of this development,” Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote in a Monday letter.

“Without additional context, your disclosure is not fair to Congress, the American people, or Secretary Clinton.”