FBI agents reportedly knew early this month about the new emails that the agency now says are "pertinent" to the investigation into Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE's private server — but did not brief FBI Director James Comey until late last week.

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Comey was reportedly told about the new messages on Thursday, The Washington Post reported.

On Friday, less than two weeks from Election Day, Comey sent a letter to lawmakers saying emails "pertinent" to the investigation of the former secretary of State had been discovered and the FBI would be reviewing them.

The FBI director said the team should "take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow investigators to review these emails."

The Washington Post reported that it is not clear why the FBI agents waited to brief Comey after discovering in early October the emails in question on a computer it seized in connection with a separate investigation.

The emails were discovered while look into former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) for an alleged online relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Weiner is the estranged husband of longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

In the letter Comey sent on Friday, he wrote the agency does not know "the significance of this newly discovered collection of emails." Yahoo News reported Saturday the FBI did not have a search warrant to review the newly obtained emails.

Since the letter was released Friday, Democrats have been ramping up their calls for the FBI to release more information about what the emails contained and whether they are significant.

In July, the FBI director announced he would not recommend criminal charges over the Democratic presidential nominee's use of a private email server while serving as secretary of State.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE called the situation the "biggest scandal since Watergate."