The FBI has obtained a warrant to search the emails found on a computer used by former Rep. Anthony Weiner that may contain evidence relevant to the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server, reports the Washington Post. One official said the total number of emails recovered is close to 650,000, though that includes many emails that are not in any way relevant to the Clinton investigation. The messages include a significant amount of correspondence associated with Clinton and her aide Huma Abedin, Weiner’s estranged wife. The agents investigating Clinton’s use of a private email server knew early this month that messages from the Weiner computer might be germane to their case, but they waited weeks before briefing the FBI director.
Abedin has said she is unsure how her emails could have ended up on a device she viewed as belonging to her husband. It was unclear what agents have been doing on the case this month before they notified Comey. Why authorities had not yet obtained a warrant also is unclear. The technical process of doing so is easy, though prosecutors would need to demonstrate probable cause to conduct searches beyond what they were authorized to do so in the investigation of Weiner.