John Oliver slams Weiner over Clinton email twist
John Oliver said he wanted to give his viewers a break from the U.S. presidential election on his comedy show Sunday night — but then Anthony Weiner showed up again.
The FBI announced Friday that it would review new emails concerning Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server during her time as secretary of state. FBI Director James Comey wrote a letter to congressional leaders saying that the additional emails were found during an unrelated investigation.
It became clear a few hours later that the investigation in question was focused on former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner’s sexting habit, following allegations that he had sent indecent photos to an underage girl.
“It seems Anthony Weiner is forcing the nation to relitigate the entire email controversy and putting Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning the presidency in serious danger — Carlos Danger,” Oliver said on “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.”
The emails were reportedly discovered on Weiner’s laptop. His estranged wife, Huma Abedin, is one of Clinton’s top aides.
Oliver said this is “obviously a disgusting way” for this new twist in the Clinton email case to come to light, and cited as evidence Vice President Joe Biden’s reaction to learning that Weiner was responsible.
“I don’t know where these emails came from,” Biden told CNN’s Michael Smerconish on Friday.
“Apparently Anthony Weiner,” Smerconish interjected.
“Well, oh, God, Anthony Weiner,” Biden said with palpable disgust. “I should not comment on Anthony Weiner. I’m not a big fan. I wasn’t before he got in trouble. So I shouldn’t comment on Anthony Weiner.”
Oliver pointed out that according to Comey, it is not clear whether the FBI’s announcement is a huge problem for the Clinton campaign or carries much significance at all.
There have been reports since the news broke on Friday suggesting that Clinton might not even be directly involved in the emails. According to Oliver, the FBI has provided the public with what amounts to a mystery box.
“And like the box from the end of ‘Seven,’ it could contain anything from nothing to Gwyneth Paltrow’s head,” he said. “Although it almost definitely contains Anthony Weiner’s penis.”
For his part, Republican candidate Donald Trump thanked the disgraced former New York congressman during a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday.
“We never thought we were going to say thank you to Anthony Weiner,” Trump said.
