Democrats in two key Senate races are pushing FBI Director James Comey to quickly release more information about the FBI’s decision to open a new review into Hillary Clinton’s emails.
Gov. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), who is hoping to unseat Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), said Comey “should clarify today’s announcement and provide more information to the American public.”
{mosads}”This matter has been investigated exhaustively, and Secretary Clinton has appropriately apologized and said that the handling of her emails was a mistake. I agree with that,” she added.
But Hassan also tried to pivot away from the tumultuous presidential race, noting “what’s on the line” in the Senate election remains the same.
It is about “who will fight to expand opportunity for our middle class, keep our country safe, and build an even brighter economic future where all Granite Staters can thrive,” she said.
The Friday afternoon announcement has sent a shockwave through the battle for the Senate, with GOP incumbents racing to link Democratic Senate hopefuls to the potential fallout. Democrats need to pick up five Senate seats — or four if they also retain the White House — to win back the majority.
Helen Hare, a spokeswoman for North Carolina’s Deborah Ross, said the Democratic candidate, said she “believes the FBI should review the facts and share them with the public as they become available.”
The Senate fights in North Carolina and New Hampshire are running neck and neck heading into the final stretch. Both Ayotte and GOP Sen. Richard Burr are leading by less than 3 points on average, according to Real Clear Politics.
The calls come as Comey is under growing bipartisan pressure to quickly release more information as he’s thrown a curveball in the final weeks of the 2016 election.
In his letter to lawmakers Friday about newly uncovered evidence, Comey wrote that the FBI “cannot yet assess whether or not this material may be significant” and refused to describe how long the additional work might take.