Email troubles persisting, Clinton camp reassures backers

The developments suggest the investigation into the security of Clinton's email setup could run deep into 2016, as she is trying to win the Democratic nomination for president and, potentially, the general election.

Clinton campaign aides argue there's nothing for investigators to find, and the State Department says it's not yet clear if the material at issue ought to be considered classified at all.

What worries Clinton's team is the lingering whiff of political scandal in a tightening primary race, and they pushed back hard on Wednesday, trying their best to dismiss the matter as nothing more than politics.

Clinton's campaign said she would turn over the server just hours after she wrapped up two days of campaigning in New Hampshire, where she outlined a plan to address college affordability and student loan debt — a centerpiece proposal of her policy platform.

A self-described "democratic socialist," Sanders has avoided addressing Clinton's email saga, keeping focused on policy disagreements over the economy, trade and the Keystone XL pipeline.

"If any other American had shown the same disregard for securing classified information that Hillary Clinton showed, the United States government would move quickly and decisively to hold them responsible," he said in a statement.

A referral from the inspector general of the intelligence community to the Justice Department that led to the current investigation did not allege any criminal wrongdoing, and Clinton's attorney has said federal authorities simply want assurances that the emails continue to be properly stored.