Alex Wong / Getty Images Clinton speaking Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

FBI Director James Comey announced on Tuesday that the FBI is not recommending criminal charges against Hillary Clinton over her handling of classified information while serving as secretary of state. Comey said that while there is evidence that Clinton and her team at the State Department were "extremely careless" in their handling of classified information, including emails Clinton sent and received, his department concluded charges were not appropriate in this case. During his statement on Tuesday, Comey said that of the approximately 30,000 emails turned over to the FBI, 110 emails in 52 chains contained classified information, eight of which contained information deemed top secret at time. While the FBI did not find any direct evidence that Clinton's server was compromised, Comey said it was possible foreign actors had gained access to her email.

"There is evidence to support a conclusion that any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton’s position, or in the position of those government employees with whom she was corresponding about these matters, should have known that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation," Comey said. Although the FBI has recommended no criminal charges, prosecutors at the Justice Department, along with the attorney general, ultimately make the final decision as to whether to bring a case against Clinton.

The recommendation concludes a monthslong investigation by the FBI into whether Clinton violated federal law by communicating through a private email server while serving as the nation's top diplomat. As part of the investigation, Clinton met with federal investigators on Saturday for an interview lasting three and a half hours, according to a campaign aide. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced last Friday that she would accept the recommendation of the FBI and career prosecutors at the Justice Department. That decision came after an unplanned meeting occurred between Lynch and former President Bill Clinton on a tarmac in Phoenix, Arizona — raising questions about Lynch's ability to remain impartial in the case. In a statement, Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said, “We are pleased that career officials handling this case have determined that no further action by the Department is appropriate. As the Secretary has long said, it was a mistake to use her personal email and she would not do it again. We are glad that his matter is now resolved.” Reacting to the FBI's recommendation on Tuesday, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted: "FBI director said Crooked Hillary compromised our national security. No charges. Wow! #RiggedSystem" In another tweet, Trump wrote, "The system is rigged. General Petraeus got in trouble for far less. Very very unfair! As usual, bad judgment." At a speech in Raleigh, North Carolina on Tuesday night, Trump said he believed Lynch would not charge Clinton in exchange for a promise that Lynch could continue as attorney general if Clinton is elected. "It's a bribe," Trump told his supporters. "It's a disgrace."

Cliff Owen / AP Comey speaking Tuesday.