FBI uncovers 14,900 more emails in Hillary Clinton investigation

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The FBI has uncovered an additional 14,900 previously undisclosed emails linked to Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state, State Department lawyers confirmed before a federal judge on Monday.

Previouisly, the State Department turned over 30,000 work-related documents from Clinton's lawyers in 2014.

The agency told District Judge James E. Boasberg that it is "prioritizing" the new emails, determining which are a personal nature or duplicates previously released emails.

State Department lawyers said they anticipate releasing the first batch of emails in mid-October -- weeks before the Nov. 9 presidential election.

Last week, government lawyers disclosed that the FBI turned over six computer discs of information to the State Department.

Boasberg ordered the agency to provide a status update on Sept. 22 on how many of the documents it has reviewed can be released under a Freedom of Information Act request.

Lawyers for Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, demanded release of the emails.

"FBI found almost 15,000 new Clinton documents. When will State release them?" Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton posted on Twitter on Monday morning.

Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit in May 2015 seeking the emails while Clinton was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.

U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on Friday ordered Clinton to answer questions in writing from Judicial Watch about her use of the private email server. The group wants to question Clinton under oath and in person. Sullivan said Judicial Watch must submit its questions to Clinton by Oct. 14 and she has 30 days to respond.

On July 7, the FBI decided not to charge Clinton in the handling of classified material in her email setup, but FBI Director James B. Comey called her "extremely careless." Comey said investigators found no evidence the emails "were intentionally deleted in an effort to conceal them."

Members of Congress will receive notes from Clinton's interview on July 2 with the FBI about her private email server.