Castro demands answers in FBI probe of Clinton emails

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, pressed for more answers Saturday in the FBI examination of potentially new Hillary Clinton-related emails, criticizing the agency's director, James Comey, for handling the situation "very poorly."

"I think he should immediately explain exactly what these new emails are and who they're to and who they're from and the subject matter, because there's no indication at this point that Secretary Clinton is even involved," Castro told The Texas Tribune after an event in Austin. 

Comey notified Congress on Friday that the FBI was again looking into emails potentially related to Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee. Earlier this year, the FBI cleared Clinton of any criminal wrongdoing in her use of a private email server when she was secretary of state. 

On Saturday, Castro questioned the timing of Comey's letter to Congress, saying it "would be something strange even 11 days before a city council election, much less a U.S. presidential election." The revelation Friday immediately provided an opportunity for Clinton's Republican rival, Donald Trump, who has been badly trailing her in the race for the White House.

"Director Comey has handled this very poorly, first by sending a letter 11 days before a presidential election and by being so vague that it's allowed Donald Trump to speculate wildly and create fantasies, which is what Donald Trump does," Castro said. 

Castro was joined at the Austin event by his brother, U.S. Housing Secretary Julían Castro, who told the Tribune he doubted Comey's latest move would lead to any new findings about Clinton. 

"All signs point to that this is much ado about nothing, that it's not going to turn over anything new," Julían Castro said. "Already the very tentative nature of the whole affair shows that there's not much to it. I'm confident that the American people can see through that or see it for what it is and judge the candidates on the merits."

The Castros spoke with the Tribune after a get-out-the-vote rally in Austin, one of five similar events they were attending Saturday across Texas. In remarks at the rally, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, also weighed in on Comey's letter, referring to it as "a little cloud raised yesterday afternoon."

"I'll be very direct with you as I always am," Doggett said. "I just read the letter. It's all of three paragraphs. I recommend you read it to you because there's no indication that Secretary Clinton had anything but the best interests of this country at heart and in mind."