In a move that’s sent shockwaves through Washington and reignited one of the most enduring political scandals of the last decade, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a targeted investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, leveraging a trove of freshly unsealed documents that reveal what critics are calling “explosive evidence” of mishandling classified information. The probe, announced on July 21, 2025, fulfills a long-standing request from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and comes amid intense scrutiny of the Department of Justice’s handling of high-profile cases under the Trump administration. Insiders close to the investigation tell Fox News that the evidence—declassified by Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel—is “Hillary’s worst nightmare coming to life,” with potential implications that could reopen old wounds and fuel fresh legal battles. As Democrats cry foul and Republicans celebrate, the timing couldn’t be more charged, coinciding with ongoing controversies over the Epstein files and Biden’s classified documents saga.
The investigation stems from Grassley’s persistent push since 2018 for the release of a “Clinton annex” from the DOJ Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) report on the FBI’s 2016 probe into Clinton’s email practices. Bondi, Trump’s longtime ally and a former Florida AG known for her tough-on-crime stance, authorized the declassification, delivering the documents to Grassley on July 21. The files detail how then-FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe allegedly “cut corners” in the investigation, failing to fully search thumb drives containing relevant emails and overlooking key evidence of classified information transmission. “After nearly a decade in the shadows, this information is now coming to light thanks to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel’s dedicated efforts,” Grassley said in a statement, blasting the original probe as a “failed investigation” that jeopardized national security.
Bondi’s statement framed the release as a commitment to transparency: “Today, the Department of Justice honored Chairman Grassley’s request to release information relating to former-FBI Director James Comey’s failed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of highly classified information during her tenure as Secretary of State.” The annex highlights instances where FBI agents were blocked from pursuing leads, including foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation tied to access requests, and Comey’s decision not to recommend charges despite finding Clinton “extremely careless.” Grassley, who along with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) petitioned for declassification in 2020, called it “a stark contrast to the full-throated investigation of the Trump-Russia collusion hoax.”
The timing is no coincidence. Bondi’s probe arrives as the DOJ faces blowback over the Signal chat scandal—where Hegseth and others shared sensitive military details—and Epstein file releases. Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), slammed it as “vindictive election interference”: “This is a recycled witch hunt while real threats like Jan. 6 go unpunished.” Clinton’s team dismissed it as “old news with no new facts,” but insiders say the annex’s revelations could prompt a special counsel review, potentially leading to charges for obstruction or mishandling.
Washington is rattled. Bondi, who introduced Trump at a DOJ event in March 2025, has signaled no leniency: “We live in a nation of laws.” Patel echoed: “Truth can’t stay buried.” With the 2028 midterms looming, the investigation could dominate headlines, pitting Trump loyalists against Clinton defenders in a rematch of 2016’s email wars.
As unsealed pages spill secrets, one truth emerges: in politics, old ghosts never die—they just get declassified. Bondi’s probe isn’t closure—it’s a new chapter in America’s endless saga of accountability.
