Clinton Campaign Advises Surrogates on Response

Hillary Clinton’s campaign on Saturday advised fellow Democrats on how to respond to FBI Director James Comey’s “controversial action,” suggesting they demand that he “immediately provide the American people with more information.”

The advice was contained in an afternoon email sent to campaign surrogates as part of a Clinton offensive following Comey’s decision to notify Congress about renewing an investigation related to her use of a private email server while secretary of state.

“It is extraordinary that 11 days before the election a letter like this – with so few details – would be sent to 8 Republican Committee Chairmen with the certainty that it would leak,” the email from the Clinton campaign said. (It neglected to mention that Comey’s letter also went to the top Democrats on the committees.)

The Clinton campaign email also suggests that its surrogates attack Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. It was his characterization of Comey’s action as a reopening of the FBI investigation that shaped the early media narrative of the controversy.

The Clinton campaign email says it is “outrageous, though not surprising, that a Republican chairman would knowingly mislead the public and media by leaking and mischaracterizing this letter.”

Among the other talking points the campaign suggests: “There is no indication that this is even about Hillary – some reports even say the emails aren’t either to or from Hillary.”