The Real Reason Comey Reopened the Clinton Email Investigation

On Oct. 28, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey reopened the Clinton email investigation.

Shortly after, top Democrats launched scathing attacks against him. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, one of the most strident Clinton defenders, alleged that Comey is helping Republicans stoke innuendo and falsehoods days before the election...

To that point, Comey indeed ran the risk of violating the Hatch Act, which prevents high-level government employees from engaging in pernicious political activity.

But here's the thing - there's a reason why Comey may have felt there was no choice but to reopen the investigation...

Why Comey Had to Reopen the Clinton Email Investigation

Comey reopened the investigation into Clinton's emails to back up his past actions and statements.

You see, in sworn testimony before Congress on July 7, Comey said his department's investigation was "competent" and "honest."

If Comey did nothing about the newly discovered emails on Anthony Weiner's laptop, he could be accused of conspiracy - or worse, perjury - especially if the new emails surfaced after the election. In fact, Comey's announcement on Oct. 28 was partly driven by fear from leaks within his own agency, according to FBI sources interviewed by Reuters on Nov. 3.

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Apparently, there's a faction of the FBI's New York Field Office (those who discovered the new emails) that are openly hostile against Clinton, according to FBI sources interviewed by the Huffington Post on Nov. 3. This same faction was reportedly responsible for a surge in media leaks about details into the separate FBI investigation into the Clinton Foundation. There's a chance these rogue agents might have taken adverse action had Comey refused to reopen the investigation.

There's also another key detail in Comey's decision...