From New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro. This is the Daily.

Today, it was an election year no one could have predicted.

Both candidates for president, under investigation by the FBI.

And at the center of it all was one man, James Comey,

making calculations that could shape history.

A New Times investigation tells the definitive story of what Comey did and why he did it.

It's Monday, April 24th.

My colleague, Mattopuzzo, tells the story.

On July 5th, 2016, reporters here in Washington got an email from the FBI.

Basically summoning us to a briefing that morning, which never happens.

You don't really get a lot of unplanned hurry up to the FBI.

So this is weird right off the bat.

I'm Brian Fallon. I was the National Press Secretary on the Clinton campaign.

That morning, we were in the dark as much as anybody else.

I was left to sort of call my own contacts in the reporting world to ask if they were

off the record being given any tip as to what the nature of the announcement would be.

Right away, the speculation is, well maybe this is about Hillary Clinton and her emails.

So Jim Comey, the FBI director, walks in to this big room.

Good morning.

And he starts to talk.

I'm here to give you an update on the FBI's investigation of Secretary Clinton's use of a personal email system

during her time as Secretary of State.

...