Story highlights Obama was apparently referring to accusations that have been leveled against the bureau

"Our investigators and our prosecutors are independent of politics," Obama said

Washington (CNN) President Barack Obama stepped up his warnings Friday to investigators and prosecutors against inserting themselves in the presidential election, saying law enforcement officials can't be "politicized" or "used as a weapon to advantage either side."

In a brief clip of an interview with MSNBC's Rev. Al Sharpton, Obama said it was essential agencies like the FBI remain nonpartisan. He was apparently referring to accusations that have been leveled against the bureau for meddling in the presidential election. Last week, FBI Director James Comey told Congress the FBI was reviewing emails that may be related to Hillary Clinton's private server, drawing outrage from Democrats.

Over the summer, when the FBI did not recommend criminal charges in the email matter, Republicans criticized the bureau for making a politically motivated decision.

"Historically, both under Democratic and Republican administrations, our goal has been and should be that our investigators and our prosecutors are independent of politics," Obama said. "They're not politicized. They're not used as a weapon to advantage either side in partisan arguments. And I want to make sure we continue with that tradition and that norm."

Still, Obama praised Comey as a "good man" and insisted he did not believe the FBI director was attempting to sway the election.

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