FBI Officials Interview Top Clinton Aides Over Email Server Controversy

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 | May 6, 2016 | By Jason Owen

As Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton inches toward the nomination, the controversy surrounding her use of a private email server while Secretary of State continues to be a black cloud over her campaign and, on Friday, another hiccup came to light.

U.S. officials confirmed with CNN some of Clinton’s top aides, including Huma Abedin, a long-time advisor, have been interviewed by FBI officials over the use of the email server and the handling of classified information.

And as the investigation comes to a close, the FBI will likely sit down with Clinton in the coming weeks.

From CNN:

“In recent weeks, multiple aides have been interviewed — some more than once, the officials said. A date for an FBI interview of Clinton has not been set, these officials said, but is expected in the coming weeks. Abedin has cooperated with the probe, the officials said. Lawyers for Abedin declined to comment. The officials say the interviews of Clinton and her aides would be a routine part of an investigation like this.”

While Clinton’s opponents will likely pounce on the news that she will soon be questioned by investigators, the U.S. officials speaking with CNN also confirmed that so far no evidence of Clinton violating U.S. law has been found.

Brian Fallon, Clinton’s press secretary, said in a statement Thursday:

“From the start, Hillary Clinton has offered to answer any questions that would help the Justice Department complete its review, and we hope and expect that anyone else who is asked would do the same. We are confident the review will conclude that nothing inappropriate took place.”

Under biggest scrutiny is the security of the server, which the Clinton campaign has maintained was never compromised, despite a Russian hacker claiming this week he accessed the server “multiple times” years ago.

The FBI’s probe has also focused on former Clinton employee Bryan Pagliano, who helped set up the server and has in multiple interviews provided documents and other materials to the FBI under an immunity agreement, CNN reported.

Now, as an impending sit down with the FBI draws near, Clinton’s camp likely hopes the negative press doesn’t provide her Democratic rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a window to the nomination.