Former Attorney General Eric Holder has written a scathing op-ed condemning FBI Director James Comey for his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.

"I fear he has unintentionally and negatively affected public trust in both the Justice Department and the FBI," Holder wrote in an op-ed in The Washington Post published late Sunday. "And he has allowed — again without improper motive — misinformation to be spread by partisans with less pure intentions."

Holder accused Comey of violating long-standing policies and traditions when the FBI director wrote to members of Congress on Friday and informed them his agency was reviewing a fresh batch of emails related to the Clinton investigation.

See more on Clinton's email investigation:

4 PHOTOS Hillary Clinton addresses FBI email probe See Gallery Hillary Clinton addresses FBI email probe DES MOINES, IA - OCTOBER 28: Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to reporters following a campaign rally at Roosevelt High School on October 28, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. With less than two weeks to go until election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Iowa. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton holds an unscheduled news conference to talk about FBI inquiries into her emails after a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. October 28, 2016. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder) U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton leaves after an unscheduled news conference on FBI inquiries about her emails after a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. October 28, 2016. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder) US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton answers a question during a press conference about the FBI's reopening of a probe into her use of a private email server while secretary of State, in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 28, 2016. The FBI dealt Hillary Clinton's seemingly unstoppable White House campaign a stunning blow Friday by reopening a probe into her use of a private email server while secretary of state. / AFP / JEWEL SAMAD (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

The FBI had already concluded in July that there was no evidence that Clinton committed a crime.

And while Comey said his the review of newly unearthed emails were not likely to bare significant developments, Holder said he was deeply concerned with the timing of the director's announcement, coming less than two weeks before the presidential election.

"That decision was incorrect. It violated long-standing Justice Department policies and tradition," Holder wrote.

Holder's biting op-ed comes after he and several former high-ranking officials within the Department of Justice wrote a letter saying they were "moved" to speak out against Comey.

Holder said it pained him to so publicly criticize Comey, a former colleague and career federal prosecutor. But the former attorney general said he felt it was necessary.

Jim Comey is a good and honorable man, but he's made a mistake that someone at DOJ/FBI must correct https://t.co/YN8yqaAqhA — Eric Holder (@EricHolder) October 31, 2016

"It is up to the director to correct his mistake — not for the sake of a political candidate or campaign but in order to protect our system of justice and best serve the American people," Holder wrote.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid also accused the FBI director of carrying out a "clear double-standard" and could have potentially violated federal law.

Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen later became the first congressional Democrat to call for Comey to resign.

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