White House slaps down Hillary Clinton for questioning James Comey’s integrity – as Obama says the FBI director is NOT trying to influence election
Washington press chief labels Comey a man of 'principle' and 'integrity' despite announcement of investigation week before election
THE White House has backed the under-fire head of the FBI just days after he threw the US Election into disarray.
Washington DC's Press Secretary Josh Earnest refused to "defend or criticise" bureau chief James Comey - instead labelling him a man of "integrity" and "principle".
Earnest said: "The president’s assessment of his integrity and his character has not changed.
"The president doesn’t believe he’s secretly strategising to benefit one candidate or one political party."
Comey placed himself at the centre of the race for the White House just a week before Americans go to the polls after announcing Democrat Hillary Clinton would be investigated again for emails she allegedly sent from a private server.
Republican rival Donald Trump has since seen a dramatic improvement in his polling ratings, leading furious Democrats to blast Comey for politicising the FBI.
Clinton labelled the timing as "deeply troubling" while her campaign suggested the announcement was an example of "blatant double standards".
Trump himself last night branded Clinton a "terrible example" for American children - including his own ten-year-old Barron.
The Republican nominee has been going all guns blazing against the Democrat since news broke
And on Monday he hit out saying Clinton had cheated during a primary debate and a town hall broadcast because she had got the questions in advance.
His rival had got information from Democratic Party official Donna Brazile who lost her job with CNN which aired the debates.
Appearing at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, near Detroit, he said: "You know, I have a son named Barron.
"And I want to tell you, she is a terrible example for my son and for the children in this country. That I can tell you."
He went on to say Clinton was a "dishonest person."
Trump continued: "To me it's a big deal. Getting the questions to the debate, that's a big deal.
"And not turning yourself in! And if they fired Donna Brazile, why aren't they firing Hillary Clinton?
"Why is she allowed to run? Hillary Clinton is unfit and unqualified to be the president of the United States."
The emails were revealed by Wikileaks, which Trump branded a "treasure trove."
It wasn't the only email controversy Clinton was dealing with on Monday - the FBI revealed it was looking into her accounts as a result of an investigation into Anthony Weiner.
They were again potentially related to Clinton's use of a private email server while she was working as secretary of state.
Trump took full advantage of the fresh controversy saying: "Thank you, Huma. Good job, Huma," Trump said, in reference to Huma Abedin, Weiner's estranged wife and a top Clinton aide. He added: "Thank you, Anthony Weiner."
He has previously referred to Weiner as a "perv."
The FBI found emails on a device belonging to Weiner, who is currently being investigated for allegedly exchanging sexually explicit messages with a 15-year-old girl.
His estranged wife Abedin, through an attorney claimed it only belonged to her ex..
Karen Dunn the computer belonged to Weiner only.
She said Abedin found out "from press reports of the possibility that a laptop belonging to Mr Weiner could contain emails of hers."
Dunn added: "'While the FBI has not contacted us about this, Ms. Abedin will continue to be, as she always has been, forthcoming and cooperative.
"From the beginning, Ms. Abedin has complied fully and voluntarily with State Department and law enforcement requests, including sitting for hours-long interviews and providing her work-related and potentially work-related documents."
Although the content is not yet known - he branded it "absolutely devastating."
FBI Director Comey is facing mounting criticism for making the announcement on Friday the Bureau is conducting the investigation so close to the election.
It was announced it would not be making any more updates on the emails. revealed the Bureau was in a race against time to go through the material, but it was not likely to reach a conclusion until after election.
Meanwhile Clinton made a statement on Monday saying there was "nothing to answer" as far as the emails were concerned.
And at a rally in Ohio she stated to anyone asking to look into any of her staffers digital correspondence: "by all means, go ahead."
The said in a Morning Consult poll, 45% of those questioned viewed the email worse than the Watergate Scandal, which involved Richard Nixon and eventually led to his resignation.
It involved a botched attempt to break into the Democratic National Committee building in Washington, in the 1970's, which the Nixon administration at the time attempted to cover up.
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