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Dean: ‘Comey put himself on the same side as Putin’

by Mallory Shelbourne - 10/29/16 4:22 PM ET

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean argued Saturday that FBI Director James Comey aligned himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The former Democratic National Committee chairman slammed Comey over his announcement Friday about new emails potentially related to the Hillary Clinton email investigation.

“Ironically Comey put himself on the same side as Putin,” Dean tweeted, adding that while Comey “tried to do what he thought was right,” the FBI director “botched the presentation.”

Ironically Comey put himself on the same side as Putin.

— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) October 29, 2016

Comey tried to do what he thought was right. He totally botched the presentation and may have destroyed the credibility of the FBI forever.

— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) October 29, 2016

{mosads}Comey sent a letter to lawmakers Friday informing them that emails discovered during a separate probe may pertain to the FBI’s investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of State.

The New Yorker reported early Saturday that Comey’s letter went against the Justice Department’s practice of not taking steps in the course of an investigation that could affect an election.

Dean’s reference to Putin comes several weeks after the Obama administration formally accused Russia of trying to interfere in the U.S. election by hacking the email accounts of Democratic groups.

The New York Times reported Friday that the FBI discovered the emails during an investigation into former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D-N.Y.) alleged online relationship with a teenager.

Tags Hillary Clinton