FBI's James Comey Still Under Fire Over Email Probe, Donald Trump's Method to Avoid Paying Taxes and More

The announcement last week by FBI Director James Comey that the agency is reviewing newly discovered emails of one of Hillary Clinton's top aides, Huma Abedin, is bringing just as much heavy fire as it is strong defense of the agency head's character.

Politically, with just days away from an election that has many Americans on edge, the news appears to have slowed the Clinton campaign's momentum and will likely halt efforts it has made in recent weeks to win over red states such as Arizona. However, even as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has wrung as much juice as he could from this October surprise, it appears to have no major affect on the race, according to both Republican and Democratic pollsters, who have looked hard at their data for any significant change.

Yet, President Obama, who may want to help protect the FBI as an institution, made his feelings on the matter known on Monday: "The President doesn't believe that he's secretly strategizing to benefit one candidate or one political party," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, noting that Comey is "in a tough spot, and he's the one who will be in a position to defend his actions in the face of significant criticism from a variety of legal experts, including individuals who served in senior Department of Justice positions in administrations led by presidents in both parties."

Top Stories

Comey Faces a Firestorm of Criticism Over Renewed Clinton Email Probe: "The Justice Department moved Monday to quell the outrage and frenetic speculation surrounding FBI Director James B. Comey’s disclosure last week that the bureau has resumed its investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private email server after discovering a new trove of emails." (The Washington Post)

Donald Trump Used Legally Dubious Method to Avoid Paying Taxes: "Newly obtained documents show that in the early 1990s, as he scrambled to stave off financial ruin, Mr. Trump avoided reporting hundreds of millions of dollars in taxable income by using a tax avoidance maneuver so legally dubious his own lawyers advised him that the Internal Revenue Service would most likely declare it improper if he were audited." (The New York Times)

CNN Severs Ties With Donna Brazile After Hacked Emails Show More Debate Questions Passed to Hillary Clinton Camp: "CNN says it is 'completely uncomfortable' with hacked emails that show long-standing contributor and interim Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile apparently sharing questions with members of the Hillary Clinton campaign staff before a debate and a town hall during the Democratic primary — so much so that the network has accepted her resignation." (Patch)

North Carolina Senator Jokes About Shooting Hillary Clinton: "North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr joked at a private fundraiser over the weekend about shooting Hillary Clinton, according to audio of the event published Monday by CNN. He told the audience that 'nothing made me feel better' than walking into a gun store and seeing a magazine about rifles 'with a picture of Hillary Clinton on the front of it.'" (Patch)

From the Twitterverse

Donald Trump still loves a good poll, you know, when it's not rigged.

On the Radar

• Donald Trump and Mike Pence will appear together at a rally at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Pence has another rally in the state.
• Donald Trump has a rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
• Hillary Clinton has three campaign events in Florida.
• Tim Kaine has two early vote rallies in Wisconsin.

Today's Numbers

• 7 days until Election Day 2016.
• House Democrats are rolling out a new $1 million digital ad blitz aimed at millennial and minority voters in two dozen districts across the country that are open or currently held by Republicans.
• India and Pakistan trade border fire in Kashmir, 7 killed.
• WikiLeaks reveals that John Podesta was paid $7,000 a month by top Clinton campaign donor.

Allen McDuffee is a politics and policy reporter, investigative journalist, blogger and podcast host. He has written for The Atlantic, Wired and The Washington Post. Follow him on Twitter: @AllenMcDuffee

Photo credit: Pete Souza via White House archives