memeorandum: NBC's Pete Williams: Trump's bogus ‘rigged’ talk pushed Comey to break DOJ rules on elections (David Edwards/Raw Story)

12:50 AM ET, October 31, 2016

Top Items:

FBI in Internal Feud Over Hillary Clinton Probe — Laptop may contain thousands of messages sent to or from private server — Federal agents are preparing to scour roughly 650,000 emails contained on the laptop of former Rep. Anthony Weiner to see how many relate to a prior probe …

NBC News:

FBI Obtains Warrant for Newly Discovered Emails in Clinton Probe — as Reid Accuses Comey of Hatch Act Violation — The FBI obtained a warrant to search emails related to the Hillary Clinton private server probe that were discovered on ex-congressman Anthony Weiner's laptop, law enforcement officials confirmed Sunday.

Discussion: NBC News, Independent Journal Review, Hot Air, The Week, Althouse and Washington Post

Ed Klein / Daily Mail:

EXCLUSIVE: Resignation letters piling up from disaffected FBI agents, his wife urging him to admit he was wrong: Why Director Comey jumped at the chance to reopen Hillary investigation — James Comey revived the investigation of Clinton's email server as he could no longer resist mounting pressure by mutinous agents, sources say

Discussion: John Hawkins' Right Wing News and Vox Popoli

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

Deeply Disturbing — James Comey's decision to send his letter to Capitol Hill seemed like a bad one from the start. But it did not seem as egregious as it does now because many assumed he was faced with a tough balancing act between informing Congress of significant new evidence …

Discussion: Balloon Juice, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, twitchy.com and Guardian

Matt Zapotosky / Washington Post:

FBI agents waited weeks to tell Comey about emails possibly relevant to Clinton probe — FBI agents investigating Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state knew early this month that messages recovered in a separate probe might be germane to their case …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Townhall.com, CNN, zerohedge.com/fullrss2 …, RedState, Raw Story, The Moderate Voice, New York Magazine, Media Matters for America, Mother Jones, Mediaite, Gothamist, The Week, The Daily Caller, alan.com and No More Mister Nice Blog

Richard W. Painter / New York Times:

On Clinton Emails, Did the F.B.I. Director Abuse His Power? — The F.B.I. is currently investigating the hacking of Americans' computers by foreign governments. Russia is a prime suspect. — Imagine a possible connection between a candidate for president in the United States and the Russian computer hacking.

Discussion: Washington Post, NBC News, Business Insider, Politicus USA, The Moderate Voice, Law News, AOL, Washington Monthly, Taylor Marsh, Townhall.com, Occupy Democrats, NPR, The Gateway Pundit, Raw Story and BizPac Review

The Hill:

Holder, ex-Justice officials question Comey's ‘breach of protocol’ — 's campaign sent out a letter Sunday night signed by nearly 100 former prosecutors and Department of Justice officials slamming FBI Director James Comey. — The letter comes in the wake of the Friday announcement …

Discussion: Raw Story

Mike Levine / ABC News:
FBI Obtains Warrant Needed to Start Reviewing Emails Found on Laptop Used by Clinton Aide

Discussion: Politico, RedState, Raw Story, Mediaite, Guardian and The Hill

New York Times:
Justice Department Obtains Warrant to Review Clinton Aide's Emails

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Orin Kerr / Washington Post:
Was it legal for the FBI to expand the Weiner email search to target Hillary Clinton's emails?

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money, RedState, NPR, Raw Story, Business Insider, Towleroad, Townhall.com, Hot Air, alan.com, Independent Journal Review, New York Times and Politicus USA

Evan Perez / CNN:
Justice Department seeks approval for email search

Discussion: Mediaite, Washington Post, JustOneMinute, ThinkProgress, Townhall.com, BuzzFeed and The Week

New York Times:
For Democrats, Anthony Weiner Makes an Unwelcome Return

Discussion: RedState, Washington Free Beacon and John Hawkins' Right Wing News

Jamie Gorelick / Washington Post:
James Comey is damaging our democracy

Discussion: TalkLeft, Vox, Associated Press, Guardian, France 24, New York Times, Blue Mass Group, Occupy Democrats, Media Matters for America, Political Insider blog, Talking Points Memo and Daily Kos

Frank Bruni / New York Times:
Comey, Clinton and This Steaming Mess

Discussion: Media Matters for America and JustOneMinute

CBS News:

Harry Reid accuses Comey of sitting on proof of Trump-Russia ties, possible Hatch Act violation — In his last few months in the Senate, Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, isn't pulling any punches — especially after the recent revelations by FBI Director James Comey that more emails …

Discussion: CANNONFIRE

Michael C. Bender / Wall Street Journal:
Harry Reid: FBI Director's ‘Partisan Actions’ May Violate Federal Law

Discussion: CNN, Political Wire, Raw Story, Washington Post and twitchy.com

Senator Harry Reid:
IN LETTER, REID SAYS COMEY “MAY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW”

Discussion: RealClearPolitics, Occupy Democrats, Patterico's Pontifications, Mother Jones and Balloon Juice

CNN:

Trump stokes skepticism of Colorado voting system — Greeley, Colorado (CNN)Donald Trump for the second day in a row questioned the validity of this swing state's largely mail-in voting system, the latest instance of the Republican nominee expressing skepticism about the legitimacy of the electoral process.

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, Guardian and Raw Story

Justin Baragona / Mediaite:

CNN Stealth Edits Article That Originally Made False Claim Trump Told Supporters To Vote Multiple Times — Early this evening, CNN tried to catch Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in a heavily compromising position over comments he made at a rally in Colorado.

David Edwards / Raw Story:

NBC's Pete Williams: Trump's bogus ‘rigged’ talk pushed Comey to break DOJ rules on elections — DON'T MISS STORIES. FOLLOW RAW STORY! — NBC News Justice Correspondent Pete Williams reported on Sunday that Donald Trump's baseless claim of a “rigged” election influenced FBI Director James Comey …

Discussion: USA Today, The First Street Journal and Washington Post

Pierre Thomas / ABC News:

Former Attorney General Holder and Other Former DOJ Officials Pen Letter Criticizing Comey — Former federal prosecutors and high-ranking Department of Justice officials, including former Attorney General Eric Holder, penned an open letter criticizing FBI Director James Comey's handling …

Discussion: Associated Press and Washington Times

Aaron Short / New York Post:

Trump offered Christie his VP slot — then rescinded it — More On: — Donald Trump initially offered the vice-presidential running-mate slot to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie but then withdrew it, sources said. — With a week to go before the GOP convention in July …

Discussion: Political Wire, AOL, Mediaite, Raw Story, RedState and Media Matters for America

Justin Baragona / Mediaite:

Trump Supporter Says He Hopes ‘We All Get Our Wish’ That Hillary Will Drive Off Cliff — Speaking at Donald Trump's Las Vegas rally earlier today, conservative pundit and Trump supporter Wayne Allyn Root fantasized about Hillary Clinton's death. — Early on in his speech …

Discussion: Raw Story

Ben Schreckinger / Politico:
Trump rally speaker fantasizes about death of Hillary Clinton

Discussion: Joe.My.God.

Greg Jaffe / Washington Post:

Once the hope candidate, Obama in his final days faces a hopeless electorate — LAS VEGAS — President Obama's motorcade was still hurtling through Las Vegas traffic when the Rev. Anthony Harris took the microphone to deliver the opening prayer at a rally here for Hillary Clinton.