FBI Director under fire over timing of Clinton email investigation

The White House has dampened suggestions that the FBI's head is trying to influence the outcome of the US presidential election by revealing details of a new investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails.

A spokesman said that president Barack Obama did not believe that the security service's director James Comey was secretly trying to benefit Donald Trump by announcing the FBI were again examining his rival Clinton's emails.

It comes after Mr Comey made the highly unusual decision to inform congress that the agency was again reviewing the Democratic nominee's email use in the run-up to the election.

A White House spokesman today said that Mr Obama believed it was important for the FBI to follow historical norms and traditions, but he believed that Mr Comey was a man of "integrity and good character".

US Senator Harry Reid has suggested that FBI Director James Comey "may have broken the law" by disclosing the fact that new action is being taken in the Clinton email probe so close to the election.

The senate Democratic leader also accused Comey of having a "double standard" and being selective in the information that was being publicised, according to Reuters.

It comes as law enforcement officials confirmed to NBC News on Sunday that the FBI had obtained a warrant to search emails related to Clinton private server investigation that were discovered on ex-congressman Anthony Weiner's laptop.

Hillary Clinton's campaign team are continuing to put increased pressure on FBI Director James Comey to release what information has come to light and led to the reopening of an investigation into her use of a private email server.

It comes as Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine referred to Comey's actions as "completely unprecedented" and questioned the timing of the probe.

• ITV News Washington correspondent Robert Moore reports:

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has expressed outrage at the FBI's reopening of an investigation into her emails and demanded that the bureau's director elaborates on what new information has been found.

Speaking at a press conference Mrs Clinton said: "We are 11 days out from perhaps the most important national election of our lifetimes, voting is already underway in our country, so the American people deserve to get the full and complete facts immediately."

• ITV News Washington correspondent Robert Moore reports:

Donald Trump has welcomed the latest revelations in the email scandal that has embroiled his presidential rival Hillary Clinton.

The Republican hopeful called the new development, which has seen the FBI reopen its investigation into emails Clinton sent over a private server, part of "the biggest political scandal since Watergate", the 1970s scandal that forced the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Trump has repeatedly attacked FBI Director James Comey for not indicting Clinton for her handling of classified information while US secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, but the new developments have prompted him to change his tune.

"As you know, I've had plenty of words about the FBI lately, but I give them great credit for having the courage to right this horrible wrong. Justice will prevail," he told a crowd in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.