The FBI's announcement that it recently came upon new emails pertinent to the Hillary Clinton email investigation has raised more questions than answers.
FBI Director James Comey said in a letter to Congress on Friday that the bureau had discovered the emails while pursuing an unrelated case and would review whether they were classified.
The announcement, vague in details, has drawn both criticism and praise. Here are some questions and answers:
Q: WHERE DID THE EMAILS COME FROM?
A: The emails emerged during a separate criminal sexting investigation into Anthony Weiner, estranged husband of Huma Abedin, one of Clinton's closest aides.
It's unclear who sent or received the emails or what they were about.
Q: WHY IS THIS COMING OUT SO CLOSE TO THE ELECTION?
A: Apparently because the emails were found very recently. In his letter to Congress, Comey said he had only been briefed on Thursday by investigators.
However releasing the letter has opened Comey to criticism that he is dropping a significant development too close to an election.
Comey says he's was trying to strike a balance between keeping Congress and the public informed and not creating a misleading impression, given that the emails' significance is not yet known.
Q: IS THE DISCLOSURE STANDARD FOR THE FBI?
A: No, but neither was the Clinton email investigation.
Q: WHY WAS THE LETTER SO VAGUE?
A: The FBI conventionally avoids publicly discussing ongoing criminal investigations, or even confirming it has one open.
It also appears the FBI isn't sure what it has. Comey said the FBI cannot yet assess whether the material is significant, or how long it would take to complete the additional work.
Q: WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
A: The FBI will review the emails to see if they were classified and were improperly handled.
It's impossible to say if anyone is in greater jeopardy than before.
Comey said in July that the FBI had found no evidence of intentional or wilful mishandling of classified information, of efforts to obstruct justice or of the deliberate exposure of government secrets.
Nothing in the letter appears to change that standard.
