Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is again under public criticism. A new report accuses the FBI of failing to properly investigate her use of a private email server during the Obama administration. The report claims the FBI ignored crucial evidence, including emails from then-President Barack Obama, which could have exposed Clinton’s mishandling of classified data.

This controversy comes just after US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard alleged that the Obama administration created a false narrative about Donald Trump's links to Russia.

FBI Ignored Key Evidence

A recently declassified report, attached to a 2018 Justice Department (DOJ) inspector general review, has reignited the debate. It reveals that the FBI received thumb drives from a confidential source. These drives held sensitive official data, including Obama’s emails, accessed through cyber intrusions. Yet, the FBI “barely glanced” at the material, the report says.

Senator Chuck Grassley criticised top FBI officials, including then-Director James Comey and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. He accused them of ignoring recommendations to examine the thumb drives carefully.

“This document shows an extreme lack of effort and due diligence in the FBI's investigation of former Secretary Clinton's email usage and mishandling of highly classified information,” Grassley stated.

Im making "Clinton annex" public 2day so the American ppl hv all the facts Sen Johnson & I hv requested this document’s declassification together since 2020 & Pres Trump/Pam Bondi/Kash Patel + others finally got it done Thx 4 ur dedication to transparency https://t.co/tfdg3TlVig

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) July 21, 2025

Obama’s Emails Among Ignored Data

Grassley revealed that the thumb drives held sensitive information taken from US government agencies, including the State Department. They also contained emails from then-President Obama and possibly confidential congressional data. Even so, the drives were never reviewed during the Clinton investigation, the report says.

Michael Horowitz, the DOJ Inspector General who wrote the appendix, now serves at the Federal Reserve Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Whether the FBI ever revisited the drives after 2018 remains unknown.

FBI Leadership Blocked Cyber Division

During the 2016 election period, the FBI’s Cyber Division requested permission to access the drives. They wanted to search for Clinton-related information. However, FBI leaders denied the request.

Reports say McCabe even asked Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to allow access for the Russia probe. But again, the answer was no. Officials cited concerns over overly broad search parameters and protecting sensitive information.

The Email Server Controversy Explained

In 2009, before becoming Secretary of State, Clinton set up a private email server at her home in New York. She used this system for both official and private messages, bypassing the State Department’s official servers.

Her decision became controversial after a 2015 New York Times report suggested it might have broken federal regulations. The issue raised concerns among US government officials.

In 2016, however, the FBI cleared Clinton. It concluded that her emails did not include any data clearly marked as classified and closed the case.

New Questions Over FBI’s Actions

Now, the newly released report raises fresh questions. Why did the FBI ignore evidence like Obama’s emails? Why were thumb drives left unchecked?

Lawmakers and officials are now demanding answers. They argue that the FBI’s handling of the Clinton case needs a second look to understand whether critical evidence was deliberately overlooked.