This news may represent the most 2016 moment in all of 2016. It turns out the “unrelated investigation” that triggered the FBI’s decision to re-open its investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email server was none other than — drum roll, please — its inquiry into Anthony Weiner’s serial sexting. Yes, you read that correctly:
Federal law enforcement officials said Friday that the new emails uncovered in the closed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server were discovered after the F.B.I. seized electronic devices belonging to Huma Abedin, a top aide to Mrs. Clinton, and her husband, Anthony Weiner.
The F.B.I. is investigating illicit text messages that Mr. Weiner sent to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. The bureau told Congress on Friday that it had uncovered new emails related to the Clinton case — one federal official said they numbered in the thousands — potentially reigniting an issue that has weighed on the presidential campaign and offering a lifeline to Donald J. Trump less than two weeks before the election.
“Thousands” of new emails? Suddenly, this tweet looks 99 percent less crazy than it did fourteen months ago:
Huma Abedin, the top aide to Hillary Clinton and the wife of perv sleazebag Anthony Wiener, was a major security risk as a collector of info
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2015
First, if this incident wasn’t so serious, this might be the most hilarious political twist in modern American life. Heck, if you like black comedy or gallows humor, it can be horrible and hilarious all at once.
Second, the thought that Anthony Weiner may have had classified information on his phone or other electronic device is chilling. It would take the Clinton team’s carelessness to an entirely new level. We don’t yet know whether the newly-discovered emails were classified — or if any of the classified emails were in Weiner’s possession — but the entire affair reveals once again the seriousness of Clinton’s decision to set up her own IT infrastructure.
Third, don’t let anyone tell you that the potentially classified emails won’t be relevant to Hillary unless they were sent or received by her. People can talk about damaging subjects in email, revealing – for example — inconsistencies in previous testimony or improper disclosures to unauthorized personnel. In his initial decision to recommend against prosecuting Clinton, Comey put a lot of emphasis on his perceptions of Hillary’s state of mind, specifically his judgment of her “intent.” If these emails change that judgment — about Hillary or any of her vulnerable aides — it could change his own legal calculus.
At any rate (and I say this in reference to my own writing as well) let’s not jump to legal conclusions yet. The political implications are much easier to discern. But for now even the most informed legal speculations are just that — speculations.