Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that she just heard about a report that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has expanded its investigation of her potentially illegal handling of government emails to include a search for possible instances of public corruption.
Clinton commented on the claims made in “un-sourced” Fox News report, saying that she has heard nothing of the sort from the FBI herself. However, she also admitted that she has had “no” contact with the FBI during the investigation.
Clinton spoke to the Des Moines Register‘s Editorial Board Tuesday, the same day separate polls were released showing her trailing her Democratic rival Bernie Sanders in Iowa and New Hampshire.
“No, nothing,” Clinton said, regarding the expansion of the FBI investigation. “No, there’s nothing like that that is happening. No.”
“I saw it as I was coming in myself, and it was quite, you know, unexpected and unfounded.”
Asked if she planned to comment on it, she said, “No. I just did. I guess. Didn’t I?” She then laughed loudly.
When another reporter asked if Clinton has had “any contact with the FBI” during the course of the investigation, Clinton quickly answered, “No.”
She quickly reversed course and managed, “No, there is, as you know, there is a security inquiry going on about the classified referrals that were made to the Department of Justice.”